Abstract:
The objectives of this study were to investigate discourse construction of curse words in Thai literature, and to examine essence dimensions of curse words appeared in Thai literature. The data under investigation was curse words collected appeared in 43 proses from 8 Thai literatures composed during Ayutthaya to King Rama VI of Rattanakosin periods. The data was analyzed based on discourse construction framework. The findings showed that: Discourse construction of curse words composed of 3 parts including introduction, narrative process or content body, and ending or conclusion. Discourse strategies in composing curse words involved employing 3 types of lexical items, that is, verb, auxiliary verb, and adverb. Lexical items used in composing curse words held 2 main functions, that is, amplifying the meaning of verb or sentence, and communicating the meaning about characters actions, physical conditions, and circumstance. Analysis of physical appearance of curse words indicated that its discourse conformed to narrative style comprising 4 parts, that is, beginning and ending, indicating topic and reforming of topic or sub-topic, illustrating coherence, and repetition. Dimensional essence of curse words in Thai literature covered 2 issues, that is, cursing norms which involved causes in cursing, details of curse words, outcome of curse words, conditions in revoked from curse words, methods in revoked from curse words, and factors of curse words affecting composition of the story. Also, natural items appeared in curse words which included thinking and spiritual system as well as those of the supernatural phenomena.
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