Abstract:
To study the relationship between language and point of view in Thai newspaper's coverage on Wat Phra Dhammakaya. It is based on the idea that language is a tool for representing reality. Linguistic choices have an influence on the nature of representation. It conveys attitudes and opinions of language users on what they are speaking or writing. The objectives of this study are to explore which linguistic strategies are associated with negative attitudes and to analyze the negative points that Thai newspapers have on Wat Phra Dhammakaya. The data are news articles from 5 Thai newspapers; Thai Rath, Daily News, Khao Sod, Matichon and Siam Rath. The study shows that there are 8 linguistic strategies. Four of them are semantic ones-namely naming, presupposition manipulation, metaphor, and lexical selection. The other four are discursive strategies consisting of epistemic modalization, interpretation, quoting other sources, and use of punctuation marks and font sizes. The linguistic strategies adopted inthe texts project 7 negative points on Wat Phra Dhammakaya; cheating, trickery, being another belief group who is dangerous to mainstream Buddhism, challenging the leader of Sanga, challenging state power, challenging the king, and engaging in a sexual scandal. In general, Thai newspapers consider Wat Phra Dhammakaya as a group of people who is dangerous to society and Buddhism. Wat Phra Dhammakaya is not only destroying the traditional Buddhist teaching, but also challenging the main institutions in Thai society. The study shows not only the relationship between language and negative viewpoint on Wat Phra Dhammakaya, but also shows that language use has strong connection with social contexts and has psychological influence on the people in a society