Leluntaya: Composition Strategies and Roles in creating Ethnic Identity in Burmese Culture

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to study the composition of Pongsakorn's Letunya novel in terms of content, characters, and dialogue, and in the terms of composing is the naming and narrative strategies as well as the study of the distinctive features of ethnic identity that appeared in Pongsakorn's novels. The results of the research showed that Pongsakorn's Letunya offered all the literary elements. The naming strategy was relevant with the story's issues, resulting in an interesting continuity for readers. When analyzing the distinctive features of ethnic identity that appear in Pongsakorn's novels, it found that the uniqueness of the novel was to convey the history and background of Burmese way of life by applying the symbols of hierarchy and power from wearing Luntaya cloth with a extraordinary pattern of Luntaya, as well as preserving the weaving culture which is a highly artistic, extraordinary and delicate heritage not to disappear over time. In particular, the fusion of Burmese culture, identity, and ethnic integration, resulting from the immigration of the Yodaya people. Besides, the plot added the story of love, resentment, and the troubles of the characters with an interesting and compelling plot that displayed the distinctive features of the novel and was able to convey the story to the reader in a visually and obviously pleasing manner.