โลกทัศน์ของลาวที่ปรากฏในคอลัมน์ “นานาสาระ” ของหนังสือพิมพ์เวียงจันใหม่ ໂລກກະທັດຂອງລາວທີ່ປາກົດໃນຄໍລັມ“ນານາສາລະ” ຂອງໜັງສືພິມວຽງຈັນໃໝ່ The Laotian’s worldview from Nanasara Column in Vientainmai Newspaper
The differences in the Thai and Lao ways of thinking are the results of their different worldviews. This, consequently, leads to differences in behavioral patterns of the people in the two countries. A study of the Laotian worldview is a way to “access” and “understand” the Lao people. One approach to the study of worldview is to study “individuals’ writings” as it is generally accepted that an individual’s worldview is revealed in his/her writing
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is an ASEAN country that has close geographical, linguistic and cultural ties to Thailand. Linguistically and culturally, there hardly seems to be any difference. However, there are major disparities in certain aspects, especially in the ways of thinking, or the “worldview”, as reflected in how the respective natives call their own country in relations to the other. Thai people see Thailand and Laos as “sister countries” whereas Lao people prefer to use “neighboring countries” as the descriptive term (Sirimit Praphanthurakit, 2008), which indicates that the two countries share borders and stand equal in dignity. (Khamhoong Saenmanee, 2003) The differences in the Thai and Lao ways of thinking are the results of their different worldviews. This, consequently, leads to differences in behavioral patterns of the people in the two countries. A study of the Laotian worldview is a way to “access” and “understand” the Lao people. One approach to the study of worldview is to study “individuals’ writings” as it is generally accepted that an individual’s worldview is revealed in his/her writing.
Among the literary works, newspaper articles are considered “important tools” for gaining access to the thorough worldview of the writers because newspapers act as “a mediator for the expression of thoughts, feelings, answers to various issues, arts and knowledge and help preserve them for generations to come.” (Phitsanu Thepthong, 2001, p.1)
The “Nanasara” column in Vientiane Mai newspaper offers viewpoints on various subjects in its articles of analyses and criticisms. One interesting aspect of this column lies in the fact that its contributors comprise various writers, both the newspaper personnel and independent writers who are regular contributors, who take turns penning the articles. In addition, the column offers opportunities for other independent writers to publish their analyses and criticisms. (Khamheung Khampasit, 2011, p.54) Another interesting aspect is the fact that Vientiane Mai newspaper is the best-selling newspaper in the country with the daily circulation of around 6,000 copies (Thongleun Phimmawong, 5 August 2015) in spite of the fact that it is a local daily newspaper in the Vientiane jurisdiction. This suggests that the newspaper is a quality publication with the educated population, namely officers, government officials, students and the general public in Vientiane and its neighboring provinces, as its target readers. (Khamheung Khampasit, 2011, p.44)
For these reasons, a study of the Laotian worldview as perceived in the “Nanasara” column in Vientiane Mai newspaper will create an “understanding” of and “access” to Laos as a neighboring country in ASEAN as well as the readiness “to admire the differences that Laos projects and to appreciate the qualities that Laos has.”