The The use of /thǐː/ in King Rama IV period

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the word /thǐː/ in the King Rama IV period and compared it with /thǐː/ in the Sukhothai period, Ayudhaya period, and Rattanakosin period. The data came from three documents in King Rama IV period: Rajakitchanubeksa in King Rama IV period, Prachum Prakat in King Rama IV period (B.E. 2349-2400), and Prachum Prakat in King Rama IV period B.E. 2401-2404). The results of this study revealed that /thǐː/ in King Rama IV period was used in six ways: 1) before a clause, 2) after the verb /pēn/, 3) as a preposition, 4) as a compound word, 5) as a part of the verb phrase with /thǐː/, and 6) before the topic of a sentence. The comparative study found that /thǐː/ in King Rama IV period had more many functions than /thǐː/ in another period.