Dictionary of Siam Kedah

The dictionary that will be publish contained a listing of a basic words and phrases of old Siam language in certain of Kedah provinces that spokes by Malay Muslim as a vernacular. Old Siam language was seen as a mother tongue in Kedah’s society and very much influence in the name of major places. However this language exposed to Malay influence after Kedah-Langkasuka under suzerainty and in conection with overlordship of Malay empire such as Sri Wijaya and Malacca.

A manuscript dated 1516 AD, Barbosa, a well known Portugese trader, described port of Kedah prospered as:

“a place of Kingdom of Siam...... to this port an infinite number sf ship resort, trading in all kinds of merchandise. Here come many Moorsh ships from all quarters. Here too, is grown much pepper, very good and fine, which conveyed to Malacca and thence to China.

Portugese poet, Vaz de Cameons (1524-1579 AD) mentioned in his famous epic poem, the Lusiad first published in 1571 AD, celebrating the establishment of Portugese sway in the east Indies, in the lines,

“Behold Tawai city whence bein
Siam’s domains, reign of great extent;
Tenasseri; Quedah of town of the Queen
that bear the burthen of the hot piment.”

Kedah law’s written in Malay on the date of 1060 Hijrah (1650 AD) still contained a word of Siam:

Kweng - officer
Raja Tui Yangkam Yukbad - disloyal King, refusal to give his authority
Ka - to kill
Menura - artistry

(Kedah Laws, transliterasi penyelenggaraan Maryam Salim 2005, Dewan Bahasa dan pustaka ISBN 983-62-8210-6)

The first King of Kedah name is Merong Maha Wangsa means the Lord of Dragon. A major places seem as an old Siam language probably can be translated as below:

Jitra- stop and rest
Pendang- bang of gun
Sik-four
Linchan (Mukim Tekai Kanan)- banks level
Tekai - trader
Sungai Ma (Padang Durian) - river of dog
Naka - fields of lengkuas
Nami- bear's face
Changloon - elephant sitting
Gurun - horrifying
Tajar - gigantic centre
Che rai (Jerai) - whats the name?
Kokbah - crazy isle
Kokdiang - red isle
Chenang - princess name
Arau - we are
Tobiar - mentioning clamourous
Kakap - I'm singing
Kokap (Mukim Kurong Hitam) - begging a meal