A Systematic Literature Review of Literature Related to the Study of the Structure and Function of Prepositions in the Thai Language

Abstract

This research aims to systematically collect and review the literature related to the study of the structure and function of prepositions in the Thai language, using a linguistic theoretical framework as a documentary research approach. Data were collected from the following sources: 15 Thai-language grammar textbooks published between B.E. 2478 and B.E. 2562 (1935–2019 CE). The data were then analyzed and synthesized, classifying prepositions according to structure, function, and meaning, in order to show the development of concepts, the points of agreement, and the differences in the explanation of prepositions in Thai. Research Findings; The literature review on the study of prepositions in Thai found that linguists use criteria for studying prepositions that can be divided into two main approaches: (1) the use of Syntactic Criteria, and (2) the use of Both Syntactic and Semantic Criteria, with each approach having a different focus. Research using only syntactic criteria includes concepts from traditional grammar, structural grammar, and Lexicase Dependency Grammar, which aim to classify prepositions based on word position, word distribution, and the relationship of the word to other elements in the sentence. Most studies agree that prepositions tend to appear before a noun or between a verb and a noun, and function to connect the relationships between various elements of the sentence, although individual scholars use different sub-criteria depending on their theoretical framework. Research using both syntactic and semantic criteria holds that the classification of prepositions should consider both word position and semantic role together, since prepositions do not only function to connect elements of a sentence, but also express a variety of semantic relationships, such as place, time, direction, instrument, cause, purpose, possession, co-agent, beneficiary, and comparison. This makes it possible to explain the structure and function of prepositions more comprehensively and clearly. The results of the literature review reflect the development of the study of prepositions in Thai, from analysis focused on syntactic structure, which helps explain the characteristics of Thai prepositions comprehensively and in accordance with the article's objective of reviewing both the structures (preposition structures) and functions (preposition functions) of prepositions in Thai.