The Use of Address Terms in Thai during

Authors

M.R. Kalaya Tingsapat
Amara Prasithrathsint

Publication Date

1989-01-01

Abstract

This study investigates the use and change in the use of address terms in Bangkok Thai during 200 years of the Ratanakosin (Bangkok) Period : 1782-1982. The data on which the analysis is based were taken from conversations in 157 novels and short stories, randomly selected from 5 sub-periods of the Bangkok period : the beginning of the Bangkok period, the dawn of modernization, the period after the abolition of slavery, the "Democracy" period, and the period after October 14, 1973. The study finds that an address term in Thai consists of two parts : the obligatory and the optional parts. The latter is a "final" particle, such as kha. The other can be any or a combination of two or several of these words in this order : pronominal, kin-term, rank, occupation/title, name, and expressive phrase. It was discovered that the three most frequently used address terms are name, pronominal + name, and pronominal. The use of these three forms of address are determined by the degree of respect and intimacy the speaker expresses toward the addressee. With regard to change, the data show that there has been little change in the address terms used by the ''senior" (phu-yai), but those used by the "junior" (phunoi) have changed in such a way that they tend to show more equality since the "Democracy" period. As for the address terms used among equals, they have changed so that the speaker expresses more intimacy toward the addressee.

DOI

10.58837/CHULA.PASAA.19.2.17

First Page

136

Last Page

145

Recommended Citation

Tingsapat, M.R. Kalaya and Prasithrathsint, Amara (1989) "The Use of Address Terms in Thai during," PASAA: Vol. 19: Iss. 2, Article 18.
DOI: 10.58837/CHULA.PASAA.19.2.17
Available at: https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/pasaa/vol19/iss2/18