"จะ"ในฐานะคำบ่งชี้สถานะเหตุการณ์ที่ไม่เกิดจริง(irrealis marker)

Abstract

The principal objective of this reserch is to study the function of the modal auxiliary/ ca?/ ùwillû as an irrealis marker in Thai grammar.Results show that /ca?/ in various syntactic constructions marks reality status in theùirrealisû domain which contrasts with ùrealisû. In the ùrealisû domain, a situation actually tookplace or is taking place, while in the ùirrealisû domain, it is viewed as having not yet occurred,and the incident may or may not happen. The reality status is a typological category andthe semantic domains related to ùirrealisû which are expressed by /ca?/ are probability,possibility, intention, future tense, conditionals, purpose, goal, and the start of an event. Thus,this study argues for the status of /ca?/ as an irrealis marker rather than a future tense markeror modality as traditionally stated in previous studies.Keywords: Typology, Realis, Irrealis, Semantic domain