Techniques of Thai Language Usage Reflecting Characters from Thai Literary Works Mentioned in Thai Songs’ Lyrics from 2016 – 2017

Abstract

This article aimed at studying techniques of Thai language usage which reflected characters from Thai literary works mentioned in Thai songs’ lyrics from 2016 – 2017. Data collection was done by gathering 28 Thai songs involving Thai literary works available online during the abovementioned period. The results of the study indicate that the adopted techniques are namely, 1) word usage which includes gradable words, literary words, English lexicons, and slangs; 2) idioms, that is, conventional idioms and modified idioms. The former ones are more commonly used, since they offer readers more complete, simple and clear explanation; and 3) figurative language, namely rhetorical questions, hyperboles, similes, and metaphors. The most frequently used kind of figurative language is rhetorical questions which are posed not for the sake of getting an answer but for enlightening or expressing feelings and emotions.