ABSTRACT
This research aims to study the dialects as a way of communication to build peaceful coexistence in a multicultural society in Southern Thailand, including Piten and Jehae language which are dialects of Pattani province. The sample groups used in this study were the leader and villagers of both Pithen sub-district, Tungyangdang district, Pattani province and Bangkhuntong sub-district, Takbai district Narathiwat province. The instruments for data collection were a focus group and the in-depth interview during June-December 2017. The results indicated that the villagers of both villages consider the benefits and the importance of their dialects as a means of communication among middle-aged people who want to develop dialectal communication in order to build peaceful coexistence in a multicultural society. The significant problems and limitations of dialect communication were a lack of its conservation. While a majority of dialect users were elders, adolescences prefer speaking Thai Language to the dialect because of educational movement, new learning medias that mostly used Thai language, and too specific in nature. As a result, the dialect has being disappeared. For the guideline of the dialect communication development, the dialectal language conservation should be more encouraged and opportunities will be provided for both villagers and non-villagers to co-study and create a common understanding that results in peaceful co-existence in multicultural society. To achieve it, the dialect learning will be added into a teaching and learning curriculum or establishing the association of dialect conservators cooperated with the governmental and private sector such as education institutes, other associations.
KEYWORDS
Develop, Dialect, Multicultural