“naaŋ” as a Third-Person Pronoun: A Role Language Analysis

ความหมายและหน้าที่ของสรรพนามบุรุษที่ 3 “นาง”: วิเคราะห์จากแนวคิดภาษาบทบาท

Abstract

        This study investigates the meanings and functions of the Thai third-person pronoun “naaŋ”. Data consisting of instances of “naaŋ” used as a third-person pronoun were collected from social networking services (SNS), including Facebook. Semantic analysis was conducted using the concept of semantic features, while the pragmatic functions of “naaŋ” were examined through the framework of role language (Yakuwarigo). The findings show that “naaŋ”, which originally referred exclusively to female referents, has lost the semantic feature of femininity and expanded its range of reference to humans, animals, and inanimate entities regardless of gender. In addition, the pronoun has developed a new meaning that expresses the speaker’s sense of familiarity, closeness, or intimacy with the referent. It can convey positive feelings such as affection, as well as mild negative feelings such as complaining or teasing. However, unlike the third-person pronoun “naŋ”, which is historically derived from “naaŋ”, it does not convey strongly negative attitudes such as contempt or disparagement. From a pragmatic perspective, the study found that “naaŋ” is used by speakers of all genders. To examine the role enacted through the use of this pronoun, comments posted on the Pantip website regarding the use of “naaŋ” as a third-person pronoun were collected and analyzed. The results indicate that “naaŋ” is associated with intimate and informal relationships and is commonly used in casual, light-hearted conversations among groups whose interlocutors are women or LGBTQ individuals. In this context, speakers can adopt a feminine persona associated with intimate friendship through their choice of “naaŋ” as a third-person pronoun. The study also demonstrates the potential applicability of the role language framework to research on the Thai language.