SYNTACTIC AND SEMANTIC PROPERTY OF EPISTEMIC MODALITY “khɨ:siʔ” IN NORTHEASTERN THAI DIALECT

Abstract

The objective of this article was to analyze syntactic and semantic properties of epistemic modality called “khɨ:siʔ” in northeastern Thai dialect which conveys diverse meanings of epistemic modality. This study was a qualitative research complied northeastern Thai dialect data from documents, folk story tales, online databases and northeastern Thai dialect used in daily life from Dramas and Films. The result in term of syntactic property found that epistemic modality “khɨ:siʔ” referred to specified meaning of epistemic modality is obligately appeared in 3 the positions and constructive units ; 1) noun phrase + epistemic modality + verb phrase + particle 2) noun phrase + epistemic modality + verb phrase + noun phrase and              3) constructive unit found is temporal word + epistemic modality + verb phrase. Semantically, it found that epistemic modality “khɨ:siʔ” performs its meaning according to the framework of epistemic modality. It represents speaker’s inference whose sentences are uttered and found 3 minor meanings; 1) possibility which is               a speaker’s possible inference, 2) probability which is highly inferred that the proposition is true, and 3) inferred certainty which identifies that speaker has rational reason to believe the proposition is true as well.