The linguistic strategies for reprimanding during the transition to Thailand’s new Prime Minister on the X platform

Abstract

This article aims to examine the linguistic strategies used to reprimand the new Prime Minister through the hashtag #นายกรััฐมนตรีี X on the X platform. The first 250 messages featuring the hashtag were analyzed using the concept of reprimanding from the pragmatic perspective. The findings revealed that the linguistic strategies used to reprimand the new Prime Minister of Thailand on the X platform were categorized into three main strategies: 1) Direct reprimanding strategies: Rude words, words with negative meanings, and expressions conveying negative meanings were used to curse or denounce the Prime Minister’s undesirable behavior and statements. 2) Indirect reprimanding strategies: Verbal irony, slang, and metaphors were used to satirically, and sarcastically criticize the new Prime Minister’s undesirable behavior and statements. 3) Supportive strategies: Words used to degrade the Prime Minister’s status, emoticons, emphatic endings, emotional markers or numbers, and interjections were used to intensify the reprimands. These linguistic strategies for reprimanding reflect the political landscape of contemporary Thai society, where the reprimand serves as a tool in the negotiation for political power. It also highlights the power relationship between those who reprimand, holding influence in the online space, and the one being reprimanded, possessing the highest administrative authority in governing the country. Furthermore, the reprimand can also be considered as a form of cyber bullying.