“Saksi” and Communication from a Pragmatic View: a Case Study of Thai Male Students

Abstract

Abstract

          Socio-cultural factors always influence people’s language and non-language behavior in everyday life. The concept of “Saksi” is one of many essential factors in Thai society, and some interactions that affect the “Saksi” of a person could cause trouble between or among them. This research aimed to examine the meaning of “Saksi” from the perspectives of Thai male students having conflict with each other and to analyze language and non-language behavior relating to the “Saksi” factor. The researcher collected data from 20 Thai male students by using interview sheets adapted from Spencer-Oatey (2002)

           The research revealed that the meanings of “Saksi” from the informants’ perspectives were similar to and different from sociologists’ perspectives. From a language behavior angle, it was found that speech acts employed by Thai male students had six purposes: challenging, insulting, reprimanding, commanding, discharging,  and refusing. Furthermore, it was found that non-language behavior concerning “Saksi” can be classified into three groups: 1) protecting behavior of “Saksi,” 2) getting or increasing behavior of “Saksi,” and 3) losing or decreasing behavior of “Saksi”