Speech Acts of Gratitude in Thai: A Case Study of Acknowledgments in Thai language department theses

Abstract

This article aims to investigate the language strategies in Thai researchers’ expressions of gratitude. Data were collected from thesis acknowledgments texts in Thai from three educational institutions: Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University and Thammasat University. Each institution yielded ten texts, for a total of 30 texts. Searle’s (1969) conditions for gratitude speech acts were used to analyze them. The results showed that there were two main types of strategies employed. Direct strategies were exhibited through the use of six gratitude words. These were arranged in order of frequency from highest to lowest, “khɔ̆:+kràbkhɔ̀bkhun” “khɔ̆:+khɔ̀bkhun” “khɔ̆:+khɔ̀bphrákhun” “khɔ̀bkhun” “kràb khɔ̀bkhun” and “khɔ̀bphrákhun”. The second strategy found was the use of indirect gratitude strategies. Five sub-strategies were discovered: giving compliments, strategies for demonstrating success, strategies to repay a debt of gratitude, strategies regarding hypothetical situations, and making promises. The strategies of giving compliments were divided into two sub-strategies: direct strategies and the strategy of using metaphors to give compliments. From comparing the gratitude strategies, it appeared that direct gratitude strategies were used more than indirect gratitude strategies. This was because acknowledgments are an announcement of gratitude in honor of those who helped with the thesis. Using direct gratitude words is therefore an appropriate strategy. The results of the study reflect how Thai society places importance on gratitude through Buddhist concepts and that the relationship between the sender and receiver is an important variable in choosing words to express gratitude.