Interjections and Speech Acts: Constructing Identity and Narrative Voice in the “Banthuek Khong Toot” Literary Series

Abstract

Linguistic expression in contemporary literature, particularly in works that reflect the experiences of individuals with diverse gender identities, plays a significant role in constructing both identity and narrative voice. This study aims to (1) analyze interjections, (2) examine speech acts, and (3) investigate the roles of interjections and speech acts in constructing identity and narrative voice in the literary series Banthuek Khong Toot (Volumes 1–3). This research adopts a qualitative approach, employing Ameka’s (1992) framework of interjections, Searle’s (1979) speech act theory, and the concepts of identity construction and narrative voice proposed by Bucholtz and Hall (2005) as analytical frameworks. Data were selected based on textual units that function as interjections and utterances that clearly convey illocutionary force. Content analysis was employed as the primary method of analysis. The findings reveal that interjections can be classified into three types: emotive interjections, interactional interjections, and cultural/stylistic interjections. Speech acts are categorized into four types: assertives, directives, commissives, and expressives. Furthermore, interjections and speech acts play a crucial role in constructing the narrator’s identity as a gender-diverse individual. This is reflected through the use of emotionally expressive language, sarcastic language, and group-specific linguistic styles. These linguistic features contribute to the formation of two types of narrative voice: exaggerated expressive voice and sarcastic voice, which collectively reflect the identities of narrators who self-identify as “toot.” The study demonstrates that interjections and speech acts are not merely tools for expressing emotion and intention; rather, they function as linguistic resources for constructing identity and producing social meaning within a specific subcultural context.