Abstract:
The objective of this research aimed to analyze the strategies of humor in the Northeastern Thai Molum. The data were transcribed from the 20 video discs, those are coming from the 10 popular Esan-style singing groups (e.g. Phathum Bantensin group, Saeng Esan group and Rabeang Vatasin group). The research study applied the language construction approach and a discourse analysis of communication approach. Thus, why, the study found: The construction of language for humor communication took place in three different stages, for instance, at the beginning of the Molum story, during the Molum story and at the ending of the Molum story. During the beginning of the story, it found out that the Molum humor communication occurred within the conversations, songs and non- verbal language communications. Through the Molum story, the language construction of humor communication was relayed via conflicting story and non-conflicting story. Moreover, at end of Molum story, the construction of language for humor communication is involved with conversation, narrative and song. For the construction of verbal communication, it was separated into three different levels, this research also found that it involved with seven language construction of humor communication such as simple word, compound word, synonymous compound, repeated word, complex word, transliterated word and abbreviation word. For the meaning level of the construction of language in humor, it consisted of two types such as meaning of words and meaning of social/societies. For the discourse analysis, the construction of language in humor was mostly found in a) the beginning and the end and b) the heading of the performances and between the heading changes from one point to another point. For the construction of non- verbal communication in humor, it demonstrated in 'Molum Isan'group into seven types such as proxemics, chronemics, oculesics, haptics, kinesics, objects and vocalic. and The strategies of humor use in the 'Molum Isan'groups could be grouped in eight ways such as a) non-official Ianguage; b) intonation and words from foreign languages (e.g. English, Japanese and China); c) interjection words (e.g. upset and happy); d) specific purpose Ianguage (e.g. word-reversed, impolite and fake words)); e) explanation word (e.g. interpret, example and give the reasons); f) supposition word (e.g. nickname); and g) reference Ianguage (e.g. via mass communication, Thai wisdom and unexpected ending).