Abstract:
Based on the critical frameworks developed by Fairclough (1995) and van Dijk (2003), this research work is aimed at studying the use of language in advertising discourse on cosmetics in Thai and analyzing the relationships between language use and the construction, emphasis and expression of values on beauty. Data consist of 454 advertising texts from cosmetics advertisements in Elle (Thai language) and Dichan. The findings are three-fold. The first one deals with which parts of body appear in the advertising discourse on cosmetics and how they are described in relation to beauty. The second one is an analysis of linguistic strategies which are used to present various aspects of beauty. The last one is an analysis of linguistic strategies which are used to construct, emphasis and express the values on beauty. The linguistic strategies can be divided into 2 types: (1) semantic strategies consisting of the use of verbs describing beauty; the use of intensifies which are further divided into 2 sub-types: degree intensifies and aspect intensifies; and the use of words to negate the kind of non-beauty according to advertising perspective, and (2) pragmatic and discourse strategies consisting of the use of figure of speech which is further divided into metaphor, simile, and hyperbole; claiming composed of claiming facts, and claiming opinions; rhetoric question; and presupposition manipulation which is further divided into presuppositions expressing general beauty, those indicating non-beauty and presuppositions expressing prototypical beauty. Relating to values about beauty found in this research, cosmetics advertising discourse indicates that women are beautiful only when they possess what is perceived to be perfect beauty, which follows the western model, and when they are young and healthy. Moreover, advertising discourse also indicates that women are beautiful only when they use cosmetics to beautify themselves according to fashion. It is noted that some of these values on beauty have been expressed in Thai society before and some have not. In brief, this research shows that linguistic strategies play a role in transmitting such values on beauty and in influencing the reader or the consumer to believe in the kind of beauty emphasized by the values on beauty presented in the advertising discourse.