The Asking for the Return in Thai: A Study of Linguistic Strategies and Native Speakers’ Motivational Concerns

Main Article Content

Sittitam Ongwuttiwat

Abstract

          This research article aims to study linguistic strategies that Thai people adopted to express asking for the return of a borrowed item, as well as to study native speakers’ motivational concerns while performing the act. The results indicate that Thai speakers adopted mitigating strategies more frequently than bold-on record strategies. An analysis of native speaker’ motivational concerns reveals that there are two types of motivational concerns: 1) Motivational concerns relating to the purpose of conversation. 2) Motivational concerns relating to the context of conversation. It found that Thai speakers place a priority on keeping relationship with the interlocutor. This linguistics behavior might be motivated by three sociocultural factors: 1) an interdependent view of self, 2) Collectivism, and 3) High context culture.

Article Details

How to Cite
Ongwuttiwat, S. (2017). The Asking for the Return in Thai: A Study of Linguistic Strategies and Native Speakers’ Motivational Concerns. Journal of Cultural Approach, 18(33), 56–68. Retrieved from https://so02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/cultural_approach/article/view/88525
Section
Research Article

References

[1] Hall, S. (1976). Visual Culture: The Reader. London; Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications in Association with the Open University.

[2] Hanks, W. F., Sachiko, I., & Yasuhiro, K. (2009). Introduction towards An Emancipatory Pragmatics. Journal of Pragmatics, 41, 1-9.

[3] Hofstede, G. (1984). Culture's Consequences: International Differences in Work-related Values. Beverly Hills: Sage Pub.

[4] Hofstede, G. (1987). Culture's Consequences: International Differences in Work-related Values. Beverly Hills: Sage Pub.

[5] Klauser, W. J. (1981). Reflections on Thai Culture. Bangkok: Suksit Siam.

[6] Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (1991). Culture and the Self: Implications for Cognition, Emotion, and Motivation. Psychological Review, 98(2), 224-253.

[7] Mulder, N. (1996). Inside Thai Society: An Interpretations of Everyday Life. Amsterdam: Pepin Press.

[8] Panpothong, Natthaporn. (2012). Pragmatics in Thai. (Unpublished).

[9] Pongsapich, Amara. (1998). Traditional and Changing Thai World View. Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University Press.

[10] Roongrengsuke, Siriyupa., & Chansuthus, Daryl. (1998). Conflict Management in Thailand. In K. Leung and D. Tjosvold (Eds.), Conflict Management in the Asia Pacific Assumptions and Approaches in Diverse Culture, (pp. 67-221). Singapore: Wiley.

[11] Triandis, H. C. (1995). Individualism and Collectivism. Boulder: Westview Press.

[12] Yaowarittha, Chanwit. (2011). The Concept of "Bunkhun" and Three Types of Speech Acts in Thai Society. Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.