Animals Used in Addressing People in the Thai Language : A Case Study of Silpakorn University Student

Abstract

The objective of this article is to analyze and classify the types of animals used when addressing people in the Thai language. The concept of Halupka-Rešetar and Radic (2003) employed as an analytical approach in this study. The data used were collected from the answers elicited from 100 Silpakorn University students completing questionnaires. The results show that there are 98 animals that Thais preferably use to address people. They can be divided into two groups : the commonly-comman meaning (22 animals) and specific meaning (76 animals). All of these animals are used as pronouns and addressing terms of address whose structures can be divided into two categories : single structure, and mixed structure meanings. The results show the use of animals as terms of address arises from metaphorization. Most meanings carry negative used for disparagement. The positive-meaning terms are employed to help build solidarity in groups. The use of animals to address people in the Thai language can be classified into five groups: (1) appearance (2) eating habits (3) intelligence (4) characters (5) modification sound.