Semantic Changes at the Construction Level of the GOAL Schematic Structure in Thai

Authors

  • Suphachai Tawichai Doctoral student, Department of Thai, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University
  • Vipas Pothipath Asst. Prof., Department of Thai, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University

Keywords:

semantic change, GOAL schematic structure, construction, cognitive semantics

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the contextual meanings of the GOAL schematic structure ‘be Y to X’ in Thai, the semantic relation of the GOAL schematic structure ‘be Y to X’ from the cognitive semantic perspective and the semantic changes of the GOAL schematic structure ‘be Y to X’ from the cognitive semantics and historical linguistic perspectives. Data investigated in this research derived from prose dated from 1357 to 2017, totaling 418 occurrences. The results show that there are three contextual meanings of the GOAL schematic structure: ‘GOAL’, ‘RECIPIENT’ and ‘POSSESSION’. All three meanings are metonymically contiguous. Explanation for the semantic extension from the cognitive semantic perspective is that the GOAL schematic structure is the source of the construction, which is semantically extended to ‘RECIPIENT’ and ‘POSSESSION’. When the semantic changes were examined using the historical data, it was found that ‘POSSESSION’ was the first meaning appearing in 1357, while ‘GOAL’ and ‘RECIPIENT’ were later found. However, ‘POSSESSION’ does not exist in the present day. Only ‘GOAL’ and ‘RECIPIENT’ still remain. This research confirms the validity of the concept that the semantic changes are not only limited at the lexical level but can also be considered at the construction level. 

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Published

2020-12-22

How to Cite

Tawichai, S., & Pothipath, V. (2020). Semantic Changes at the Construction Level of the GOAL Schematic Structure in Thai. Journal of the Faculty of Arts, Silpakorn University, 42(2), 191–219. Retrieved from https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jasu/article/view/247949