The Perspectives of Thai People on the Spread of COVID-19 From Caricatures in LINE Application
Keywords:
perspective, Thai people, Covid-19, caricature, LINE applicationAbstract
Objectives: This research aimed to investigate Thai people’s perspectives on the spread of COVID-19 from caricatures in LINE application and to analyze the use of language that presents those perspectives using Ferdinand de Saussure’s theory of semiology.
Methods: The study was conducted in 5 steps: studying related documents and research work; collecting a total of 110 COVID-19 related caricatures from LINE application during the years 2020–2021; analyzing Thai people’s perspectives and the use of language that presents those perspectives; presenting the results in a descriptive analysis format; and summarizing and discussing the results as well as giving recommendations.
Results: The results revealed that the perspectives of Thai people on the COVID-19 pandemic could be grouped into 8 aspects: the COVID-19 disease, the COVID-19 vaccines, the government, the politics, online class instructions, occupations, the economy or life quality, and people who were COVID-19 free. In terms of the use of language in the caricatures, both verbal and non-verbal means of communication were employed. Non-verbal language was used through pictures and colors, whereas verbal language was used through the play of sounds and words as well as impolite words, ironies, overstatements, words with a twist, name distortions, quotations, metaphors, comparative statements, visual metaphors, rhetorical questions and parallel statements. Such usage implied the Thai people’s perspective upon the COVID-19 outbreak through the use of comic relief, caricature and satire. This demonstrated the ability to implement humor to reduce stress and alleviate the tension of controversial issues, especially those related to criticism against the Thai government.
Application of this study: The use of language found in this research can be applied to create caricatures, satire and sarcasm in various types of media.
References
Angkapanichkit, J. (2019). Kan Wikhroa Khorkhwam. [Discourse Analysis]. 2nd ed. Bangkok: Thammasat University Press. (In Thai)
BBC News Thailand. (2020, March 3). Virus Corona: Drama nakak anamai khat talad-jaekfree-recycle. [Coronavirus: Face mask drama shortages-free giveaways-recycling]. Retrieved 26 November 2022, from https://www.bbc.com/thai/thailand-51717574 (In Thai)
Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration Ministry of Interior. (2021, July 15). Sathanakarn COVID-19 nai pratet Thai. [The COVID-19 situation in Thailand]. Retrieved 4 June 2022, from https://www.moicovid.com/15/07/2021/uncategorized/4035/ (In Thai)
Chiewchan, S. (2021). Karn Chai Phasa Nai Khaw Karn Phrae Rabat Khong Rok COVID-19 Jak Website Nangsuephim Online. [The Language Use in News about the COVID-19 Pandemic from Online Newspaper Websites]. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Nakhon Sawan Rajabhat University Academic Journal, 8(1), 72-89. Retrieved 17 March 2022, from https://so05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/hssnsru/article/download/247999/171020/902323 (In Thai)
Dailynews Online. (2021,July 21). Phoo chiewcharn chee COVID khra cheewit chao India makkwa thee prakat 10 thao. [Expert points out COVID has killed 10 times more Indians than announced]. Retrieved 19 November 2022, from https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/76356/ (In Thai)
Dechawong, S., Yannawaro, Phramaha W., & Mahaweero, Phramaha S. (2021). COVID-19: Karn Plianplaeng Nai Phasa Thai. [Changes in the Thai Language]. Journal of Educational Review, 8(2), 410-420. Retrieved 28 November 2022, from https://so02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/EDMCU/article/view/250997/169320 (In Thai)
Department of Disease Control Ministry of Public Health. (2022). Sathanakarn phoo tid cheua COVID-10 update rai wan. [Daily updates of COVID-19 cases]. Retrieved 17 March 2022, from https://ddc.moph.go.th/covid19-dashboard/ (In Thai)
Fankhamsai, N., Kankhet, S., Lusonthi, O., Pheukniam, A., & Jiaphong, S. (2022). Watjanakam COVID-19 nai seu online: Praphet watjanakam lae khwammai. [The Speech Acts of the Word ‘COVID-19’ in Online Media: Types and Meanings]. Aksara Pibul Journal, 3(2). 33-50. Retrieved 5 July 2023, from https://so02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/APBJ/article/download/256265/174322/995103 (In Thai)
Figure 1 The Number of Infected Patients (personal communication, July 15, 2021)
Figure 2 The Number of Deaths (personal communication, July 23, 2021)
Figure 3 Infection (personal communication, July 23, 2021)
Figure 4 Infection Test (personal communication, July 22, 2021)
Figure 5 Disinfection (personal communication, September 28, 2021)
Figure 6 Wearing a Mask (personal communication, July 21, 2020)
Figure 7 Curfew (personal communication, April 22, 2020)
Figure 8 Vaccine Brand Names (personal communication, August 30, 2021)
Figure 9 mRNA Vaccine (personal communication, July 27, 2021)
Figure 10 Donated Vaccine (personal communication, July 28, 2021)
Figure 11 Hospital Bed Shortage (personal communication, July 29, 2021)
Figure 12 COVID Applications (personal communication, July 21, 2021)
Figure 13 Face Mask Management (personal communication, March 6, 2020)
Figure 14 Vaccine Management (personal communication, July 26, 2021)
Figure 15 RT PCR Test (personal communication, July 21, 2021)
Figure 16 Protest (personal communication, August 11, 2021)
Figure 17 Online Classrooms (personal communication, July 21, 2021)
Figure 18 Online Test (personal communication, August 21, 2021)
Figure 19 Teachers, Parents and Students (personal communication, July 21, 2021)
Figure 20 Riders (personal communication, August 6, 2021)
Figure 21 Economic Regression (personal communication, June 26, 2020)
Figure 22 Anti-crisis Menu (personal communication, July 23, 2021)
Figure 23 Food during COVID (personal communication, July 23, 2021)
Figure 24 Debts (personal communication, July 23, 2021)
Figure 25 Loans (personal communication, July 23, 2021)
Figure 26 Non-infection (personal communication, July 21, 2021)
Glahwikgid, W. (2005). Aromkhan nai khorkhwam san samretroop. [Humour in Text SMS]. Master Thesis, M.A. in Thai Language Education, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand. (In Thai)
Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Clinicians Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital Mahidol University. (2020). Kwamroo pheunthan COVID-19 part 1. [Basic knowledge on COVID-19 part 1]. Retrieved 10 March 2022, from https://bit.ly/3aj4Ru1 (In Thai)
Khunjaroen, N., Trailak, R., & Banjongsawat, S. (2021). Karn Suksa Watjanakam Bon Poster Ronnarong Kiewkab Karn Pongkan Cheua Virus COVID-19 Nai Pratet Farangset. [A Study of Speech Acts in Campaign Posters for COVID-19 Prevention in France]. The 14th National and International Humanities and Social Sciences (HUSOC) Network Conferences, pp. 350-363, July 15-16, 2021. Faculty of Humanities, Naresuan University, Thailand. (In Thai)
King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital Thai Red Cross Society. (2021). COVID-19 saiphan Omicron. [COVID-19 Omicron strain]. Retrieved 17 March 2022, from https://bit.ly/3tdYRJA (In Thai)
Komchadluek Online. (2021, August 11). Duan salai karn chumnum “mob 11 August” klum thalu fa laila thorarat thee Anusaowaree Chaisamoraphum. [Urgent the “11 August mob” is dispersed. The thalu fa group dispels tyrants at Victory Monument]. Retrieved 29 November 2022, from https://www.komchadluek.net/news/478347 (In Thai)
Krungthep Turakij. (2021, July 30). Khrai dai cheet ‘vaccine Pfizer’ thung Thai laew 1.5 lan dose. [Who qualifies for the 1.5 million doses of Pfizer vaccine that have reached Thailand?]. Retrieved 5 June 2022, from https://www.bangkokbiznews.com/social/951857 (In Thai)
Krungthep Turakij. (2021, August 2). Ran aharn nai hang-soon karnkha harm seu klab! Sang delivery thaonan. [No takeaways from restaurants in department stores and shopping malls! Delivery only]. Retrieved 30 November 2022, from https://www.bangkokbiznews.com/business/952464 (In Thai)
Mahamontri, W. (2021). Sanya Nai Suesankhom Online Thee Chai Sadaeng Theung Saphap Akart Ron Nai Prathet Thai. [Signs on Social Media Used to Convey the Meaning of Hot Weather in Thailand]. The 14th National and International Humanities and Social Sciences (HUSOC) Network Conferences, pp. 874-888, July 15-16, 2021. Faculty of Humanities, Naresuan University, Thailand. (In Thai)
Ngamleur, S. (2016). Karn Suksa Wikroa Phaplor Sangkhom Thai Nai Suesangkhom Online. [An Analytical Study of the Thai Society Satire in Online Social Media]. KKU International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 6(1), 50-79. (In Thai)
Niyomsin, K. & Sriworrakan, S. (2019). Konlawithee kharn siadsee nai cartoon karnmuang khong Buncha Kamin [Techniques of satire in political cartoons by Buncha Kamin]. Journal of Liberal Arts, Rangsit University, 15(1), 103-118. (In Thai)
Open Development Thailand. (2020). Karn rabat. [Outbreak]. Retrieved 17 March 2022, from https://thailand.opendevelopmentmekong.net/th/topics/pandemics-covid-19/ (In Thai)
Panpothong, N. (2013). Wathakam Wikhroa Cheung Wiphak Tam Naew Phasasart: Naewkhid Lae Karn Nam Ma Suksa Wathakam Nai Phasa Thai. [Critical Discourse Analysis in Linguistics: Concepts and Implementations in the Study of Discourse in Thai Language]. (2nd ed). Bangkok: Academic Publication Project, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University. (In Thai)
Petcharavej Hospital. (2021). Triamkhwamphrom COVID saiphan Angkrit. [Prepare for the English strain of COVID]. Retrieved 17 March 2022, from https://www.petcharavejhospital.com/th/Article/article_detail/British-strain-of-Covid (In Thai)
Petcharaveg Hospital. (2021). COVID saiphan Delta kheu aria phraephan dai ruadrew khaenai. [What is the Delta variant of COVID? How quickly does it spread?]. Retrieved 17 March 2022, from https://www.petcharavejhospital.com/th/Article/article_detail/Delta-strain-of-Covid (In Thai)
Phadungcheevit, J. J. (2008). Watthatham Kransuesarn Lae Attalak. [Culture, Communication, and Identity]. 2nd ed. Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University Press. (In Thai)
Rodsap, N., Rodpan, S., & Suklek, P. (2022). Conceptual Metaphors of Fear and Sadness in Covid-19 Plague. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 18(2), 337-347.
Sungkaman, U. (2016). Konlawithee thang phasa nai watjanakam siadsee pheu sang khwam talokkhobkhan khong Thai. [Linguistic Strategies Used in Satirical Discourse to Create the Thai Sense of Humor]. Humanities Journal, 23(1).154-178. (In Thai)
Sungkaman, U. (2019). Konlawithee karn leekliang khwam mai suphab nai sticker Line. [Strategies in Avoiding Impoliteness of Line Stickers]. In Proceedings of the 6th Joint International Conference on Korean Studies and Thai Studies: Thai-Korean Cultural Pluralism in Digital Society Context. 25-27 July 2019. Pattani: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prince of Songkla University Pattani Campus. (In Thai)
Sanguanpong, S. (2020). Aromkhan nai raikarn Toey Tiaw Thai. [The Humour In Toey-Tiew-Thai]. MasterIndependent Study in Thai Language for Career Development. Silpakorn University, Thailand. (In Thai)
Thai PBS. (2020, April 2). Ratchakitja prakat curfew tua pratet wela 22.00-04.00. [Royal Thai Government Gazette announces curfew nationwide from 22.00 to 04.00]. Retrieved 9 June 2022, from https://www.thaipbs.or.th/news/content/290594 (in Thai)
Thongsakun, R. (2021). Karn Seu Khwammai Lae Konlawithee Karn Chai Phasa Nai Phleng Kiewkab Sathanakarn COVID-19. [The Communication and Linguistic Techniques in Songs Related to the COVID-19 Situation]. Udon Thani Rajabhat University Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 10(2), 57-76. (In Thai)
Trakoonphew, J. (2020). Karn Lorlian Nai Page Facebook Praphet Siadsee Karnmuang. [Parody in Facebook Pages in the Category of Political Satire]. CRRU Journal of Communication Chiangrai Rajabhat University, 3(1), 45-75. (In Thai)
Vichaivej International Nongkhaem Hospital. (2021). COVID-19 saiphan Delta 5-10 winatee kor tid dai. [COVID-19 Delta variant 5-10 seconds can be contracted within 5-10 seconds]. Retrieved 17 March 2022, from https://bit.ly/3PYIc6G (In Thai)
Vichaivej International Nongkhaem Hospital. (n.d.) Trawt ha cheua COVID-19 bab RT-PCR kab ATK tang kan yangrai. [What is the difference between RT-PCR and ATK in COVID-19 detection?]. Retrieved 4 June 2022, from https://bit.ly/3MpBHXG (In Thai)
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Journal of Arts and Thai Studies
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
