The Grammatical Functions And Meanings Of “Khʉʉ”

Abstract

          In syntactic terms, the word “khʉʉ” functions as a copula that can link a noun phrase subject with a nominal predicate or connect a subject with a clause or phrase serving as a complement. However, an analysis of 300 instances of Thai language usage collected from social media service (SNS) reveals that “khʉʉ” not only serves its traditional copula function but also acts as a grammatical functional word when appearing outside noun phrase structures. When “khʉʉ” links a topic or subject noun phrase with an adjectival or verbal predicate, it indicates specific properties of the topic in comparison to others. Conversely, when “khʉʉ” precedes a clause or verb phrase that does not modify a noun, it explicates the speaker’s thoughts concerning the topic, which are often contextually implied but not explicitly stated. Furthermore, idiomatic expressions were identified wherein “khʉʉ” connects identical or near-identical word units, thereby emphasizing the connotation of those units.