Metapragmatic Discourse and the Ideology of Impolite Pronouns in Thai

Abstract

The complex system of person‐referring expressions in Thai sheds light on relationships between social structures, language use, and language ideologies. This article looks critically at the nature and implications of native speakers' metapragmatic awareness of person‐referring expressions. The analysis focuses on two transcripts of spontaneous metapragmatic discourse about the appropriate use of so‐called impolite pronouns, highlighting gender differences in usage and attitudes and situating this empirical evidence within the broader theoretical framework of language ideology.