KINDNESS, OR /NÁMJAI/ : A STUDY OF CONCEPTUAL METAPHOR IN THAI

Abstract

The article examines the conceptual metaphor of kindness, or /námjai/  in Thai, using a conceptual metaphor approach by Lakoff and Johnson (1980) Gibbs (1994) and Kövecses (2010). It is a qualitative research. The research results were presented in a descriptive and analytical manner using quantitative data. The data were randomly collected from academic works, non-academic works, fiction, newspaper items, law and miscellany in the Thai National Corpus program of the Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, a total of 1,245 messages.

The results of the research found metaphorical words that reflect the concept of the word “KINDNESS” in Thai, 404 words, totaling 5 ideas. Metaphors are sorted by the frequency with which metaphors appear the most and least frequently: [KINDNESS IS HUMAN], [KINDNESS IS WATER], [KINDNESS IS MATERIAL], [KINDNESS IS SPACE], and [KINDNESS IS MONEY/PROPERTY]. This conceptual metaphor reflects the concept of the word “KINDNESS” that the way of life of people in Thai society places importance on being kind or Showing kindness therefore reflects through the use of language of language users today. Kindness is something that every human being can do. Just show kindness to fellow human beings. The knowledge gained from this study shows that kindness is something that everyone should have in order to create
good relationships with those around them. Everyone should learn to be kind to others. And maintain kindness to each other for a good coexistence in society.