Song village where the Khmer firstly settled down, and where the Thai Lao later migrated because of its fertility. The language represents the ethnic diversity. Thai Khmer villagers try to learn Thai Lao Language and standard Thai whereas Thai Lao villagers cannot speak Khmer. For instance, a wedding between Thai Lao and Khmer will be held as per Khmer tradition. The villagers are Buddhists and some Thai Khmer believe in superstition. The husband is responsible for earning the family income and is the main decision-maker in the family. There is a school in the village, teaching standard Thai from grade 1 to grade 4, however in the villagers’ opinion, they do not need the school because the people who have studied cannot get any jobs. Thai Lao villagers have higher education level than the Thai Khmer villagers. In matters of health, they believe that bad spirits cause illness. In the meantime they use medicine for the treatment. The villagers are mainly agriculturists and land is a main factor of production. The land owners prefer to prepare the land to be inherited by their children and to expand production. After the rice farming season, people in the community make traditional handicrafts such as silk weaving, wickerwork, making carts and cotton weaving so that they can supplement their income from these handicrafts. The Thai Lao and Thai Khmer have similar occupation, but the Thai Lao mostly have higher economic status than the Thai Khmer because of: 1.better level of education, interaction with outside society and general enthusiasm and ambition 2.The Thai Lao labourers tend to be of higher educational level than the Thai Khmer. 3.The Thai Lao villagers tend to pay more cost of production in terms of tools and other production factors than the Thai Khmer. 4.The Thai Lao gains more rice production per rai than the Thai Kmer because of their greater efficiency and effective practices. The Thai Lao have migrated, but mingled with the Thai Khmer. There is economic competition and cultural changes which are as follows: 1.The Thai Khmer sells their land to the Thai Lao so they have the lesser land of their own. 2.The Thai Khmer are enthusiastic and diligent, so as to have better standard of living than the Thai Lao.
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