The Relationship Between Linguistic Devices and Representations of Thai Teachers in the Booklets Entitled Khru Di Nai Duangchai

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the relationship between linguistic strategies and the representation of Thai teachers in the booklets entitled Khru Di Nai Duangchai  during 2018–2019, utilizing van Dijk’s (2015) theoretical framework as the analytical lens. Data were collected from 100 systematically sampled texts. The primary linguistic strategy identified was narrative discourse, within which eight sub-strategies were found: 1) definition through relational processes, 2) use of material and mental processes, 3) metaphors, 4) cause and effect sentence structures, 5) contrastive sentence structure, 6) use of teacher and other voices, 7) textual reference and 8) reference word selection. The findings reveal that the representation of Thai teachers in the texts comprises three main representations: 1) Teachers as more than a profession, 2) Teachers as perfectly qualified professionals, and 3) Teachers as complete duty performers. Khru Di Nai Duangchai  or “Good Teachers in Hearts” aims to present an “idealized” representation of teachers that is perfect to the point of being unrealistic. Furthermore, it emphasizes the representation of teachers as state policy implementers rather than “teachers in students’ hearts,” which may ultimately lead to stereotyping and overlooking certain realities.