An Analysis of Discourse Entitled “Thiapthana 3”, a Political Gossip Column in Thairath Newspaper

Abstract

The objective of this research was to analyze a discourse entitled “Thiapthana 3”, a political gossip column in Thairath newspaper. Data was collected from Thairath newspaper published since 2021 including 170 issues. Discourse approach postulated by Brown and Yule (1983), Wongwipanon Piasiri (1987), and Panpotong Nattaporn (2013) as well as Language devices approach proposed by Bandhumadha Nawawan (1984) and Kaewtep Kanjana (2004). The result found that there were 4 parts of discourse structures in the column ; 1. Title, 2. Opening period, 3. Content, and 4. Closing period according to the following details ; 1. Giving tittle name, there were 8 patterns ; 1.1) The importance of story, 1.2) Direct naming, 1.3) Interest arousal, 1.4) Related conclusion, 1.5) Involved Introduction, 1.6) Asking question, 1.7) Social and political contexts, and 1.8) Warning. In term of the opening periods, there were 5 patterns; 2.1) Seeking attention, 2.2) Making joke, 2.3) Inserting implied touching and rhetorical utterances, 2.4) Issue conclusion, and 2.5) Affecting feeling. In the content, there were 4 patterns ; 3.1) Interesting story and anecdote, 3.2) Narration, 3.3) Referring word, 3.4) Situational description. While 4. Closing period, were also 5 patterns as well ; 4.1) Author’s feeling and opinion, 4.2) Summarizing, 4.3) Forecasting, 4.4) Questioning, and 4.5) Making joke. The result of language devices revealed 3 issues ; 1. Word
choices, 2. Figurative devices, and 3. Idioms. In terms of word choices, there were code mixing in English, slang words ,synonymous compounds, rhyming words, and connotative words. In figurative devices were personification, simile, metaphor, synesthesia, metonymy, and antonomasia. Regarding idioms; easy idioms to understand were used which reflected Thai culture according to the current political context. Keywords: Discourse, Language devices, Gossip column, Politics, Newspaper