<<

THE DISTINCTIONS b. interrogative BETWEEN INDEFINITE naiJ rial) nfi khraj daaj duu baal) movie CL this PAST see some AND 'Who has seen this movie?' INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS IN THAI1 (2) a. indefinite pronoun phanakl)aan khon nfi khaw maa Roongaroon employee CL this come thamiJaan t

Downloaded from Brill.com09/26/2021 07:32:02AM via free access MANUSYA: Journal ofHumaniti es 6.2, 2003

Both pronouns share the same meaning 4.4 functioning as or of indefiniteness and seem as if they complements cannot be absolutely distinguished. Yet, 4.5 cannot be modified by they are recognized by native speakers as separate words. The researcher, Based on the characteristics above, 25 therefore wanted to study the homophonous and homographic pairs of distinctions between these two types of indefinite and interrogative pronouns pronouns. have been identified. They can be classified by meaning into 7 types as 2. The aim of the study follows:

This article aims to present a study of person : phuudaj, khraj the distinctions between the indefinite thing : prakaandaj, s'i.IJdaj, pronouns and interrogative pronouns that ?arai, kraraj have the same form with the hypothesis place : naj, th1inaj, th1idaj that they can be classified into two word time : miadaj, miaraj, miaraj classes. The study consisted of 3 stages. manner : jaaiJraj,jaiJIJaj, IJaj, The first was to search for words that chendaj, chenraj have the aforementioned characteristics. amount or : thawdaj, thawraj, The second was to investigate their estimation thawraj, phiaiJdaj, context in order to infer both syntactic phiaiJraj, phiaiJnaj, and semantic criteria to classify them kh€cnaj into two word classes. The third was to reason : thammaj identify each word in the data as to what class it belongs. Mostly, these words consis t of 2 morphemes. The former is a free 3. Sources of data morpheme with the meaning about human knowledge which. Haspelmath The data came from three sources: two (1997) called the ontological category. novels, two books ofgeneral knowledge, The ontological category is divided into and general article, randomly picked 7 sub-groups : person, thing, place, time, from the CU electronic corpus. From manner, amount and reason. In some the last corpus, 200 samples were taken. languages, the member of sub-groups can be lesser or greater. The other word 4. The characteristics of is a bound morpheme with the meaning of indefiniteness: /daj/ and /raj/. It was indefinite and interrogative noticeable that some words have pronouns undergone certain changes and become monosyllabic such as /khraj/ (khon+raj) Using data survey and literature review and /naj/ (hon+raj); some with sound as guidelines, characteristics about these assimilation such as /jaiJIJaj/ (jaaiJ+raj) pronouns were designated: and /thammaj/ (tham+raj); some with sound attrition such as /?araj/ (?an+raj) 4.1 consisting of a formal element /daj/ and /kraraj/ (kaan+raj); and some with or /raj/ tonal changes such as /thawraj/ 4.2 having indefinite meanings (thaw+raj), and /miaraj/ (mia+raj). 4.3 occurring in the same position as nouns 112

Downloaded from Brill.com09/26/2021 07:32:02AM via free access The Distinctions between Indefinite Pronouns and Interrogative Pronouns in Thai

5. Syntactic contexts of He like learn what indefinite and interrogative 'What did he enjoy studying?' ·pronouns In example (5) a., /?araj/ is an indefinite The researcher analyzed the 25 pairs pronoun that occurs before a of indefinite and interrogative pronouns phrase /tharnn:->:->IJ nii/, in the sentential contexts to find out how whereas in example (5) b., l?araj/ is an different they were syntactically. Four interrogative pronoun. criteria were used to separate these two types of pronouns. (6) a. indefinite pronoun samaj nii ?araj taaiJtaaiJ period this what various 5.1 Indefinite pronouns can occur phitthanaa paj ruatrew maak with 3 types of noun modifier: develop quickly very , demonstrative modifier, and 'At present, everything is quickly indefinite modifier. Interrogative developed.' pronouns, on the other hand, cannot b. interrogative pronoun occur in these contexts. Some examples samaj nfi ?araj phatthanaa paJ are: period this what develop ruatrew maak (4) a. indefinite pronoun quickly very paa jaak ca phuut kap 'At present, what is quickly developed?' Auntie want speak with khraj sak khon nil) In example (6) a., /?arajl is an indefmite who CL one pronoun that occurs before an indefinite 'Auntie would like to speak to someone.' modifier /taaiJtaaiJ/, whereas in b. interrogative pronoun example (6) b., l?araj/ is an paa jaak ca phuut kap interrogative pronoun. Auntie want speak with khraj 5.2 Indefinite pronouns can occur as who an object of a negated predicate. 'To whom would Auntie like to speak?' Interrogative pronouns, on the other hand, cannot occur in such context. In example ( 4) a., /khraj/ is an indefinite Examples are: pronoun that occurs before a numeral classifier, for example, /sak khon nil)/, (7) a. indefinite pronoun whereas in example (4) b., /khraj/ is an maj phop phu:daj naj tham mfn interrogative pronoun. not see who in cave that (5) a. indefinite pronoun l~j at all khaw ch5:->p rian ?araj thamm:->IJ '(I) didn't see anyone in that cave.' He like learn what manner b. interrogative pronoun nii thaan phop phu:daj naj tham this you see who in cave 'He likes to learn things like this.' mfn baaiJ b. interrogative pronoun that some khaw ch5:->p rian ?araj 'Whom did you see in that cave?'

113

Downloaded from Brill.com09/26/2021 07:32:02AM via free access MANUSYA : Journal of Humanities 6. 2, 2003

In example (7) a., lphu:dajl is an haj c€tiJ laomprachaasoiJkhr::l? indefinite pronoun occurs as an object let inform The Public Welfare of a negated predicate, lmaj phop Department phu:dajl, whereas in example (7) b., I ' Anyone who has a problem, inform phu:daj/ is an interrogative pronoun and The Public Welfare Department' as seen in the sentence is not accepted if the predicate is negated. b. interrogative pronoun dek thli maa chuaj raw soiJ 5.3 Indefinite pronouns can occur in a the boy that come help us deliver yes-no question with lmajl, lrril, I kh5::>IJ pen khraj riiplaaw/. Interrogative pronouns, on the goods is who other hand, cannot occur in this context. 'Who is the boy who helps us to deliver Examples are given below: the goods?.

(8) a. indefinite pronoun In example (9) a., /khrajl is an indefinite M td5 k mu ~.llJ.s!ill. ki a w kh5IJ pronoun occurring in a subordinate hotdog have what relate clause, whereas in example (9) b ., kap maa riiplaaw lkhrajl is an interrogative pronoun to dog or not occurring in a main clause. 'Is 'hotdog' related to dogs in anyway?' b. interrogative pronoun (10) a. indefinite pronoun h6td5k mn slndaj kiaw kh5IJ thaa puu sia loiJ thlidaj, thli hotdog have what relate if spread mat down where, place kap maa nan pen ?anacak kh5::>IJ ton to dog that is territory of oneself ' Is ' hotdog' related to dogs?' 'Whenever one spreads his mat anywhere, that place becomes his In example (8) a., lsli]daj/ is an indefinite terri tory.' pronoun that occurs in a yes-no question b. interrogative pronoun with lrii:p\aawl, whereas example (8) thaa ca damn~nkaan taam b., with lsiiJdajl as an interrogative if will implement according to pronoun is already a question and kh5san5~, ratthabaan ca nam obviously needs nothing more to make the proposal, government will bring it so. IJoppramaan maa caak thlidaj budget from where 5.4 Indefinite pronouns can occur 'If it is implemented according to the in a subordinate clause of a complex proposal, from where will the sentence as well as in a co-ordinate government get this budget?' clause of a compound sentence. Interrogative pronouns, on the other In example (10) a., lthfidaj/ is an hand, cannot occur in these contexts. indefinite pronoun occurring in a co­ Some examples are: ordinate clause of a compound sentence, whereas in example ( 10) b., lthlidaj/ is (9) a. indefinite pronoun an interrogative pronoun occurring in khraj thli jaiJ mii panhaa a main clause. who that still have problem

114

Downloaded from Brill.com09/26/2021 07:32:02AM via free access The Distinctions between Indefinite Pronouns and Interrogative Pronouns in Thai

6. Semantic contexts of to the speaker], while the latter occur in indefinite and interrogative the context [± known to the speaker). pronouns 6.3 Negation This criterion identifies interrogative The semantic properties of indefinite and pronouns from indefinite pronouns: the interrogative pronouns were studied former occur in the context [-negation], following Haspelmath ( 1997) and Lyons while the latter occur in the context [± (1995). Four criteria were used to negation). separate these two types of pronouns. 6.4 Request for information .6.1 Specificity This criterion applies only to The concept of specificity is a key interrogative pronouns. The concept in the semantics of reference. communicative function ofa question is An expression is specific if the speaker to obtain information about facts presupposes the existence and unique relatively unknown to the speaker. This identifiability of its reference. This criterion identifies interrogative pronouns criterion identifies interrogative pronouns from indefinite pronouns: the former from indefinite pronouns: the former occur in the context [+request occur in [+specific] context, while the information], while the latter occur in the latter occur in [±specific] context. context [-request information]. 6.2 Knowledge of the speaker From these 4 semantic criteria, indefinite This criterion identifies interrogative pronouns and interrogative pronouns can pronouns from indefinite pronouns: the be separated as seen in this chart: former occur in the context [-known

semantic features / ~ +specific /~ + known to the speaker - known to the speaker + negation - negation /~ + request - request information information

indefinite interrogative indefinite indefinite indefinite pronouns pronouns pronouns pronouns pronouns

115

Downloaded from Brill.com09/26/2021 07:32:02AM via free access MANUSYA: Journal of Humanities 6.2, 2003

The above chart shows 5 of contexual (12) saahet thli tham haj chaaiJ meaning. Interrogative pronouns can cause that make elephant occur in only one context, while indefinite khaa khon maa caak ~ pronouns can occur in four contexts. We kill people come from what may thus specify the semantic features 'What is the cause of the elephant's of interrogative pronouns with 3 killing people?' features [+specific, -known to the speaker, +request information]. For In (12), the word /siiJdaj/ is an indefinite pronouns, we have 2 to 3 interrogative pronoun that occurs in a semantic features: complex sentence with specificity because the speaker wants to know the context 1: consists of 2 features cause of the elephant's killing people [+specific, +known to the about which he does not have any speaker] information and the addressee is context 2: consists of 3 features requested to provide it. [+specific, -known to the speaker, -request information] (13) khunm5::> niusik jaanill mia context 3: consists of 2 features doctor feel how when [-specific, +negation] chaaiJ chiak nfi taaj paj context 4 : consists of 2 features elephant CL this die [-specific, -negation] ' Doctor, how did you feel when this elephant died?' a. Interrogative pronouns In (13), the word /jaaiJraj/ functions as Examples of interrogative pronouns that an interrogative pronoun occurring in a occur in the context: compound sentence with specificity [+specific, -known to the speaker, because the speaker wants to know the +request information] addressee's feeling about which he does In this context, the data show that not have any information and the interrogative pronouns do occur without addressee is requested to provide it. any modifier, in the complex and compound sentence do occur only in a b. Indefinite pronouns main clause. Examples are: (i)Examples of indefinite pronouns that occur in the context: (11) pen j@Mi phuujiiJ about how woman [+specific, + known to the speaker] ?udomk.hat1? In this context, the data show that ideal indefinite pronouns frequently occur 'How about the ideal woman?' with a noun modifier. For example:

In the above example, the word /jaiJIJaj / (14) "nuu mii ?araj jaaiJ niiJ is an interrogative pronoun which occurs I have what CL one in a simple sentence with specificity ca haj mee" dekjiiJ yip because the speaker wants to know the will give mother the girl picked up manner of ideal woman about which he phaapwaat ?:bk caak krapaw does not have any information and the drawing out from bag addressee is requested to provide it.

116

Downloaded from Brill.com09/26/2021 07:32:02AM via free access The Distinctions between Indefinite Pronouns and Interrogative Pronouns in Thai

"I have something to give to you, [-specific, +negation] Mommy" The girl took a drawing from In this context, although an indefinite her bag. pronoun occurs with a [-specific] feature, it occurs in a special syntactic In (14), the word /?araj/ is an indefmite structure, as in a sentence with negated pronoun which refers to only one thing. predicate. For example: So, it is thus specified. Syntactically the indefinite pronoun /?.araj/ is modified by (17) !Uuk saaw phom maj kh~j a numeral classifier. In this context, the daughter my not ever information is already known to the paj khaaiJ ?aaiJ reem thlinaj speaker, that is, it is a drawing. go stay overnight where ' My daughter has never stayed (ii) Examples of indefinite pronouns overnight anywhere.' that occur in the context: [+specific -known to the speaker (18) chan maj nfu ca tham -request information] I not know will do In this context, the data show that WJmi indefinite pronouns frequently occur how with a noun modifier or in a subordinate 'I don't know what to do.' clause. For example: 8. Conclusion (15) ?araj thli pen kh5IJ what that belong This study reveals that indefinite th::5I)th1n ca phaan sh samkhan pronouns and interrogative pronouns local will past media important which are homophonous and tua nfi paj thiiJ phuuchom homographic can be distinguished both CL this go reach audience syntactically and semantically. ' Anything local will reach the audience Syntactically, interrogative. pronouns can through this important media.' occur freely as an autonomous element in a main clause. Indefinite pronouns, on the other hand, cannot occur in such (16) ?araj jaaiJ nil) Ion caak context but occur in restricted contexts what CL one drop from with a noun modifier, a negative element, krapawiJ~n a yes-no question particle, or as a purse constituent at a phrase or a clause level. 'Something dropped from a purse.' Semantically, indefinite pronouns can In the examples above, the word /?.araj/ occur in a more general context than _is an indefinite pronoun with specificity interrogative pronouns: indefinite because it refers to something. pronouns can occur either in specific or Syntactically the indefinite pronoun non-specific contexts, and a speaker can /?araj/ is modified by a either have or not have previous or a numeral classifier and thus is a information. Interrogative pronouns, on specified entity. the other hand, can occur only in a specific context and always require (iii) Examples of indefinite pronouns information from the hearer because the that occur in the context: speaker does not have any.

117

Downloaded from Brill.com09/26/2021 07:32:02AM via free access MANUSYA: Journal of Humanities 6.2, 2003

References Esquisses Linguistiques II: 38-54. Munchen :Fink Verlag. Campbell, R.N. 1969. Noun Substitutes in Lehmann, C. 1986. "Grammaticalization: and Modern Thai : A Study in Linguistic Typology." General Pronominality. The Hague : Linguistics 26: 3-21. Mouton. Lyons, John. 1969. Introduction to Diller, Anthony. 2001. "Grammaticalization Theoretical Linguistics. and Tai Syntactic Change." In Cambridge : Cambridge M.R. Kalaya Tingsabadh and University Press. Arthur S. Abramson, eds. Essays Lyons, John. 1977. Semantics. Vol. 2. in TaiLinguistics: 139-176. London : Cambridge university Bangkok : Chu1alongkorn Press. University Press. Lyons, John. 1995. Linguistic Semantics: Enc, Murvet. 1991. "The Semantics of An Introduction. Cambridge : Specificity." Linguistic Inquiry Cambridge University Press. 22 : 1-25. Santaputra, Sirinee. 1984. Structure and Fries, Charles. 1952. The Structure of Functions of Questions in Thai. English. New York.: Harcourt, Doctoral dissertation, Brace and Company. Department of Linguistics, Givon, Ta1my. 1979. On Understanding University of Hawaii. Grammar. New York: Academic Searle, J. R. 1969. Speech Acts. New York Press. and London : Cambridge Given, Talmy. 1984. Syntax: a University Press. Functional - Typological Traugott, Elizabeth Closs and Heine Bernd, Introduction. Vol.1 ,2. Amsterdam eds. 1991. Approach to : JohnBenjamins Pub.Co. Grammaticalization. Vol.1 ,2. Given, Talmy. 1989. Mind, code and Amsterdam: John Benjarnins context : Essays in pragmatics. Pub.Co. Hillsdale : Erlbaum. Haspelmath, Martin. 1997 . Indefinite Pronouns. New York: Oxford University Press. Heine, B., Claudi, U., and Hunnemeyer, F. 1991 b. Grammaticalization :A Conceptual Framework. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Hopper, Paul J. 1991. "On Some Principles of Grammaticization." In Traugott, Elizabeth Closs and Heine Bernd, eds. Approach toGrammaticaliza• tion Vol.l : 17-35. Amsterdam :John Benjamins Pub.Co. Kullavanijaya, Pranee. Forthcoming. "A Historical Study of thi1 in Thai." In Diller, Anthony and Jerold A. Edmondson, eds. The Tai-Kadai Languages. London : Routledge Press. Ktirylowicz, Jerry. 1975. "The Evolution of Grammatical Categories." In

118

Downloaded from Brill.com09/26/2021 07:32:02AM via free access