VISUAL COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE MEANING

What meaning of Visual?

On this study, I will study and to understand about what the meaning of “visual”, “communication” and “cultural” meaning. Visual is a relating to seeing or sight. Visual is a culturally transparent way to communicate with everyone. It is photography, slides, films, charts, or other Visual material, especially as used for illustration or promotion.

What meaning of communication?

Besides that, Communication is mean like you want to talk someone, send message or show your sign language, even communication like different people speak different language. To exact meaning of the word communicates is “to share” everyone. Another definition says that communication is social intercourse. Communication is very important in our life.   Communication is conveyed of information visually, like hand gestures, body language, video and TV. Body language is the most commonly used form of visual communication.  

What meaning of visual communication?

Based on what I understanding, visual communication is conveyance of ideas and information in forms that can be read. Visual communication also can say that relies on vision. The subject includes graphic design, illustration and animation for books, print, magazines, screen based media, interactive web design, short film, design for advertising, corporate identity, packaging design and so on.

What is Culture?

On the other hand, Culture has many different meaning. Culture is the characteristics of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, races, festival, social habits, music, and art. Another meaning defined as an integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning.

About Thailand

Based on what I final choose is Thailand culture. Thailand is a modernization democracy country in central South East Asia “Thai” mean is the Tai word for “Free”. Thailand culture is one of the most attractive features of the country, includes world famous Thai massage and food. The country has a very quite an interesting one to tell. Along with everything, there people courteous people who are warm, friendly and uphold the country’s reputation as “land of smiles”.

Thai Language

A major part of information on Thailand comprises the language used in the country. In Thailand's the official language is Thai, a tonal language has five tones are low tone, high tone, falling tone, rising one, mid tone. The rising tone is approximately similar to English when indicating a question. The falling tone is like when you are calling someone's name from far away. The low and high tones are pronounced near the relative bottom and top of your vocal range. The sounds are very similar and fuzzy to none native ears but with vast differences meanings, as much as possible to supplement and insulting.  This language is a tonal language that means is the same word can have a completely different meaning depending on it is pronounced. For example Thai word “Mai” its meanings include “not”, “silk”, “new”, “wood” and “burn”. So, must be careful when you want to speaking with an incorrect tone. Thai language, belonging to Thai family, the main language of Thailand is although there are several regional dialects. If they enable English speaking with visitor in Thailand to have little trouble conversing. Commonly used ethnic cultural languages in Thailand include Lao, Yawi (Malay), Teochew, Mon, Khmer, Viet, Cham, Hmong, Akhan and Karen.

A Thai greeting

After that, In Thailand people normally say 'Good morning', 'good afternoon', 'good evening' or 'good night'. They always greet each other with the word "Sawadee", and instead of shaking hands, and then put their palms together in a prayer-like gesture and bow slightly. Basically, In Thailand people say “Sawadee” mean goodness, beauty and success.That is younger to begin the state greetings habits. If want to learn how to "wai". For Thais, the "wai" is everything. It's a beautiful way to greet people, to say thank you or goodbye. Most Thais expect and accept handshakes from Westerners, but you will probably feel more at home in Thailand if you do things the Thai way and learn to wai. Thais use the wai as a polite gesture to say hi, goodbye, thank you or simply to show respect and gratitude towards people and things. Before you start learning any word the first thing must know how to understand is the two polite particles "krap" and "ka". These word have a meaning is call it sound polite sentences. The important thing is must know is that men say "krap" and "woman say "ka". So, if you are a man you should say "sawadee krap" and if you are women, you should say "sawadee ka". For example word sawadee krap/ka (Hello, welcome, bye), korp koon krap/ka (Thank you),  kor tort (excuse me), mai pen rai ( Nevermind/ no problem), pai mai (where are you going), and so on.

To wai, place the palms of your hands together and hold them close to and in front of your chest. Then slowly lower your head.

1. This "wai" is used by an older or superior people in response to the “wai” of someone younger or of lower status. It is also used by people of the same age or social status when they "wai" each other.

2. This "wai" is used towards an older or superior person. For example, a student wills “wai” this way to a teacher, or a child to his or her grandmother.

3. The last type of “wai” is used for showing respect to a monk or a Buddha image, whether you are standing or sitting. You may also see Thais waiing monks by half-lying down, placing the hands on the floor in a “wai”, then lowering their head to their hands.

Thai food

Thai food is very popular across the globe. Thai cuisine the main to put emphasis on light cooking and aromatic element. Thai cooking is usually very spicy. Sweet, salty, sour, bitter, hot taste balance is essential, not only in most dishes, but also within the scope of the overall Thai meal. In Thai if got guest sitting at a table, they will preparation many food to guest. In addition, in their life the main food in Thailand is rice. There are dishes of food to go with with rice. Hot and spicy that is what Thai is famous for. they eating rice with their meal and their cant have sandwiches for their meal, because they said sandwiches a snack, in Thailand people do not sit down to eat proper meal but they usually eat when they are hungry, especially kids and teenagers. The best food in Thailand for example Som Tam (Spicy Papaya Salad), Tom Yum Goong, Pad Thai, Tom Kha Gai  and so on. 

Tom Yum Goong

Som Tam (Spicy Papaya Salad)

Pad Thai

 Tom Kha Gai

Religion

Furthermore, Buddhism is a Buddhist in Thailand's major religions and countries, other religions including Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Sikhs and Jews, the total population of 95% in Thailand. The second largest population in terms of religion is Muslim. Muslim, mostly of Malay origin, makes up 3.8%-4.5% of the population. They are located primarily in the far South of the country, in the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Songkhla Chumphon.

Thai festival

In addition,The Thailand people love to celebrate. The most popular in Thailand annual celebrations are "Songkran" the water festival and "Loy Krathong" when candle-lit offerings are floated in the rivers, canals lakes and the sea. Every month Thailand has some celebration many event and festival round the year and their event have become popular in Thailand. They festival are related to religion, culture, tradition or minority ritual. While every month what one sees the celebration of many festival and special occasions. The festivals celebrated are their categorized according to the months in which they occur. There are three seasons in Thailand as a Thai Festival in Summer, Thai Festival in Monsoon, and Thai Festival in Winter. Each season of the Festival celebrated reflects how they play with weather to create tradition and ritual. 

Thai festival in Summer

Is it fun festival, this festival is all about playing with water, during April 15-17 is going to get wet. The celebration is fun. Many children, teenagers and young adults love this festival. They will fill buckets of water and wait for someone to go through so that they can throw water at that person and get each other wet.

Thai Festival in Monsoon

The monsoon is the plant season. During that time, the Buddhist monk will not go out to stay overnight in other temples. The celebration before the Buddhist Rain Retreat is Candle Festival. The candles will be made for decorative purpose in ornate design.

Thai Festival in Winter

When the end of the monsoon and the beginning winter, the Thai people celebrate in the biggest festival is called Loy Krothong. At Loy Krathong, the Thai people float a small container, banana leaves and decorated with flower into a pond, or river at night time. It is very beautiful to watch and will surely make your night unforgettable.

Thai custom and traditions

In Thai people will not let people touch their head, not even a child. Thais consider the head is the most important part of the body, deserving the honor and whilst the foot, is the least honored. This belief is originates from the ancient Hindu belief. That the head is the most sacred part of the body and the feet is very unclean. After that, In a Buddhist temple, tuck the legs under the body beneath one’s body, to avoid stretch them out to face the Buddha. The wearing of shoes inside temples and home is also for bidden. Buddhism is not so much a religion, as a way of life. The traditional Thai greeting is the "wai" is both hands are raised slowly and gracefully, palm down and close to the body, the closer the hands are held to the head, the greater the respect signaled. Besides that, do not wear shorts or meager clothing, especially in rural areas. Women wear, local believed the girl was a prostitute. Contrary to popular belief, the westem decadence by the embrace of the Thai sex industry, totally unrepresentative of the general Victorian like Thai attitude towards morality. Hugging, holding hands, or show any signs of affection in public, most people cannot accept and should only occur in a couple know each other reasonably well.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I have learn what are the culture of Thailand culture through the research and development of their culture, language, food, religion, festival, a Thai greeting and Thai customs and traditions.  To analyze the topic more detail, I have used the method of semiotic, which is a theory to study sign or a knowledge or science about sign. Finally what I research and to understanding a lots of Thai culture about their behavior and habits, because it helps me to find out the meaning behind those action they been in their daily life.