ANALYSIS OF PUNCTUATION MARK CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LANDSCAPE IN THE CENTER OF BANGKOK,THAILAND

บทคัดย่อ

This study systematically analysed the characteristics of punctuation usage in official and unofficial linguistic landscapes in downtown Bangkok through field investigation. The findings indicate that punctuation usage in the official linguistic landscape is relatively concise and infrequent, using only 9 types of punctuation marks, such as periods, connection numbers, brackets, etc., while the use of punctuation marks in unofficial linguistic landscapes is more diverse, using 16 types of punctuation marks, mainly in commercial signage, advertisements, etc. There are significant differences in the types and frequency of punctuation marks. Due to the strong standardisation, the official linguistic landscapes is more regulated, while the unofficial linguistic landscapes has more flexibility and creativity. Punctuation in unofficial contexts is often employed to attract consumers and emphasize key information. In addition, the factors affecting the use of punctuation marks in Bangkok linguistic landscapes include language type, function and nature of linguistic landscapes, and economic and cultural background. This paper provides a new perspective on the use of punctuation in linguistic landscapes and reveals the differences in information expression and cultural presentation between the official and unofficial linguistic landscapes.