Abstract:
This thesis aims at analyzing DEATH metaphors in Dharma books, and their functions. Another objective is to examine the communicative components by adopting the framework of Ethnography of Communication. The data were collected from 21 Dharma books that written by Thai Buddhist monks. The findings show that there are 17 concepts reflected by the metaphorical expressions in Dharma books, namely [DEATH IS A JOURNEY] ;[DEATH IS ENAMY] ;[DEATH IS TO EXTINGUISHING A FIRE AND/OR TURNING OFF A LIGHT] ; [DEATH IS AN ENTITY] ;[DEATH IS EDUCATION]; [DEATH IS THE BROKEN OF FRAGILE THING]; [DEATH IS LOSSING PRECIOUSE THING]; [DEATH IS GOING DOWN]; [DEATH IS A DISATER]; [DEATH IS A FRIEND]; [DEATH IS RETURNING A BORROWED MONEY OR THINGS]; [DEATH IS A DESTRUCTED HOME]; [DEATH IS A KILLER]; [DEATH IS DEATH OF A PLANT]; [DEATH IS A BRUTAL ANIMAL]; [DEATH IS SLEEPING] ;[DEATH IS THE END OF A SHOW]. These metaphors represent 4 aspects of death from the perspective of Buddhism including; 1) Human is mortal. 2) Life is not opposite to death. 3) Everybody should study and believe in Buddhism. 4) Death is not scary if we change our attitude toward it. Then we will be suffering anymore. The seventeen death concepts can be categorized to 5 groups namely, 1) disaster 2) journey and motion 3) loss or deterioration 4) an/end/ of a process and 5) useful things. The significant communicative components are 1) Ends 2) Participants and 3) Norms of interaction & interpretation. In terms of function, the findings indicate that the conceptual metaphors of death in Dharma books serve 3 functions, namely ideational function, interpersonal function and textual function. The ideational function includes explanation, reconceptualization and persuasion to do or not to do something. The personal function is to decoration, disguise and hyperbole. The textual function is aim at the organization the text.