AN ANALYSIS OF COLLOCATIONS AND SEMANTIC PROSODY IN...
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AN ANALYSIS OF COLLOCATIONS AND SEMANTIC PROSODY IN THAI POLITICAL NEWS HEADLINES IN THE BANGKOK POST NAREETHIP NITSAISOOK A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUESTMENTS FOR THE MASTER DEGREE OF ARTS IN ENGLISH FOR COMMUNICATION THE FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES BURAPHA UNIVERSITY JULY 2017 COPYRIGHT OF BURAPHA UNIVERSITY
Transcript of AN ANALYSIS OF COLLOCATIONS AND SEMANTIC PROSODY IN...
AN ANALYSIS OF COLLOCATIONS AND SEMANTIC
PROSODY IN THAI POLITICAL NEWS HEADLINES
IN THE BANGKOK POST
NAREETHIP NITSAISOOK
A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUESTMENTS FOR THE MASTER DEGREE OF ARTS
IN ENGLISH FOR COMMUNICATION
THE FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
BURAPHA UNIVERSITY
JULY 2017
COPYRIGHT OF BURAPHA UNIVERSITY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and deep appreciation
to my thesis advisor, Assistant Professor Dr. Ubon Dhanesschaiyakupa, who inspired me
on this research topic. She kindly provided me with valuable advice, expert guidance and
patience throughout this study.
Great appreciation is offered to all committee members Assistant Professor Dr.
Saengchan Hemchua, Assistant Professor Dr.Issariya Thaveesilpa, Dr. Somphob
Yaisomanang, and Dr. Songyot Buaphuen for their useful suggestion and comments.
In addition, I would like to deeply grateful Mr. Steven Bradley and Assistant
Professor Dr.Khomduen Phothisuwan for suggestions and the data analysis reliability.
I would like to thank all teachers and friends in the English for Communication
classes for helping me and cheering me up during my study.
Finally, special thanks go to my family for their love, understanding, support
and encouragement in driving me to achieve my academic goal.
Without all of them, this research would have never been completed.
Nareethip Nitsaisook
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55920331: MAJOR: ENGLISH FOR COMMUNICATION; M.A. (ENGLISH FOR
COMMUNICATION)
KEYWORDS: COLLCATION/ SEMANTIC PROSODY/ POLITICAL NEWS
HEADLINES
NAREETHIP NITSAISOOK: AN ANALYSIS OF COLLOCATIONS AND
SEMANTIC PROSODY IN THAI POLITICAL NEWS HEADLINES IN THE
BANGKOK POST. THESIS ADVISOR: UBON DHANESSCHAIKUPA, Ph.D. 147 P.
2017.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the types and characteristics of
collocations and semantic prosody of the collocations in Thai political news headlines in
the Bangkok Post. The collocations were analyzed to determine their types and
characteristics and the types of semantic prosody, and to find out whether the types of
semantic prosody were affected by the news context. In this study, 148 front-page
political news headlines during January 1st to December 31
st, 2015 from the Bangkok
Post were selected as the samples.
As a result, there were 271 collocations appearing in the political news
headlines. The collocation with structure of ‘verb + noun (or preposition phrase) were
found the most (33.95%). The structure of ‘adjective + noun’ and ‘noun + noun’
(30.63%) and the structure of ‘verb + preposition’ (14.02%) came the second and third.
Each type of the rest was found to appear less than 5%. For the types of semantic
prosody, it was found that 53.51% of collocations had negative semantic prosody,
25.09% positive, and 21.40% neutral in collocational meaning. In contextual meaning,
54.24% of collocations had negative semantic prosody, 28.78% positive, and 16.98%
neutral. A small number of collocations changed their collocational meaning when they
appeared in the news context. The study revealed that the political news writers of the
Bangkok Post tended to use lexical collocations more than grammatical collocations, and
had direct views in writing political news headlines.
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55920331: สาขาวชา: ภาษาองกฤษเพอการสอสาร: ศศ.ม. (ภาษาองกฤษเพอการสอสาร) ค าส าคญ: ค าปรากฏรวมจ าเพาะ/ อรรถสมผส/ ขาวการเมอง/ หวขอขาว นรทพย นสสยสข: การวเคราะหค าปรากฏรวมจ าเพาะและอรรถสมผสทปรากฏในหวขอขาวการเมองไทยในหนงสอพมพบางกอกโพสต (AN ANALYSIS OF COLLOCATIONS AND
SEMANTIC PROSODY IN THAI POLITICAL NEWS HEADLINES IN THE
BANGKOK POST) ทปรกษาวทยานพนธ: อบล ธเนศชยคปต, Ph.D., 147 หนา ป พ.ศ 2560.
งานวจยนมวตถประสงคเพอศกษาชนดและลกษณะของค าปรากฏรวมจ าเพาะและอรรถสมผสทปรากฏในหวขอขาวการเมองไทยในหนงสอพมพบางกอกโพสต วเคราะหค าปรากฏรวมจ าเพาะเพอระบชนดและลกษณะ และศกษาอรรถสมผสเพอจะคนหาชนดของอรรถสมผสมการเปลยนแปลงอยางไรเมอปรากฏอยในหวขอขาว โดยผวจยรวบรวมหนงสอพมพบางกอกโพสตระหวางวนท 1 มกราคม - 31 ธนวาคม พ.ศ. 2558 เพอคดเลอกหวขอขาวการเมองออกมาเปนกลมตวอยางจ านวน 148 หวขอขาว
ผลการวจยพบค าปรากฏรวมจ าเพาะ 271 ค า ในหวขอขาวการเมองไทยโดยพบค าปรากฏรวมจ าเพาะในโครงสราง “ค ากรยา + ค านาม(หรอบพบทวล)” พบมากถง 33.95% โครงสราง “ค าคณศพท + ค านาม” และ “ค านาม + ค านาม” พบ 30.63% และโครงสราง “ค ากรยา + ค าบพบท” พบ 14.02% สวนโครงสรางรปแบบอนๆปรากฏนอยกวา 5% เทานน ผลการวเคราะหชนดของอรรถสมผสในความหมายของค าปรากฏรวมจ าเพาะพบวาค าปรากฏรวมจ าเพาะมกมอรรถสมผสความหมายลบพบถง 53.51% ความหมายบวก 25.09% และความหมายกลาง 21.40% สวนผลการวเคราะหอรรถสมผสของค าปรากฏรวมจ าเพาะในความหมายเชงบรบทปรากฏในหวขอขาวพบวา ค าปรากฏรวมจ าเพาะมกมอรรถสมผสความหมายลบถง 54.24% ความหมายบวก 28.78% และความหมายกลางพบ 16.98% เทานน ทงนผวจยพบวาค าปรากฏรวมจ าเพาะทเปลยนอรรถสมผสเมออยในบรบทของหวขอขาวมเพยงเลกนอย นกขาวของหนงสอพมพบางกอกโพสตเขยนขาวโดยใชค าปรากฏรวมจ าเพาะดานค ามากกวาดานไวยากรณและมมมมองตรงประเดนในการเขยนขาวการเมองไทย
CONTENTS
Page
ABSTRACT…..………………….….……………………………………….………... iv
CONTENTS…………………………………………………………………………… vi
LIST OF TABLES……………………………………………………………………. x
LIST OF FIGURE…………………………………………………………………….. xi
CHAPTER
1 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………. 1
Statement of the problem……………………………………………………. 1
Objectives of the study……………………………………………………… 4
Research questions…………………………………………………………... 5
Significance of the study…………………………………………………….. 5
Scope ……………………………………………………………...….……… 5
Definition of the terms……………………………………………………….. 5
2 LITERATURE REVIEWS……………………………………………………….. 7
General aspects of newspapers and news…………………………………… 7
Newspaper headlines………………………………………………………… 7
Headline functions…………………………………………………………… 8
Types of headlines…………………………………………………………… 9
Language of Headlines……………………………………………………… 10
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CONTENTS (Continued)
CHAPTER Page
Definition of news………………………………………………………...... 11
Types of news………………………………………………………………. 11
Political news.………………………………………………………………. 12
The Bangkok Post………………………………………………………...... 13
Collocations………………………………………………………………… 14
Definitions of collocation………………………………………………….. 14
Node and collocate…………………………………………………………. 15
Characteristics of collocations……………………………………………… 16
Classifications of collocations……………………………………………… 17
Semantic prosody…………………………………………………………... 22
Classification of semantic prosody………………………………………… 25
Previous studies……………………………………………………………. 26
3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY………………………………………………. 28
Research approach…………………………………………………………. 28
Data collection……………………………………………………………… 29
Selecting sample size…..…………………………………………………… 29
Research timeline…………………………………………………………… 30
Data analysis………………………………………………………………... 31
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CONTENTS (Continued)
CHAPTER Page
Data analysis verification…………………………………………………… 33
Reported result ……………………………………………………………... 36
4 REEULTS AND DISCUSSIONS………………………………………………….. 37
Results………………………………………………………………………. 37
Part 1: The types of collocations appearing in the front page headlines of
political news in the Bangkok Post…………………………………………. 37
Part 2: The analysis results of semantic prosody…………………………… 43
Part 3: The phenomenon of semantic prosody change of collocations in the
context………………………………………………………………………. 46
Discussions………………………………………………………………….. 51
Question 1: What types and characteristics of collocations appear in the front
page headlines of political news in The Bangkok Post? ………………….... 52
Question 2: Which semantic prosody of collocations is reflected in the front page
headlines of political news in The Bangkok Post? ……………………………... 55
Question 3: Is semantic prosody of each collocation still the same or different
when it appears in the context? ……………………………………………... 57
5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS………………………………... 59
Conclusion………………………………………………………………….... 59
Recommendations…………………………………………………………… 60
ix
CONTENTS (Continued)
Page
REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………… 62
APPENDICES………………………………………………………………………… 66
APPENDIX A……………………………………………………………………... 67
APPENDIX B……………………………………………………………………… 69
APPENDIX C……………………………………………………………………... 83
APPENDIX D………………………………….………………………………….. 91
APPENDIX E……………………………………………………………………... 144
BIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………………… 147
x
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
1 The Research Timeline………………………………………………………….. 30
2 The Result of Collocations Verification………………………………………… 34
3 The Result of Semantic Prosody Verification…………………………………... 35
4 The Result of Types of Collocations Found in Political News Headlines..…….. 38
5 The Examples of Lexical Collocation…………………………………………… 39
6 The Examples of Grammatical Collocations……………………………………. 41
7 The Examples of Other Types of Collocations………………………………….. 42
8 The Results of Semantic Prosody Analysis in Collocational Meaning and
Contextual Meaning ………………...…………………………………………... 44
9 The Examples of Semantic Prosody in Collocational meaning and Contextual
meaning………………………………………………………………………….. 44
10 The Summary of the Phenomenon of Semantic Prosody Change of Collocations in
the Context……………………………………………………………….…….. 47
11 The Examples of Phenomenon of Semantic Prosody Change of Collocations in the
Context…………………………………………………………………………. 48
xi
LIST OF FIGURE
Figure Page
1 Typology of Qualitative Research……………………………………………... 30
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Statement of the Problem
Communication is a core part of human life because it is the process of
human beings responding to the symbolic behavior of other persons (Adler &
Rodman, 2006). Communication is one of everyday activities involving all of human
life so completely that people sometimes overlook its pervasiveness, importance and
complexity. People communicate to share, exchange and disseminate ideas and
information as well as to perform their daily activities (Littlejohn & Foss, 2011).
People can use in different ways of communication to receive and express information
to one another; so many types of communication occur in different contexts and
objectives of communication. People send and receive messages through verbal and
nonverbal communication (Devito, 2014). ‘One-way communication’ is also a type of
communication in which the sender sends a message to the receiver for informing,
persuading or sharing information without the receiver’s involvement via different
means, newspaper, product label and billboard message (Fielding, 2006).
Newspaper is a one-way communication that the writer sends news
messages to the reader without getting any feedback. Newspaper is a kind of mass
media communication. Mass communication is a form of communication that refers
to communication from one source to many receivers who may scatter throughout the
world (Devito, 2014). Moreover, mass communication consists of messages that are
transmitted to large and wide spread audience via electronic and printed media.
However, mass communication differs from other types of communication, in that
mass messages are aimed at a large audience without any personal contact between
the sender and the receiver. It is always controlled by gatekeepers who determine
what, how and when messages will be constructed and delivered. As a gatekeeper,
editors, producers, and reporters have the power to influence mass messages in ways
that do not affect most other types of communication. Thus, this unique characteristic,
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the study of mass communication has raised special issues and deserved special
treatment (Adler & Rodman, 2006). In addition, recently, media literacy has become
central to the study of human communication. The study of language use in printed
media like English newspapers has widely conducted and is worthwhile to research
nowadays.
Additionally, newspapers are always in the form of printed communication
that updates information. According to Reah (2002), newspapers report up-to-date
source of information. People read newspapers daily, so newspapers are a part of their
daily life. They read newspapers to get the latest news of events happening in their
own country and abroad. In reading newspapers, readers do not only learn what is
happening but also learn how to develop language skills and general knowledge
(Dominick, 2002). Moreover, people read only what interests them in the newspaper,
so they skim through headlines and expect to find a summary of all news stories.
Headlines become a major source of information and the basis for how the story
develops. They can tell the reader what the news is about and helps the reader find
what interests them at a glance. Particularly, front-page headlines play an important
role in providing the most newsworthy stories of the day. Headlines include a great
deal of information within a limited space to call the reader’s attention to the stories.
In writing news headlines in an English newspaper, a journalist usually uses
expressive language which is created by using the combination of certain words that
are not necessary come together in adjacent manner. It can be said that he/she uses
collocations (Laumsupanimit, 1986).
In order to understand messages delivered by the reporter, readers should be
able to interpret collocated words to obtain underlined meanings in news headlines.
Thus, collocations play an important role for developing language skills for language
learners. Collocations are difficult to be used and understood because they are
unpredictable and come in various collocated word forms. Benson and Ilson (1997,
p.258) have stated about collocations as follows:
“Collocations are arbitrary and non-predictable. Non-native speakers
cannot cope with them; they must have a guide. They have no way of
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knowing that one says in English ‘make an estimate’, (but not make
estimation), ‘commit treason’ (but not commit treachery). In English one
says ‘commit fraud and perpetrate fraud’. However, only the collocation
‘commit suicide’ is possible; one does not say ‘perpetrate suicide’. One says
‘bake a cake, but make pancakes’ (not bake pancakes)”
Hill (2000) has also stated that the first and most obvious reason why
collocations are important because the way words combined in collocations is
fundamental to all language use. Besides, it is necessary not only to study the use of
collocations but also to focus on semantics of collocated words. Sinclair (1991) stated
that some collocates of a word form a semantic class which can be characterized in
terms of attitudinal meaning. Node words and collocates are related with semantic
association and semantic prosody that is the functional choice which links meaning to
purpose. The effectiveness of communication between news readers and news writers
become the issue of study. One of the main concerns in language use is whether the
news writer can use English to clearly convey the meaning of news to readers, such as
positive meanings or negative meanings of headlines, which are the first part of
newspaper the reader reads. Therefore, word collocations can convey positive, neutral
and negative prosody. Collocations used in news headlines in an English newspaper
are worth for a language study.
As headlines appear on the front-page in newspaper mostly related to
political news (Witthayarath, 2002). Language learners who study in political news
language should be aware some reasons. The first main reason is that Thai media are
controlled by the government. In political crisis era in Thailand, some issues are
forbidden to be broadcasted and announced. In addition, because of selecting and
supporting their favored political party in year 2001, according to Supatthanarungsan,
(2013) media took political side and support their favored political party. They
disseminated ‘selective’ information for news. Thus, some news are not stated in all
dimensions of facts. The mass media also had a powerful impact on people and can
cause political conflicts in the society. In addition to being a news and fact announcer,
another major role of mass media is to criticize and give opinion on issues to reflect
other dimensions of the government or people. Thus, readers directly receive
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information from the media. It can be said that “what issue the media show, people
know and what the media say, people also say” (Prathammapidhok & Aeosriwong
1994, p.6) Finally, the information may or may not be facts in Thailand because
journalists work in different policies of their company. They can present the same
facts of news in different stories (Budkhod, 2014). Therefore, the language used in
political news can be in different styles, communicative intentions and attitudinal
meanings such as positive, neutral, and negative meaning.
In this study, the ‘Bangkok Post’ newspaper was selected as the source of
political news headlines to be studied because the ‘Bangkok Post’ is the initial
English newspaper having been published since 1946. The ‘Bangkok Post’ takes the
Thailand’s largest newspaper sales and gets the most respected English-language
daily newspaper by winning both domestic and international awards (The Post
Publishing, 2010).
However, many previous studies have focused on language features in news
headlines. In Thailand, there are few studies focused on both collocations and
semantic prosody. The researcher, therefore, is interested in investigating the use of
collocations in political news headlines and their semantic prosody.
Objectives of the study
The purposes of this study are as follows:
1. To explore the types of collocations appeared in the front page headlines of
political news in the Bangkok Post.
2. To analyze semantic prosody of collocations in the front page headlines of
political news in the Bangkok Post.
3. To find out the phenomenon of semantic prosody of collocations in the
context.
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Research Questions
This study addresses three research questions.
1. What types and characteristics of collocations appear in the front page
headlines of political news in the Bangkok Post?
2. Which semantic prosody of collocations is reflected in the front page
headlines of political news in the Bangkok Post?
3. Is semantic prosody of each collocation still the same or different when it
appears in the context?
Significance of the study
This research examined types and characteristics of collocations in the
headlines of political news in the Bangkok Post dating from January1 to December
31, 2015. The benefits of the study are as follows:
The findings can reveal types and characteristics of collocations used in the
front page headlines of political news.
The findings can indicate collocational semantic prosody to be understood in
the political news headlines. Thus, they can be used as guidelines for further studies in
collocational analysis and semantic prosody study in news media research.
Scope
This study focused on the analysis of the characteristics of collocations and
semantic prosody found in the front-page headlines of political news from ‘The
Bangkok Post’, an English newspaper in Thailand, dating from January 1 to
December 31, 2015.
Definition of terms
Collocation is the co-occurrences of words within a short space of each other
in a text (Sinclair, 1991)
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Semantic Prosody describes the way in which certain seemingly neutral
words can be perceived with positive or negative meaning through frequent
occurrences with particular collocations. It is non-linguistic elements which has an
impact on communication (Sinclair, 1991). According to Stubb (1996), semantic
prosody is classified into three categories as follows:
Negative prosody: if a node word is attracted by collocates with strong
negative semantic characteristics, the node word bears a negative prosody. For
example, ‘set in’ has a negative connotation when its main collocate is negative word
such as rot, decay, or infection. The collocations ‘rot set in’, ‘decay set in’, and
‘infection set in’ have negative prosody.
Neutral prosody: if positive and negative collocates appear in the context,
the node word can be said to stand neutral prosody. The critical words themselves
have either a positive or a negative semantic prosody.
Positive prosody: if collocates are positive words and attract a node word,
the node word is provide with a positive prosody. For example, ‘career’ mostly
collocates with words ‘successful’, ‘good’, or ‘potential’. The collocations ‘successful
career’, ‘good career’, and ‘potential career’ have positive prosody
Political news is a current event about political concern, the management of
government, parliament and senate. It can be about policy news, national
administration, and local government (Witthayarath, 2002).
Headline is the title of a newspaper story, printed in large letters at the top of
the story, especially on the front page (Cobuild Advanced Learner’s Dictionary,
2014).
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CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEWS
This literature review chapter introduces general aspects of news headlines
in the Bangkok Post. To achieve the objectives of the study in analyzing collocations
and semantic prosody, it is necessary to discuss collocations theory and semantic
prosody. Thus, this chapter consists of 4 main parts starting with general aspects of
newspapers and news, which is then followed by collocations and semantic prosody
parts as the second and the third part and previous studies is finally laid out.
General aspects of newspapers and news
A newspaper has been defined as a publication that usually appears daily or
weekly. A newspaper contains news, information and comments on current affairs
and gives advices on columns of various types, entertainment features, and classified
as well as displayed advertisements (Peneth, 1983). Additionally, newspaper is a set
of large printed sheets of folded paper containing news, articles, and other
information, usually published every day (Macmillion English Dictionaty, 2002). The
content of a newspaper will be primarily devoted to the news of the day (Reah, 1982).
In addition, a newspaper is a good source of information, keeping us
informed of what is happening, or has happened, near and far. A newspaper contains
various types of information other than news, and also allows readers to share
opinions on a variety of common interests. Therefore, it can be concluded that
generally a newspaper provides information and opinions about current events in
politics, economy, crimes, and catastrophes as well as several kinds of entertainment
to their readers (Punyaratabendhu, 1998).
Newspaper headlines
Headline is a summary of the whole news story and it is necessary to build
into the central topic of a piece of news. The best and strongest information goes into
the headline, the minor and details stay out. Headlines are just like the lead story, and
the six questions; who, what, where, when, why, and how are provided (Neal, 1946)
In addition, Reah (2002, p 13) has also defined the headline as a unique type of text
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that has a range of functions that specifically dictate its shape, content, and structure
of news story. Headlines should have minimum number of words, attract readers to
the story and appear on the front page. Finally, a headline is like a title of a news story
or news article telling readers what a news article is about (Punyaratabandhu, 1998).
In summary, a newspaper headline is a key summary of the news story
written with a concise phrase or sentence and is placed above the news article.
Usually news headline typeface is bigger than news article in order to attract readers’
attention and inform readers briefly the most important message of the news article.
Headline functions
Headlines have a persuasive function when they are designed to attract the
attention of readers and persuade them to read the news story. Brooks and Sissors,
(2001) point out the 5 main functions of a headline as follows:
1. To attract the reader’s attention: a good headline should sell stories which
appear indifferent features and must be able to call readers’ attention towards the
important story of the day.
2. To summarize the whole story: headlines should summarize the entire
story as concisely and accurately as possible.
3. To help index all the news contents to the readers: a headline should help
readers decide what to read and what to pass.
4. To depict the mood of the news content: a headline should help the reader
determine the tone of news whether it is serious or humorous.
5. To set the tone of the newspaper. a headline should help separate the news
contents and relieve the tedium that would exist with masses of text-sized type.
In addition, a headline is the major source of information for hasty
newspaper readers. A good headline should directly shows what is in the story and
guides readers to the news stories they are interested in. As the headline readers rely
mostly on concise and precise information, the prime function of a good headline is to
indicate the relative significance of the news story to the reader. This is done by using
the relative size of the headline, and furnishing the headline with color ingredients
(Wesley, 1980).
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Types of headlines
According to Fredrickson and Wedel (1993) there are five types of
newspaper headlines as follows:
1. Straight Headline informs the key subject matter of a news story
straightforwardly. It is the most popular and most comprehensible type.
For example, Railroad workers strike in Argentina, Man jailed for murder
2. Question Headline is not really designed to ask a question but it is written
in a form of affirmative sentences and a question mark is added to show that
assumption of the event might occur or express the doubt.
For example, New cabinet today?
3. Quotation Headline is written by quoting any speech considered
meaningful to be placed in the headline. It reports the actual speech of the speaker and
written in various tenses depending on the circumstances.
For example, “We owe our lives to our pilot”
This quotation headline use quotation marks with meaningful and actual
speech from the speaker.
4. Feature Headline is intended to call attention of readers to the rest of a
news story. It may be composed of calling attention words that do not convey the
main idea of the news story and sometimes may leave doubts to readers for further
reading.
For example, The man who reigned over UK’s Queen
This headline example does not aim to give the summary of the news but
leave doubts to readers for further reading and understanding who reigned over the
UK’s queen. This news is about a captain of ‘The Queen Marry’ ship in England.
5. Complex Headline consists of two layers of heading in one news. It
usually occurs when a news story is considered prominent. The more important
heading will appear in the larger bold type heading; in the contrast, the less important
heading is presented in smaller font.
For example, Expected to go US
CASTRO TO FREE THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS
This complex headline example appears two discrete stories. The less
important story headline “Expected to go US ” is in smaller font but the most
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important headline “CASTRO TO FREE THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS” is in
large font to call attention from readers.
Language of Headlines
The headline writers should develop vocabulary to fulfill the requirements of
the headline by using words that are short, attention getting and effective. Thus, the
language and structure of headlines have specific features. Many words that are
typical of headlines are probably rarely found in others type of text (Reah, 2002). In
addition, to catch readers’ attention, headlines need to be simple, readable and
appropriate to the kind of paper in which they are printed. The choice of words for
headlines is affected by the ideas to be expressed and by the kind of readers
associated with the newspaper. The headline structure is also often described as
telegraphic. As the space provided for headlines is limited, finite verbs, auxiliary
verbs or adverbs tend not to appear. As the results, the verb can be incorporated in a
noun phrase by class-shifting or nominalizing thus, becoming a dynamic noun. There
are some specific characteristics of a newspaper headline as follows:
1. A headline can be ambiguous or can have two meanings. The ambiguity
occurs when a word could be interpreted differently depending on its word class.
2. The words omitted are usually function words, that is grammatical words
that do not carry intrinsic meaning such as determiners (some, this, that, a, an),
pronouns, auxiliaries (be, have, do), titles and punctuations are also omitted.
3. Using short words such as the word ‘row’ is used for ‘argument’.
4. Using loaded words that carry particular strong connotations and
emotional loading beyond its literal meaning. For example, a word ‘wealthy’ is
replaced by ‘rich’ in negative connotation and ‘well off’ or ‘affluent’ in positive
connotation.
5. Noun phrases can be nouns with modifiers such as determiner, numbers,
and adjectives such as the three people, the sweet perfume.
6. A noun phrase is an appropriate headline with the modifiers and the
headword. For example, ‘A Labrador, Daisy, has had to have emergency veterinary
treatment after she ate a daffodil’ can possibly be ‘Daffy Daisy’s Vet-dash Panic’ as a
noun phrase. ‘Daffy’, ‘Vet-dash Panic’ are modifiers for ‘Daisy’ that is a headword in
this headline.
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7. Headlines may not contain a verb. The action verb is frequently used as an
adjective for noun such as Jailed Iraqi abuse soldier in tears , ‘Jailed’ is a action verb
that comes from ‘Iraqi who was jailed…’ that is changed an active verb to a dynamic
noun.
8. Using gimmicks to be strategies that can create ambiguity such as using
puns, homophones, homonyms, intertextuality, metaphor, alliteration, and rhyme.
9. Headlines tend not to have active verb. It tends to use passive voice such
as World Cup matches “fixed in the Far East”.
10. Headlines may have a visual function. The picture can give meaning to
the headline or add extra dimension of meaning.
Because of these specific features of language in headlines, especially strong
connotation and emotional loading beyond literal meaning, news headlines should be
studied in semantically related words in news context. Words or phrases can possibly
be shown in a set and they have the tendency to occur in a certain semantic
environment. Semantic prosody of the collocations in news headlines will be useful
for analyzing for linguistic study.
Definition of news
News is an original, distinctive, dramatic, romantic, thrilling, unique,
curious, quaint, humorous, odd and prone story to be talked about (Johnson, 1979).
Moreover, Agee and Ault (1983) also have defined news as the report of an event,
development, activity that reflects opinions of reporters and editors. It is believed that
news will interest some or many readers receiving and reading news story. According
to Reah (1982) news is defined as the information about recent events that are of
interest of some people, or that may affect the lives of them. To sum up, news is
reported information of recent events or in both domestic and international activities
from reporters to receiver.
Types of news
Agee and Ault (1983) have divided news into two types based on the
content; “hard news” and “soft news”. The hard news refers to stories which combine
the concepts of seriousness and timeliness. Hard news story is usually an account of
what happened, why it happens and how the reader is affected. In a newspaper, a hard
news story is the main content of a newspaper. Editors strain for large headlines over
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sensational hard-news stories such as murder news. Hard news stories fall into the
category of specific reported and tangible events such as government actions, politics,
international happenings, crimes, economy, science, technology, wars and social
conditions.
In contrast, soft news is usually timeless, relating to story that happens over
a longer period of time. It could appear on any day over reasonably long period
without affecting its newsworthiness. Yet, a purpose of a soft news is more to
entertain than to inform. Soft news focuses on human interest stories, lifestyles,
entertainment, sports and celebrity gossip (Lorenz & Vivian, 1996).
Political news
Political news is reported on a political event or happening situation by press
to readers, listeners or audiences (Wittayarath, 2002). The political news in Thailand
has the following specific features:
1. The news of election of house representatives and senators, provincial
governors, all of election process, political party establishing, policy of a political
party
2. Government establishment such as political party combination, prime
minister nominees, and cabinet ministers
3. The statements of policy by government presented to the parliament, the
statement of policy by Bangkok city governor to residents
4. The news of the establishment of an oppositional party leader, the role of
oppositional party in the house of representatives
5. Amendment, consultation, general debate, vote, interpellation, and debate
of no-confidence to council of ministers
6. Consideration to the act of parliament and house of representatives such
as annual government statement of expenditure
7. The news of termination of the cabinet minister position by resignation,
illegal act or decease for re-election
8. Statutory interpretation by parliament, consideration of constitution by
justice in the debatable act
9. Suspension proposal of the act from the house representatives by senators
and committees
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10. Constitution amendment
11. Dissolution of the parliament, resignation of prime minister and others
political changed situations
12. Government management, the role of parliament members, the
performance of the house of representatives and district administers
13. A sue of citizens to the administrative court
14. The operation of independent organizations such as Election
Commission of Thailand, National Anti-Corruption Commission, State Audit
Commission
15. The role and performance of the house of representatives, the resolution
of the house of representatives and issues in government management
The focus of this research is on political news which will be analyzed to
achieve the objectives of the study.
The Bangkok Post
According to the Bangkok Post (2003), the Bangkok Post is the earlier
English newspaper in Thailand which has been publishing since 1946. It is Thailand’s
largest and most respected English-language daily newspaper. In year 2010, as the
leading English newspaper, The Bangkok Post has been a highly reliable English
newspaper by winning the Asia Media awards and Asia-Pacific medals (The Post
Publishing, 2010).
The Bangkok Post newspaper has four main sections, and they are issued 7
days a week namely main section, business section and classified section except life
section comes out five days a week.
1. Main section is the most important and most interesting news including
local, regional, and international news. These news are the major component in main
section but there are also the editorial, opinion stories, analyses, commentary and
sport news.
2. Business section is comprised of in-depth reporting of local and
international news on finance, the corporate world, stock markets, energy and
commodities.
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3. Life section includes features travel, arts, cultures, automobile, technology
features, social news, report of celebrities, movies, lifestyle, commentary, comics and
puzzles.
4. Classified includes classified advertisements.
In addition to the four main regular sections mentioned above, The Bangkok
Post also issues weekly special sections on specific day. On every Sunday, ‘Brunch’,
‘Spectrum’ and comic section are distributed to readers. ‘Brunch’ section contains
easy to read articles, ‘Spectrum’ section contains hot social issues analysis, and comic
section that is printed in full color. On the second and fourth Thursday of each month,
it has ‘themagazine’ which is a glossy lifestyle publication that features a mix of
fashion, travel, interviews and luxury living. On every Friday, ‘Guru’ Magazine is
published about lifestyle and entertainment journal with full multi-media printed-
product for connecting the gap between the newspaper and internet generations. On
Saturday, ‘Muse’ section contains women oriented articles and scoops such as fashion
news, makeup tips, life stories of successful women, sex advice, family interest stories
and travel tips. (The Post Publishing, 2016).
In Thailand, ‘The Bangkok Post’ is a newspaper which has been published
in English to be distributed for decades. The front page is usually reported hard news
about daily serious events and situations in Thailand and abroad such as political
news, accident news, and disaster news. Political news is always reported in bold
headlines to get attention from readers, so the language of headlines has specific
characteristics and they cause ambiguous meanings. In this research, the front page
political news headlines will be focused and analyzed for both collocations
characteristics and semantic prosody for linguistic study.
Collocations
Definitions of Collocation
Most linguists offer a similar view on the concept of collocation which is the
co-occurrence of words. The term collocation comes from the Latin verb collocare
that means to set in order and to arrange (Martynska, 2004). This term was first
introduced by Firth (1957), who has defined collocation as a combination of words
associating with each other. Sinclair (1991) has also defined collocation as the
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occurrence of two or more words within a short space of each other in a text. It is a
regular combination between words frequently co-occur. Moreover, Hoey (1991) has
highlighted another aspect of collocation concept as:
“Collocation has long been the name given to the relationship a lexical item
has with items that appear with greater than random probability in its
(textual) context.” (Hoey,1991, pp.6-7)
This means that collocation is a relationship of word or words that always
come together. Words appear intentionally to collocational combination. In addition,
collocations is defined as a tendency of certain words to co-occur regularly in a given
language (Baker, 1992). Likewise, Lewis (1994) has defined collocation as a
subcategory of multi-word items, made up of individual words which usually co-
occur. Also, a collocation is a predictable combination of the content words such as
foot the bill and weather forecast (Hill, 2000). According to Oxford Collocations
Dictionary (2002), collocation is a means of combining words in a language to
produce natural-sounding speech and writing. For example, in English people say
‘strong wind’ or ‘heavy rain’ but if they say incorrect combinations such as ‘heavy
wind’ or ‘strong rain’ they do not sound natural in English. Finally, collocation is
defined as a group words that often occur together so the meaning of this group of
words is obviously different from the meaning of each word put together such as by
the way (Nation, 2001).
To sum up, linguists share the same concept of collocation that is a co-
occurrence of words that usually come together that can be a predictable combination
of words in English.
Node and Collocate
Sinclair (1991 cited in Nesselhauf, 2004, p. 12) has stated that ‘nodes’ and
‘collocates’ are two or more words occurring within a short space of each other in a
text and a short space or span is usually defined as a distance of four words to the
right and left of a node word. Four words to the right and left are called ‘collocates’.
The word under investigation is called a ‘node’. For example, if the word house is
analyzed, and the word occurs in an environment such as He went back to the house.
When he opened the door, the dog barked. The word went, back, to, the, when, he,
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open, the are all considered to form collocations with the node house, and these four
right and left words are called ‘collocates’ but one word of four right and left words
has a chance to be collocated a node.
Another example, a political news headline ‘Prayut denies plans to shake up
cabinet’, if the word shake up is analyzed, in this headline shake up cabinet is a
collocation. Shake up is node and cabinet can only collocate.
Characteristics of Collocations
The characteristics of collocation are unique in features. Boonyasaquan (2005)
has summarized the characteristics of collocation as follows:
1. Collocations are frequent co-occurrences of items between which no word
can be added. For example, in ‘knife and fork’, it is very unusual to add a word to this
collocation like, knife, spoon and fork.
2. Collocations consist of components that cannot be replaced by a synonym
or word of similar meaning. For example:
John makes a cake; but not
John makes a pancake.
Even a cake or a pancake are similar meaning, they cannot replaced each
other, makes a cake is not a collocation but makes a pancake is a collocation. Bake a
cake is correct collocation.
3. Collocations are binomials that cannot be reversed. The order of the parts
of a collocation is always fixed, for example, ‘bread and butter’, not ‘butter and
bread’.
4. Some collocations are predictable combinations. For example, if a person
hears a collocation ‘shrug...’ then s/he automatically expects that ‘shoulder’ will
follow. ‘Shrug shoulder’ is a predictable collocation which means ‘to raise or draw up
the shoulder’
In Addition, Baker (1992) has indicated that the two main factors
influencing the collocation range of an item are as follows:
1. The level of specificity: this means “the more general a word is, the
broader its collocational range; the more specific it is and the more restricted its
collocational range”. A general word can possibly combine with any words but a
specific word can only collocate with certain words. For example, the verb ‘bury’ is
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likely to have much broader collocational range than any of its hyponyms, such as
‘inter or entomb’. Only people can be ‘interred’, but you can ‘bury’ people, a treasure,
your head, face, feeling and memories.
2. The number of senses of a word: this means most words have various
senses each of which attracts a different set of collocates (Baker, 1992). For example,
the verb ‘run’ has in its sense of manage, collocated with the words like ‘company,
institution, and business’ to become ‘run business’. However, in its sense of ‘operate’
or ‘provide’, it collocates with the words like ‘service and course’ to become ‘operate
service’. ‘Run service’ is incorrectly collocated.
To sum up, collocations usually have specific characteristics. Their frequent
co-occurrences are observed and their collocates cannot be changed. It can be said
that collocations have fixed combination of words, thus incorrect combinations can
sound unnatural in English.
Classifications of Collocations
Linguists classify collocations into similar categories. Benson and Ilson
(1997) have classified types of collocations in light of the structure of words by
focusing on types of nodes which are lexical and grammatical words. Thus, the two
main categories are lexical and grammatical collocations.
1. Lexical collocations
Lexical collocations normally do not contain prepositions, infinitives, or
clauses. Lexical collocations are the combinations of the dominant words: nouns,
verbs, adjectives, and adverbs (adjective + noun, verb + noun, noun + noun, adverb +
adjective). There are seven major types of lexical collocations categorized by Benson
and Ilson (1997)
1.1. Verb (meaning creation and/or activation) + noun/ pronoun/
prepositional phrase
This type of collocation is also called fixed lexical combinations or CA
collocations. CA collocation is the verb denoting some type of Creation or Activation.
There are examples of collocations with verb denoting creation: come to an
agreement, make an impression, compose music, set a record, reach a verdict, inflict
a wound. Here are examples of collocations that express the concept of activation: set
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an alarm, fly a kite, launch a missile, punch a time clock, spin a tap, and wind a
watch.
1.2. Verb (meaning eradication and/or nullification) + noun
These fixed lexical combinations are called EN collocations. EN
collocation is the verb denoting some type of Eradication or Nullification. For
example, withdraw an offer, reject an appeal, lift a blockade, break a code, reverse a
decision, display fear, squander a fortune, demolish (raze, tear down) a house, repeal
a law, revoke a license, etc.
1.3. Adjective + noun, noun + noun
Collocations of this type consist of adjective + noun, such as best regards.
In many instances, more than one adjective can collocate with the same noun, for
example, the words ‘warm’, ‘warmest’, ‘kind’, ‘kindest’, and ‘best’ can combine with
the word ‘regard’. In English, nouns are often used as adjectives such as house arrest,
jet engine, land reform, aptitude test. Noun +noun collocation can be found more
easily by user of the Dictionary such as cabinet reshuffle, drug pusher.
1.4. Noun + Verb
Collocations of this type consist of noun + verb; the function verb is to
name an action characteristic of the person or a thing designated by the noun, such as
alarms go off (ring, sound), bees buzz (sting, swarm), blizzards rage, blood circulate
(clots, congeals, flows, runs), bombs explode (go off), etc.
1.5. Noun 1 + (of) + noun 2
Collocations of this type consist of noun 1 + (of) + noun 2: collocations
indicate the unit that is associated with a noun.
a. the larger unit to which a single member belongs: a colony (swarm) of
bees, a herd of buffalo, a pack of dogs, a bouquet of flowers, a pride of lions, a school
of whales, etc.
b. the specific, concrete, small unit of something larger, more general: a
bit (piece, word) of advice, an article of clothing, an act of violence, etc.
1.6. Adverb + adjective
Collocations of this type consist of adverb + adjective such as hopelessly
addicted, deeply absorbed, strictly accurate, closely (intimately) acquainted, sound
asleep, kneely (very much) aware, etc.
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1.7. Verb + adverb
Collocations of this type consist of verb + adverb such as argue heatedly,
amuse thoroughly, anchor firmly, apologize humbly, appreciate sincerely, argue
heatedly, etc.
2. Grammatical collocations
Grammatical collocations are the combinations of a dominant word and a
grammatical word or structure such as a preposition, to-infinitive, and that-clause
(such as noun + to + infinitive, adjective + preposition or that-clause). There are eight
types of grammatical collocations categorized by Benson and Ilson (1997).
2.1. Noun + preposition
Collocations consist of noun + preposition combinations, such as apathy
towards, blockade against.
2.2. Noun + to + infinitive
Collocations consist of nouns followed by to + infinitive. There are five
syntactic patterns in which this construction appears frequently The five syntactic
patterns are:
1. It was a pleasure (a problem, a struggle) to do it.
2. They had the foresight (instruction, an obligation, permission, the
right) to do it.
3. They felt a compulsion (an impulse, a need) to do it.
4. They made an attempt (an effort, a promise, a vow) to do it
5. He was a fool (a genius, an idiot) to do it.
Some nouns can also be used with a verb in –ing form: it’s a pleasure to
work there = it’s a pleasure working there = working there is a pleasure (= to work
there is a pleasure).
2.3. Noun + that-clause
Collocations consist of noun + that-clause such as we reach an agreement
that she would represent us in court, he took an oath that he would do his duty.
2.4. Preposition + noun
Collocations consist of preposition + noun such as in advance, by
accident, to somebody’s advantage, on somebody’s advice, under somebody’s aegis,
in agony, on (the) alert, at anchor, etc.
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2.5. Adjective + preposition
Collocations consist of adjective + preposition that occur in the predicate
or phrasal verb. They were angry at everyone -- angry at everyone. Some adjectives
must be followed by a prepositional phrase: ‘they were fond of children’ It does not
normally say ‘they were fond’. It is also included adjective + of constructions when
the subject of the construction is animate (usually human): they are afraid (ashamed,
confident, critical, demanding, envious, etc) of him.
2.6. Adjective + (prepositional phrase) + to + infinitive
Collocations consist of predicate of adjective + (prepositional phrase) + to
+ infinitive such as it was necessary (for him) to work. Or she (the girl) is ready to go.
2.7. Adjective + that + clause
Collocations consist of adjective + that + clause such as She was afraid
that she would fail the exam; it was nice that he was able to come home for the
holidays. Several adjectives are followed by the present subjunctive in formal
English: it was imperative that I be there at three o’clock; it is necessary that he be
replaced immediately.
2.8. Verb + direct object + to + indirect object
Collocations consist of verb + direct object + to + indirect object such as
he sent the book to his brother.
Others specialists and linguists have classified collocations based on their
characteristics into different categories.
First, Sinclair (1991) has divided collocation into two categories as follows:
1. The upward collocations consist of words which habitually collocate with
the words more frequently used in English for combination. These words are not used
solely themselves and most of them are prepositions, adverbs, conjunctions and
pronouns. The upward collocations tend to form grammatical frames. For example,
the word “back” normally combines with at, down, from, into, on, etc. “Back” is
used with another word, it cannot stand alone.
2. The downward collocations are words which combine with other words
less frequently than standing by themselves. The element of downward collocation
consist mostly noun and verbs and they give a semantic analysis of a word. For
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instance, the word ‘arrive’ and ‘bring’ when compared with the word ‘back’ they are
less frequently combined with other words.
Lewis (2000) has classified collocations as follows:
1. Strong collocations refer to collocations that have a very limited number
of collocates. Most collocates are fixed, for example, rancid butter or rancid oil.
2. Weak collocations refer to collocations that have a wide variety of
collocates. For example, many things can be long or short, cheap or expensive, good
or bad, such as long hair, long tail or long time.
3. Medium-strength collocations refer to words that always go together more
frequently than weak collocations. The examples are ‘hold a meeting’, ‘carry out a
study’, etc.
Similarly, Hill (2000) has categorized collocations into 4 types as follows:
1. Unique collocations refer to collocations which are fixed and cannot be
replaced by other words, such as to foot the bill, to foot the invoice.
2. Strong collocations refer to collocations which are strong but not unique.
Usually, strong collocations have few other possible collocates, such as moved to
tears or reduced to tears.
3. Weak collocations refer to a collocation that consists of a number of word
co-occurrence and can be easily guessed, such as a white shirt, a red shirt, a green
shirt, a long shirt, a small shirt, etc.
4. Medium- strength collocations which are in the same collocations as
suggested by Lewis (2000). This type of collocations occur more frequently in term of
usage and are more predictable when compare with unique and strong collocations.
However, medium- strength collocations do not occur as frequently in everyday
spoken and written language as weak collocations such as ‘to hold a conversation’
and ‘to make a mistake’.
In addition, Cowie (1994 cited in Nesselhauf, 2004, p. 14) has focused only
on lexical collocations and suggested categorization as follows:
1. Free combinations refers to a combination of words of which meaning is
from the literal meaning of each element or it has direct meaning, for example, blow a
trumpet and blow a whistle.
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2. Restricted collocations is used in a more specific context and the number
of collocates is few, for example blow a fuse.
3. Figurative idiom refers to a metaphorical meaning as a whole that can
somehow be derived from its literal interpretation. Figurative idiom cannot literally
denote such as ‘blow your own trumpet’ means ‘to tell other people how good and
successful you are’.
4. Pure idioms: this category has a unitary meaning that is totally
unpredictable from the meaning of its components such as ‘blow the gaff’ meaning ‘to
reveal a secret’.
Lastly, Mahmoud (2005) has pointed out that there are two types of
collocation: open and restricted collocations.
1. Open collocations refer to nodes that can cluster with a wide range of
other words, for example a red car, a small car, an expensive car, etc.
2. Restricted collocations refer to clusters that are fixed or like idioms such
as kick the bucket, rain cats and dogs, etc.
In this study, the collocations theory of Benson and Ilson (1997) will be used
as a framework to analyze the data for characteristics of collocations because it
provides a more clear cut criterion to the analysis when compared to the theories of
other authorities.
Semantic Prosody
Some collocates of a word forming a semantic class can be characterized in
terms of attitudinal meaning which is referred to semantic prosody. However, for the
following definitions, different linguists have focused on different aspects of this
phenomenon: First, Sinclair (1987) has first noticed the phenomenon of semantic
prosody in the collocational charateristic of words. The term “semantic prosody” was
borrowed from Firth (1957), who used it to refer to phonological coloring which
spreads beyond semantic boundaries. Next, semantic prosody is defined as
“consistent aura of meaning with which a form is imbued by its collocates” (Louw,
1993 cited in Stewart, 2010, p. 8)
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Furthermore, Sinclair, (2004, p.34) has explained the features of semantic
prosody in that “The initial choice of semantic prosody is the functional choice which
links meaning to purpose; all subsequent choices within the lexical item relate back to
the prosody”
This explanation points out three defining features of semantic prosody.
1. Functionality: when a speaker/writer is choosing lexical items to make
sensible sentences, in addition to the lexical and grammatical rules which govern the
grammaticality of the sentence, what he also needs to take into consideration includes
the semantic preference and semantic prosody which point to the functions. Sinclair
has insisted that the initial meaning choice will actually be at the functional level of
the semantic prosody.
2. Linguistic choice: The combination of every collocation is not arbitrary
but all words are in a mutually selectional relation. That means collocation is the fixed
combination of words which have lexical and grammatical relationship.
3. Communicative purpose: according to Sinclair (1996 cited in Steward,
2010, p.10), semantic prosody is “attitudinal and on the pragmatic side of the
semantics-pragmatics continuum” The right semantic prosody is certain to express the
attitudes of speakers/writers and their purpose with harmony and clearness. He stated:
“A semantic prosody…is attitudinal, and on the pragmatic side of the
semantics-pragmatics continuum. It is this capable of a wide range of
realization, because in pragmatic expressions the normal semantic values of
the words are not necessarily relevant. But once noticed among the variety
of expression, it is immediately clear that the semantic prosody has a
leading role to play in the integration of an item with its surroundings. It
expresses something close to the ‘function’ of an item—it shows how the rest
of the item to be interpreted functionally.” (Sinclair, 1996, p.86 cited in
Stewart, 2010, p.10)
For Sinclair, semantic prosody is to be understood within model of lexical
item or extended unit of meaning, which integrates collocation (lexical choices),
colligation (grammatical choices), semantic preference (the association of formal
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patterning with semantic field) and semantic prosody which has attitudinal and
pragmatic function. This pragmatic function often creates the writer’s reason for
making a statement.
Likewise, Stubbs (1996) has made a significant contribution to study in
semantic prosody field. Stubbs has defined semantic prosody as “a particular
collocational phenomenon”. In his framework of semantic prosody, Stubbs has
highlighted the relationship between collocation and semantic prosody and
emphasized that they both are subject to the co-selection of lexis. Furthermore,
Partington(1998) has offered a new explanation for the term “semantic prosody”. He
has defined it as “the spreading of connotational coloring beyond single word
boundaries” (Partington, 1998, p.53). Taking the adjective ‘impressive’ for instance,
in English it collocates with items such as ‘achievement, talent and dignity’. In this
manner, it is considered to have a positive semantic prosody. By contrast, ‘rife’ tends
to co-occur with words such as ‘crime, misery and disease’; so its interpretation has a
negative semantic prosody. Additionally, Partingson also has emphasized the
spreading of connotation of single words through word boundaries since semantic
prosodies sometimes are interpretable in terms of connotations. If the node words and
their collocates tend to co-occur frequently, they will acquire the same connotaitonal
meaning and form combination. Therefore, Partington’s defintion indicates semantic
prosody to be more on the pragmatic side of the semantics-pragmatics continuum. It is
not only a route to convey similar connotaitonal meanings, but a strategy in verbal
communications.
As, Hunston and Francis (1999, cited in Steward, 2010, p.13) have explained
semantic prosody as “a word may be said to have a particular semantic prosody if it
can be shown to co-occur typically with other words that belong to a particular
semantic set”. They have regarded semantic prosody as a phenomenon of node word
typically co-occurring with lexical items of the same semantic field.
Finally, Louw (2000, cited in Steward, 2010, p. 14) has focused on semantic
consistency of collocate and the attitudinal function of semantic prosody. He has
indicated semantic prosody as a form of meaning. It is established through the
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closeness of a consistent series of collocates, often characterisable as positive or
negative, and whose primary function is the expression of the attitude of its speaker or
writer toward some pragmatic situation. A collocate of items by a speaker/writer can
possibly create attitudional function of semantic prosody: positive, neutral and
negative.
To sum up, the semantic field is a pervasive phenomenon in language.
Semantic prosody’s definition also well serves in different ways to the research aim.
Most of the linguists have indicated semantic prosody in three features: functionality,
collocation and communicative purpose of a speaker/writer.
Classification of semantic prosody
According to Stubbs (1996), some words have a negative prosody, a few
have a positive prosody, and many words are neutral. Thus, he has classified semantic
prosody into three categories: negative prosody, neutral prosody and positive prosody.
Stubbs has proposed that if the collocates that a node word attracts are
mostly of strong negative semantic characteristics, the node word bears a strong
negative prosody. If the collocates are mainly positive words, then the node word is
endowed with a positive prosody. If both positive and negative collocates exist in the
context, the node word can be said to stands a neutral or mixed prosody. The critical
words or phrases themselves have either a positive or a negative sense.
Following this categorization, Sinclair(1996) has also observed that the two-
word verb ‘set in’ has a negative connotation because its main collocates negative
words such as rot, decay, malaise, ill-will, decadence, inflection, prejudice, vicious,
rigour, mortis, numbness, bitterness, mannerism, anti-climax, anarchy, etc. In the
opposite way the word ‘career’ mostly collocates with words like satisfying,
successful, good, potential, academic, teaching, etc., It is dominated by positive
prosody.
Louw (1993) has discussed the word ‘build up’ and showed that as a
transitive verb the semantic prosody is favorable such as build up confidence.
However, as an intransitive verb the prosody tends to be negative such as resistance
builds up. He called this kind of phenomenon ‘mixed prosody’ instead of ‘neutral
prosody’, although both of the two kinds of combination indicate that the node word
26
presents a complicated sense. A collocate word is possible to have both positive and
negative prosody and it shows complicated combining and ambiguous meaning.
Partington’s (1998) has also observed the ‘happen words’ (such as happen,
take place, occur) and classified semantic prosody into favourable, neutral, and
unfavourable prosodies. A pleasant or favourable affective meaning is labeled as
positive while an unpleasant or unfavourable affective meaning is judged as negative.
However, when the context provided no evidence of any semantic prosody, ‘happen
words’ is completely neutral.
In conclude, the combination of node word and collocates can possibly be
positive, negative or complicated collocation in a context. The semantic prosody of
collocations are presented in three ways; favourable, unfavourable and mixed
meaning. In this study, Stubb (1996) classification of semantic prosody as negative,
neutral and positive will be used in this study because of its clear criterion and proper
to manually examine favour features in semantic prosody.
Previous Studies
Nilarattanon’s study (2008) entitled “Collocation and Semantic Prosody of
/kr:t/(เกด) in Thai: A Corpus Linguistic Study” focused on the collocation and
semantic prosody of the verb /kr:t/ in different registers or genres. The data were
collected from news, articles and websites. The results showed that the verb
/kr:t/could collocate with lexical items in all negative neutral and positive semantic
categories. However, the verb /kr:t/ was mostly found to have negative prosody
which corresponded to the word’s occurrences found in the Thai Concordance online,
a large register-diversified corpus of Thai. In the different registers, the result of this
study was revealed that verb /kr:t/ also had negative prosody across the registers,
except the speech. A semantic prosody condition could be violated to achieve some
communicative purposes such as persuasive speech.
Ebeling (2013) also studied semantic prosody in his study entitled “Semantic
Prosody in A Cross-linguistic Perspective”. This study explored the negative semantic
prosody of ‘cause’ in a cross-linguistic perspective. The basis of data was from a
27
bidirectional translation corpus in English-Norwegian parallel corpus. Stubbs (1995,
cited in Ebeling, 2013) has identified the negative semantic prosody of cause on the
basis of monolingual data, while Sardinha(2000, cited in Ebeling, 2013) has
substantiated this claim on the basis of comparable cross-linguistic data. This paper
studied on both of semantic prosody and cross-linguistic persective theory to show
how bi-directional corpora can be applied to shed new light on the study of semantic
prosody. The analysis of both noun and verb of cause in Norwegian translations were
recorded in each case and served as translation mirrors into English translations. The
bidirectional method revealed that there was no Norwegian correspondence that
matched cause in term of negative semantic prosody.
Begagic’s study (2013) entitled “Semantic Preference and Semantic Prosody
of the Collocation make sense” focused on a V-N collocations of the phrase ‘make
sense’ in the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA). The researcher
observed the behavior word forms of makes sense in the corpus, newspaper and
academic register. The result of the hypothesis in this study proved that there was a
significant difference in the realization of semantic preference and semantic prosody
in different registers. The clear evidence in unfavour of the hypothesis was shown that
various syntactic form of ‘make sense’ (such as make sense, makes sense, made sense
or making sense) were more frequently found in negative environment in the
newspaper register than in the academic. Next, the semantic preference and semantic
prosody can be inferred for the collocations ‘make sense’ collocate with several verbs
such as try, attempt, help and struggle; thus clearly constituting the semantic set of
‘difficulty’. Semantic preference for difficult situation led to unfavourable semantic
prosody, especially of the word form ‘make sense’.
These studies imply that the study of the relationship between collocations
and semantic prosody is feasible when analyzing collocations within contexts. The
previous review and studies indicate the leading to the analysis of semantic prosody
of collocations found in the political news headlines in an English newspaper like the
‘Bangkok Post’.
28
CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The purpose of the study is to explore the characteristics of collocations in
the headlines of Thai political news and to analyze semantic prosody of collocations
found in the headlines. To accomplish these objectives, this chapter explains the
research procedure used in this study. The whole research design consisted of
research approach, data collection, selecting sample size, research timeline, data
analysis, data analysis verification and reported result.
Research Approach
This research of collocation and semantic prosody studied the phenomenon
of linguistic aspects, thus data collection and data analysis were based on qualitative
research method. Qualitative research involves collecting and/or working text, images
and sounds (Guest, Namey & Mitchell, 2013). The data for this study were collected
from the front-page political news headlines from the Bangkok Post. The data
collection method produced textual data for collocation and semantic prosody
analysis.
According to Ryan and Bernard (2000, p.4 cited in Guest, Namey &
Mitchell, 2013) (See Figure 1: Typology of Qualitative Data) the data analysis in
qualitative research has divided qualitative data into three main forms: audio, text and
video. The analysis of text has also subdivided into primary components which use
text as the object of analysis and text as a proxy for experience. In this study, the
analysis of text focused on words and news contents. Both types of data had text as
proxy for experience. Thus, words analysis for collocation and semantic study were
the qualitative data for the analysis.
29
Figure 1 Typology of Qualitative Data
Data Collection
The data for the analysis in this study were the front-page headlines of
political news from the ‘Bangkok Post’, issued during January 1st – December 31
st,
2015. The researcher started collecting data by taking photos of front-page of the
newspaper in January 2016 and the newspapers was available a year backward. The
total number of the data was 365 front-page headline news considered as the
population.
Selecting Sample Size
Of a 365 front-page news headlines, only political news headlines were
chosen from all 365 front-page news headlines. The political news headlines were
selected by using the specific characteristics of political news in Thailand as stated in
chapter 2 (Wittayarath, 2002). As a result, 235 headlines compatible with the
specification were included. Then, the data were determined for the sample size using
Krejcie and Morgan (1970)’s sample size calculation. (see Appendix A, Table of
30
Determining Sample Size from a Given Population). From this sample size
calculation, only 148 headlines were selected as a sample.
The process of selection was systematically. That is the 235 headlines were
arranged in monthly order. The researcher picked an interval headline of every odd
month, so all headlines in January, March, May, July, September and November were
chosen. From 148 headlines news, there were 271 collocations found by using the
framework of Benson and Ilson (1997) and these 271 collocations were analyzed to
determine the types of collocations and semantic prosody.
Research Timeline
The research timeline in this study is shown in the table 1 below:
Table 1 The Research Timeline
Stage Time Activities
Pre-stage January - Febuary 2016 Taking photo of all front-pages of The
Bangkok Post newspaper in year 2015
March 2016 Selecting only political news from 365 front-
page headlines
April 2016 Selecting the sample from the population
May 2016 Conducting a pilot test of the collocation and
semantic prosody analysis
While-stage June - December 2016 Data analysis
Post-stage January 2017 Finding the results and conclusions
After conducting the pilot test, the result showed that both lexical
collocations and grammatical collocations were found in headlines of political news
from the ‘Bangkok Post’. The structure of collocation ‘verb + noun’ usually appeared
in news headlines. However, grammatical collocations were rarely found in the
31
headlines. Moreover, semantic prosody was also analyzed in the pilot test, it was
found that neutral prosody was always found in collocational meaning but negative
prosody was reflected in contextual meaning. Finally, the categories of semantic
prosody of collocations were changed when collocations appeared in the news
contexts. This phenomenon of semantic prosody of collocations in the context led the
researcher to continue the analysis.
Data Analysis
The procedure of data analysis in the study was divided into two main steps.
1. Collocation analysis
The type and characteristics of collocations were analyzed by using the
framework of Benson and Ilson (1997). The researcher analyzed the types and
characteristics of collocations in front-page political news headlines. Collocations are
divided into 2 types: lexical collocations and grammatical collocations.
Lexical collocations
There are seven types of lexical collocations.
1. Verb (meaning creation and/or activation) + noun/ pronoun/ prepositional
phrase
For example: issues warning, face challenge, sets goal
2. Verb (meaning eradication and/or nullification) + noun
For example: rejects coup bodies, stop coups, leaves monkhood
3. Adjective + noun, noun + noun
For example: criminal rap, fair trial, corruption fight
4. Noun + verb
For example: fate sealed, NLA votes, PM rebuffs
5. Noun 1 + (of) + noun 2
For example: a bouquet of flowers, an act of violence
6. Adverb + adjective
For example: hopelessly addicted, deeply absorbed, strictly accurate
7. Verb + adverb
For example: amuse thoroughly, anchor firmly, apologize humbly
32
Grammatical collocations
There are eight types of grammatical collocations.
1. Noun + preposition
For example: apathy towards, blockade against
2. Noun + to + infinitive
For example: It was a pleasure (a problem, a struggle) to do it.
3. Noun + that-clause
For example: we reach an agreement that she would represent us in court
4. Preposition + noun
For example: behind coup, at UN, at trial
5. Adjective + preposition
For example: “They were angry at everyone.”
6. Adjective + (prepositional phrase) + to + infinitive
For example: “it was necessary (for him) to work.”
7. Adjective + that + clause
For example: She was afraid that she would fail the exam.
8. Verb + direct object + to + indirect object
For example: He sent the book to his brother.
2. Semantic prosody analysis
The semantic prosody of collocations in all headlines of political news on
the front-page of ‘Bangkok Post’ was analyzed by using the framework of Stubbs’
(1996) semantic categorization.
The analysis of semantic prosody of collocations was conducted by
following three categories; positive, neutral and negative prosody according to the
Stubbs (1996) theory.
Three categories of semantic prosody were:
1. Negative prosody: if the collocates that a node word attracts are mostly of
the strong negative semantic characteristics, the node word infers a strong negative
prosody. For example, ‘set in’ has a negative connotation when its main collocate is
negative word such as rot, decay, infection. The collocations ‘rot set in’, ‘decay set
in’, and ‘infection set in’ have negative prosody.
33
2. Neutral prosody: if both negative and positive collocates exist in the
context, the node word can imply a neutral or mixed prosody.
3. Positive prosody: if the collocates are mainly positive words, the node
word is inferred as a positive prosody. For example, ‘career’ mostly collocates with
words ‘successful’, ‘good’, ‘potential’, or ‘academic’. The collocations ‘successful
career’, ‘good career’, and ‘potential career’ have positive prosody.
The analyzed of collocations analysis were determined for semantic prosody
by using ‘node word’ with collocated word type: negative, neutral and positive.
There were two steps of the semantic prosody analysis.
1. Semantic prosody of collocations in collocational meaning
The collocation analysis focused on collocated words and described denoted
meanings to identify the categories of semantic prosody: positive, neutral and
negative.
2. Semantic prosody of collocations in contextual meaning
The collocations were analyzed within all contexts of news headlines to
study overall contextual meanings to identify the categories of semantic prosody:
positive, neutral and negative.
Data Analysis Verification
Finally, both collocation analysis and semantic prosody analysis were
verified by three linguists. There were an English native speaker who is expert in Thai
culture and two Thai linguists who are professional in English. These three linguists
checked whether they agreed or disagreed with the analysis result done by the
researcher. 40% from the total of the analysis results were systematically selected to
be verified by three linguists. The verification included 60 political news headlines
containing 102 collocations. The verification was separated into two parts which were
collocations verification and semantic prosody verification.
First, the collocations analysis was judged by the three linguists. If two or
three linguists checked ‘agree’ with the types of collocations, the analysis was
accepted. However, if two linguists checked ‘disagree’, the analysis was unaccepted.
34
Those disagreed-collocations in headlines were revised for correctness based on the
linguists’ suggestion.
The result of collocation verification was shown as follows:
Table 2 The Result of Collocations Verification
Authorities Agree Disagree Total number
1. The English native speaker 96 6 102 collocations
2. The first Thai linguist 98 4 102 collocations
3. The second Thai linguist 94 8 102 collocations
From the above table, reliability value of collocations analysis was
determined by the results of the agreement of the three linguists’ verification of the
researcher’s analysis of collocations. The English native speaker verified and agreed
with 96 collocations, the first Thai linguist agreed with 98 collocations and the second
Thai linguist agreed with 94 collocations. However, the native speaker disagreed with
six collocations, the first Thai linguist disagreed with four collocations and the second
Thai linguist disagreed with eight collocations. Only six collocations analyzed by the
researcher were considered unaccepted because two out of three linguists disagreed
with the researcher’s analysis of these six collations (disagreement overlapped in the
same collocations). In conclusion, the percentage of reliability value was 94.11 in for
the analysis of collocations.
Second, the verification of semantic prosody analysis was judged by the
three linguists. If two or three linguists checked ‘agree’ with categories of semantic
prosody, the analysis was accepted. However, if two linguists checked ‘disagree’ with
categories of semantic prosody, the analysis was unaccepted.
The result of semantic prosody verification was shown as follows:
35
Table 3 The Result of Semantic Prosody Verification
Authorities Agree Disagree Total number
1. The English native speaker 97 5 102 collocations
2. The first Thai linguist 102 0 102 collocations
3. The second Thai linguist 98 4 102 collocations
From the above table, reliability value of the semantic prosody analysis was
determined by the results of agreement of three linguists’ verification of the analysis
in both collocational and contextual meaning. The English native speaker verified and
agreed with 97 semantic prosody of collocation, the first Thai linguist totally agreed
with of the semantic prosody and the second Thai linguist agreed with 98 semantic
prosody of collocation. As for the disagreement, the English native speaker disagreed
with five semantic prosody and the second Thai linguist disagreed with four semantic
prosody. However, these disagreements were not with the same collocations and
headlines. It means that only one judge disagreed with each of the nine semantic
prosody. Therefore, they were not counted as unaccepted. The reliability value was
100 percent in the analysis of semantic prosody.
There are some reasons for acceptance of these uncounted disagreements.
First, the understandings in Thai politics by the linguists are similar. Two Thai
linguists definitely know Thai politics and the native linguist also deeply understands
in analyzing about political matters because of his long stay in Thailand. They might
disagree on some matters news. Second, even though Thai political news headlines
are possible to convey underlined meanings by journalists, the semantic prosody of
collocations has both denotation and connotation that can be understood by the native
and Thai linguists because they are experts in English. Finally, attitudes, believes, and
personal perspectives of news readers are different. The same collocations appearing
in a Thai political news headline can possibly be interpreted with more than one
meaning depending on reader’s different political attitudes toward such collocations.
36
Reported Result
The data of the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics including
percentage and frequencies. The analysis result of the types of collocations and
semantic prosody were presented in the form of frequencies and percentage.
To answer the questions of the study, the proportion of each type of
collocations was determined by the total number of collocations. The computation
was done as followed:
Percentage of each types of collocations =
x 100
Moreover, the proportion of each categories of semantic prosody was also
determined by the total number of collocations. The computation was done as
followed:
Percentage of each categories semantic prosody =
x100
37
CHAPTER 4
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
This chapter is divided into two main parts. The first part is the results of the
study. The second part is discussions of the research results.
Results
This research aimed to study types of collocations and their semantic
prosody appearing in the front-page headlines of political news from the Bangkok
Post, issued during January 1st – December 31
st, 2015. The results were presented
into three main parts according to the research questions of this study as follows:
1. The types of collocations appearing in the front page headlines of political
news in the Bangkok Post.
2. The semantic prosody of collocations in the front page headlines of
political news in the Bangkok Post.
3. The phenomenon of semantic prosody of collocations in the context.
The results were presented in three main parts: the analysis results of the
types of collocations and number of collocations found in the front-page headlines of
political news, the analysis results of semantic prosody of collocations in the
headlines and the phenomenon of semantic prosody of collocations in the context.
Part 1: The types of collocations appearing in the front page headlines
of political news in the Bangkok Post.
The researcher analyzed the types of collocations which appeared in front
page political news headlines in the Bangkok Post. The results of types of collocation
were based on the framework of Benson and Ilson (1997). The number of collocations
found was used to calculate the percentage of the sample of each type of collocations.
38
To answer the first research question, the table below showed the analysis
results of collocations.
Table 4 The Result of Types of Collocations Found in Political News Headlines
Type of collocations Collocations Percentage
1. Lexical
Collocations
(203) 74.91%
1.1. Verb (meaning creation/activation)
+ noun(62) 23.27%
Verb+ preposition phrase (30) 11.07%
92 33.95
1.2. Adjective + noun (21) 7.74%
Noun +noun (62) 22.87%
83 30.63
1.3. Noun + Verb 15 5.53
1.4. Verb (meaning
eradication/nullification) + noun
11 4.06
1.5. Verb + adverb
2 0.74
2.
Grammatical
Collocations
(16) 5.90%
2.1. Noun+ Prep
11 4.06
2.2. Prep + noun
4 1.48
2.3. Verb + direct object + to + indirect
object
1 0.36
3. Other types
of
collocations
(52) 19.19%
3.1. Verb + Preposition
38 14.02
3.2. Verb +Noun +prep phrase
10 3.69
3.3. Verb + Noun clause
3 1.11
3.4. Verb + infinitive
1 0.37
Total 271 100
From Table 4, the findings of collocational analysis demonstrated that both
lexical and grammatical collocations were used in the headlines. However, other types
of collocations not proposed by Benson & Ilson (1997) were also found. Out of 271
collocations, 203 were found to be lexical collocations (74.91%) which was the
highest number of collocations and only 16 grammatical collocations (5.90%)
appearing in the samples. In addition to lexical collocations and grammatical
collocations, there were some types of collocations not including in Benson & Ilson
(1997) framework found in the analysis. These structure were ‘verb + preposition,
39
‘verb +noun +prep phrase’, ‘verb + noun clause’, ‘verb + infinitive’ with the
percentage of 19.19 or 52 collocations.
Lexical Collocations
There were five structures of lexical collocation appearing in Thai political
headlines. The examples of lexical collocations are shown in the Table 5 below.
Table 5 The Examples of Lexical Collocations
Structure of Lexical collocation Headlines Collocations
1. verb (meaning creation) +
noun
verb (meaning activation) +
noun’
verb + preposition phrase
NRSA sets 20-month reform
goal
Regime faces early challenge
Pressure mounts on NCPO to
declare its referendum stance
sets goal
face challenge
mounts on
NCPO
2. adjective + noun
noun +noun
Govt boosts anti-trafficking
push
Corruption fight takes center
stage
anti-trafficking
push
corruption
fight
3. noun + verb Yingluck’s fate sealed, say
Pheu Thai
fate sealed
4. verb (meaning eradication
and/or nullification) + noun
CDC rejects coup bodies two-
year ban
rejects coup
bodies
5. verb + adverb Use S44 ‘wisely on
megaprojects’
use …wisely
First, the collocations with the structure of ‘verb (meaning
creation/activation) + noun/pronoun/prepositional phrase’ were found the most with
the percentage of 33.95 or 92 collocations. The examples of collocations with verb
(meaning ‘create’) + noun are: sets goal, boost anti-trafficking push, issues warning,
and spurs rights abuse fears, etc.
40
The examples of collocations with ‘verb (denoting activation) + noun’ are:
face challenge, face NLA impeach vote, mulls extra ethics assembly, steals
democracy, stir chaos, backs charter referendum, avert EU sanctions, etc. (NLA:
National Legislative Assembly)
The examples of collocations with verb + preposition phrase are: mounts on
NCPO, hunt for criminal court vandals, call for charter cuts, hit with royal slur
probe, etc. (NCPO: National Council for Peace and Order)
Second, the structure of ‘adjective + noun’, ‘noun +noun’ had the second
proportion with the percentage of 30.63 or 83 collocations. 62 ‘noun + noun’
collocations and 21 ‘adjective + noun’ collocations were found.
The examples of collocations with noun +noun are: corruption fight,
impeach bids, impeach vote, etc. The examples of collocations with adjective + noun
are: anti-trafficking push, criminal rap, martial law, rising discontent, etc.
Third, the structure of ‘noun + verb’ was found the third with the percentage
of 5.53 or 15 collocations. The examples of this type of collocations are: fate sealed,
PM rebuffs, Court orders, NLA votes, Pressure mounts, etc.
Moreover, the structure of ‘verb (meaning eradication and/or nullification) +
noun’ was found the fourth with the percentage of 4.06 or 11 collocations. The
examples of this type of collocations are: rejects coup bodies, shunts Narong,
lambasts transfer order, denies Privy Council behind coup, stop coups, denies new
panel picks, and denies Rajabhakti corruption.
Lastly, only two collocations with the structure of ‘verb + adverb’ were
found with the percentage of 0.73. The examples of this type of collocations are: use
…wisely and step down.
However, the structures of the lexical collocations that did not appear in the
sampled headlines were: ‘noun 1 + (of) + noun 2’ and ‘adverb + adjective’
To conclude, the collocations with the structure of ‘verb (meaning creation
and/or activation) + noun/pronoun/prepositional phrase’ usually appeared in Thai
political news headlines in the Bangkok post.
Grammatical Collocations
There were only three structures of grammatical collocations found in Thai
political headlines. The examples of grammatical collocations were shown in Table 6.
41
Table 6 The Examples of Grammatical Collcoations
Structure of Grammatical
Collocation
Headlines Collocations
1. noun + preposition Yingluck vows fight for
justice
Govt scolds US envoy for
Yingluck jibe
fight for
envoy for
2. preposition + noun Prayut denies privy council
behind coup
Cabinet reshuffle looks on
the cards
behind coup
on the cards
3. verb + direct object + to +
indirect object’
Red shirts send signal to the
boss
send signal to the
boss
First, the structure of ‘noun + preposition’ had the highest percentage of
usage (4.06% or 11 collocations). The examples of this type of collocations are: fight
for, envoy for, flak for, attack on, idea of, etc.
Second, the structure of ‘preposition + noun’ came the second with the
percentage 1.48 or 4 collocations. The examples of this type of collocations are:
behind coup, on the cards, at UN, and at trial.
In addition, for the structure of ‘verb + direct object + to + indirect object’,
only one collocation in the headlines was found. The example of this type of
collocation is ‘send signal to the boss’.
Finally, the structures of the grammatical collocations that did not appear in
the political news headlines were: ‘noun + that-clause’, ‘adjective + preposition’,
‘adjective + (prepositional phrase) + to + infinitive’, and ‘adjective + that + clause’.
It can be concluded that grammatical collocations seldom appeared in Thai
political news headlines. The structure of ‘noun + preposition’ appeared most
frequently in the headlines.
42
Other Types of Collocations
In this study, the study discovered four other types of collocations that
sometimes appeared in political news headlines and they were not included in the
framework of Benson and Ilson (1997). The examples of other 4 types of collocation
are shown in Table 7 below.
Table 7 The Examples of Others types of Collocations
Structure of Other types
of collocations
Headlines Collocations
1. verb + preposition Yingluck fails to show at NLA
PM warns public against
impeachment violence
show at
warns against
2. verb +noun +
prepositional phrase
Graftbusters launch probe into
nepotism
Cabinet eyes 100 changes to
charter
launch probe into
nepotism
eyes 100 changes to
charter
3. verb + noun clause Cops deny lese majeste led to
shunt
deny lese majeste led
to shunt
4. verb + infinitive Yingluck fails to show at NLA’
fails to show
First, the structure of ‘verb + preposition’ was found the most with the
percentage of 14.02 or 38 collocations. The examples of this type of collocations are:
show at, warns against, snuff out, scoffs at, mounts on, etc.
Second, the structure of ‘verb +noun + prepositional phrase’ was found the
second with the percentage of 3.69 or 10 collocations. The examples of this type of
collocations are: launch probe into nepotism, eyes 100 changes to charter, faces
stripping of police rank, pins water crisis on Yingluck, etc.
Third, the structure of ‘verb + noun clause’ was found the third with the
percentage of 1.11 or 3 collocations. The examples of this type of collocations are:
deny lese majeste led to shunt
43
Finally, only one collocation of 0.36% with the structure ‘verb + infinitive’
was found. It was ‘fails to show’ in the headline ‘Yingluck fails to show at NLA’.
In conclusion, lexical collocations were found the most. The type of collocations
which was ‘verb (meaning creation/activation) + noun’ always appeared in headlines.
Grammatical collocations were seldom found with four other types of collocations
appearing in political news headlines in the Bangkok Post.
Part 2: The analysis results of semantic prosody
The semantic prosody of the collocations was categorized into three groups:
negative prosody, neutral prosody, and positive prosody. Each type of prosody was
analyzed on the basis of the collocational meaning and contextual meaning to see if
the prosody in both meaning was still the same or different.
The summary of the analysis results of semantic prosody is presented in the
Table 8 . It indicates that negative prosody of collocations was frequently reflected in
both collocational meaning and contextual meaning in the headlines of political news.
Positive prosody of collocations was occasionally found in headlines.
Table 8 The Results of Semantic Prosody Analysis in Collocational Meaning and
Contextual Meaning
Negative
prosody
Neutral
prosody
Positive
prosody
Total
1. Collocational Meaning
Number 145 58 68 271
Percentage 53.51 21.40 25.09 100
2. Contextual Meaning
Number 147 46 78 271
Percentage 54.24 16.98 28.78 100
The examples of semantic prosody in collocational meaning and contextual
meaning are shown in Table 9.
44
Table 9 The Examples of Semantic Prosody in Collocational Meaning and
Contextual Meaning
Semantic prosody Headlines Collocations
Collocational meaning
1. Collocations with negative
semantic prosody
Army issues warning to CDC
critics
Grenade strike aims to stir
chaos, Prayut warns
issues
warning
stir chaos
2. Collocations with neutral semantic
prosody
Prayut says no party
politicians will join his
cabinet
‘PM wants Meechai’ to lead
drafting
join his
cabinet
lead drafting
3. Collocations with positive
semantic prosody
Impeach bids will spur faith
in reform’
Charter to boost citizen’s
power
spur faith
boost
citizen’s
power
Contextual meaning
1. Collocations with negative
semantic prosody
Yingluck face red payout rap
PM renews attack on regime
critics
face red
payout rap
renews
attack
2. Collocations with neutral semantic
prosody
Prayut says no party
politicians will join his
cabinet
Corruption fight takes center
stage
join his
cabinet
center stage
3. Collocations with positive
semantic prosody
63 ex-reform council
members win seats on NRSA
NRSA sets 20-month reform
goal
win seats
sets goal
45
Collocational meaning
First, there were more collocations with negative prosody in collocational
meaning. The results of analysis indicated that 53.51% of collocations or 145
collocations had negative semantic prosody in collocational meaning. The examples
of negative prosody in collocational meaning are: issues warning, stir chaos.
Second, collocations conveyed neutral prosody in collocational meaning.
The results of analysis showed that 21.40 % of the collocations or 58 collocations
were occasionally found to have neutral semantic prosody in collocational meaning.
The examples of neutral prosody in collocational meaning are: join his cabinet, lead
drafting.
In addition, there were some collocations with positive prosody in
collocational meaning. The analysis yielded that 25.09% of collocations or 68
collocations had positive semantic prosody in collocational meaning. The examples
are: spur faith, boost citizen’s power.
Contextual meaning
First, the headlines were written with many collocations with negative
semantic prosody in contextual meaning. The results of the analysis indicated that
54.24% of collocations were always found in this category. The examples of negative
prosody in contextual meaning are: face red payout rap, renews attack.
Next, collocations with neutral semantic prosody in contextual meaning
were seldom appeared in headlines. The results of the analysis showed that 16.98% of
collocation had neutral semantic prosody in contextual meaning. The examples of
neutral prosody in contextual meaning are: join his cabinet, center stage.
Lastly, some collocations conveyed positive semantic prosody in contextual
meaning. The results of the analysis showed that 28.78 % of collocations had positive
semantic prosody in contextual meaning. The examples of positive semantic prosody
in contextual meaning are: win seats, sets goal.
To sum up, negative prosody of collocations were frequently reflected in
both collocational meaning and contextual meaning but positive prosody and neutral
prosody were seldom found in both collocational meaning and contextual meaning in
the political news headlines.
46
Part 3: The phenomenon of semantic prosody of collocations in the
context
To answer question 3 of the study, each type of semantic prosody of
collocations was also analyzed whether the type of semantic prosody would be
affected when it was appeared in different news contexts. The analysis yielded the
following results.
The summary of the phenomenon of semantic prosody of collocations in the
context was shown in Table 10
Table 10: The Summary of the Phenomenon of Semantic Prosody Change of
Collocations in the Context
Collocational
Meaning
Phenomenon
of Semantic
Prosody
Change
Contextual
Meaning Amount Percentage
NP = NP 138 50.92
NP NeuP - -
NP PP 7 2.58
NeuP NP 7 2.58
NeuP = NeuP 47 17.34
NeuP PP 4 1.48
PP NP 3 1.11
PP NeuP - -
PP = PP 65 23.99
Total 271 100
Remarks: The symbol ‘’ means ‘change to’
The symbol ‘=’ means ‘still the same’
NP stands for Negative prosody
NeuP stands for Neutral prosody
PP stands for Positive prosody
There are four phenomena of semantic prosody change of collocations in
the context. Those are ‘negative prosody positive prosody’, ‘neutral prosody
negative prosody’, ‘neutral prosody positive prosody’, and ‘positive prosody
negative prosody’.
47
Moreover, three results of semantic prosody have still the same in both
collocational meaning and contextual meaning. Those collocations have ‘negative
prosody’ or ‘neutral prosody’ or ‘positive prosody’ in both collocational meaning and
contextual meaning.
The examples of phenomenon of semantic prosody of collocations in the
context were shown in Table 11 below.
Table 11 The Examples of Phenomenon of Semantic Prosody of Collocations in the
Context.
Same/change in
semantic prosody
Headlines Collocations
1. NP = NP Draft charter steals democracy
PM tries to hush rising discontent’
steals democracy
rising discontent
2. NP PP Prayut extends Section44 net’
extends Section44
net
3. NeuP NP Regime faces early challenge
Suthep leaves monkhood to start NGO
face challenge
Start NGO
4. NeuP = NeuP Pressure mounts on NCPO to declare its
referendum stance
Prayut says no party politicians will join
his cabinet
declare its
referendum stance
join his cabinet
5. NeuP PP Supreme Court acquits Noppadon
Prayut to extol regime gains at UN
acquits Noppadon
At UN
6. PP NP US warns on political ‘fairness
Activists threaten full-scale ‘cyber war’
on Government’
warns on political
‘fairness
full-scale
7. PP = PP Charter to boost citizen’s power
Govt pins hope on industry to lift growth
boost citizen’s
power
lift growth
48
As the result, there are seven main points about semantic prosody
phenomenon of collocations in the context
First, for collocations with negative prosody, the result showed that 50.92%
of collocations have negative prosody in both collocational meaning and contextual
meaning. The examples are: ‘steals democracy’ in the headline ‘Draft charter steals
democracy’. This collocation ‘steals democracy’ has a negative collocational meaning
and when it is in the headline, it means not to include democratic principles in the
constitution. Thus, ‘steals democracy’ has a negative meaning in both collocational
meaning and contextual meaning. Another example, ‘rising discontent’ in the
headline ‘PM tries to hush rising discontent’. The collocation ‘rising discontent’ has a
negative collocational meaning and means increasing dissatisfaction. ‘Rising
discontent’ has negative meaning in both collocational meaning and contextual
meaning.
Second, negative semantic prosody in collocational meaning changed into
positive semantic prosody in contextual meaning. The result showed that 2.58% of
collocations were found in this meaning changing. The example is ‘extends Section44
net’ in the headline ‘Prayut extends Section44 net’. The collocation ‘extends
Section44 net’ means to increase the scopes of using Section44. It has a negative
collocational meaning but it has a positive contextual meaning because the PM had
invoked his power to tackle illegal street crimes. This suggests that the PM had
extended his use of Section44 to eradicate crimes. Section44 is the national order for
protecting the national security, royal throne national economy and public
administration, and it was issued by the NCPO.
Third, neutral semantic prosody in collocational meaning changed to be
negative semantic prosody in contextual meaning. 2.58% of collocations were found
to be in this category. The examples are: ‘face challenge’ in the headline ‘Regime
faces early challenge’. This collocation ‘face challenge’ means to deal with problems.
It has a neutral collocational meaning. When using as a verb of regime, it had a
negative contextual meaning. It suggests that the government under NCPO has
difficulties in administration. ‘Start NGO’ in the headline ‘Suthep leaves monkhood to
49
start NGO’. It has a neutral collocation meaning but it has a negative contextual
meaning because it said that Suthep left monkhood to start NGO activities. This
suggests negative meaning of the headline. (NGO: Non-government Organizations)
Fourth, neutral semantic prosody in collocational meaning remained the
same type in contextual meaning. Such a phenomenon was found 17.34%. The
examples are: ‘declare its referendum stance’ in the headline ‘Pressure mounts on
NCPO to declare its referendum stance’, ‘join his cabinet’ in the headline ‘Prayut
says no party politicians will join his cabinet’. These collocations have neutral
prosody in both collocational meaning and contextual meaning.
Fifth, neutral semantic prosody in collocational meaning changed to be
positive semantic prosody in contextual meaning. 1.48% of collocations were found
to be in this category. The examples are: ‘acquits Noppadon’ in the headline
‘Supreme Court acquits Noppadon’. To ‘acquit’ (somebody) means to decide and
state officially in a court of law that somebody is not guilty of a crime. It has a neutral
collocational meaning, but a positive contextual meaning. The Supreme Court
officially stated that Noppadon was not guilty of a crime involving the Preah Vihear
temple communique with a Cambodian representative. ‘at UN’ in the headline
‘Prayut to extol regime gains at UN’. The collocation ‘at UN’ has a neutral
collocational meaning, but a positive contextual meaning. Prime Minister Prayut
firmly praised the regime government at UN. Both of collocations suggest a positive
meaning of the headline.
In addition, positive semantic prosody in collocational meaning changed to
negative semantic prosody in contextual meaning. This type of occurrence was rarely
found; only 1.11% of collocations were found in this category. The examples are:
‘warns on political ‘fairness’ in the headline ‘US warns on political ‘fairness’. The
collocations ‘warns on political ‘fairness’ has a positive collocational meaning, but it
has a negative contextual meaning. The US diplomat has warned the Thai government
on political justice. Another example was ‘stay at helm’ in the headline ‘PM says he
may need to stay at helm’. To stay at helm means to remain in power. It has a
positive collocational meaning, but has a negative contextual meaning because Prayut
50
said he may need to remain in power until the country is at peace. The headline has a
negative meaning. Moreover, the collocations ‘full-scale’ that was in the headline
‘Activists threaten full-scale ‘cyber war’ on Government’. The collocation ‘full scale’
means that is as complete and thorough as possible. It has a positive collocational
meaning but a negative contextual meaning. Political activists threatened the
government full-scale cyber war on the government. Full scale cyber war suggests a
negative meaning of the headline.
Last but not least positive semantic prosody in collocational meaning still
remained the same type in contextual meaning. 23.99% of collocations were found in
this category. The examples are: ‘boost citizen’s power’ in the headline ‘Charter to
boost citizen’s power’, ‘lift growth’ in the headline ‘Govt pins hope on industry to lift
growth’. They have positive meanings under both collocational meaning and
contextual meaning.
However, the change from negative semantic prosody and positive semantic
prosody to neutral semantic prosody were not found in the analysis.
Discussions
This study was conducted with the position that news writers use
collocations in writing news headlines and use specific words to communicate their
intended messages to readers. News readers use both their linguistic competence and
news contexts to decode the headlines of political news so that they can form mental
images and perceptual representation of the headlines. The study, therefore, focused
on the analyses of the types of collocations, the types of semantic prosody of the
collocations, and the contextual condition of the news that affected the types of
semantic prosody.
To serve the purposes of the analysis, thus, the questions of the investigation
were established as follows:
1. What types and characteristics of collocations appear in the front page
headlines of political news in The Bangkok Post?
51
2. Which semantic prosody of collocations is reflected in the front page
headlines of political news in The Bangkok Post?
3. Is semantic prosody of each collocation still the same or different when it
appears in the context?
Question 1: What types and characteristics of collocations appear in the
front page headlines of political news in The Bangkok Post?
The analysis of the types of collocations indicated that the collocations with
the structure of ‘verb (meaning creation/activation) + noun/preposition phrase’ were
found the most (33.95%), ‘adjective + noun or noun + noun’ the second (30.63%),
‘verb + preposition’ the third (14.02%), ‘noun + verb’ the forth (5.53%). However,
the collocations with the structure of ‘noun 1 + (of) + noun 2’, ‘adverb + adjective’,
‘noun + that-clause’, ‘adjective + preposition’, ‘adjective + (prepositional phrase) + to
+ infinitive’, and ‘adjective + that + clause’ did not appear in the samples of the
political news headlines.
The finding indicated that news writers of political news headlines usually
used the collocations with the structure of ‘verb (meaning creation/activation) +
noun/preposition phrase’ because political news headlines require messages telling
actions or events happening in the political situations. The structures telling what
happens to whom in the news are essential in reporting political situations.
In addition, the structure of ‘adjective + noun or noun + noun’ came the
second (30.63%). The result showed that headline writers tended to use chunks of
words with a semantic load. Adjectives or nouns were used to modify a noun. Writers
used short and clear chunks of words so as to help news readers form vivid mental
images and clear meaning when reading a headline. Besides, due to the limited space
available in each news, the chunk of words in the headlines must be short or
telegraphic.
The last important reason for the news writers to use more loaded
collocations was that these collocations had strong denotations. Such collocations
usually appeared with the structure of ‘verb + noun/preposition phrase’, ‘adjective +
52
noun or noun + noun’. The examples of such related words are: face challenge, spur
faith, warns on political ‘fairness’, mounts on NCPO, anti-trafficking push, criminal
rap, corruption fight, center stage, impeach bids, cronyism crackdown, etc. This
finding supports the principle of writing headlines by Reah (2002), which stated that
“a noun phrase is an appropriate headline with the modifiers and the headwords”.
Moreover, the analysis of collocation characteristic also revealed that lexical
collocations were used more often than grammatical collocations 74.91% to 5.90%
respectively. This result suggested the fact about using English in writing political
news headlines that:
First, action verbs in the lexical collocations in the structure of ‘verb
(meaning creation/activation) + noun’ (33.95%) and ‘verb (meaning
eradication/nullification) + noun’(4.06%) in political news headlines were used to
project the clear political incidents or what occurred in political environment.
Second, noun as a modifiers or headwords appearing in the structure of
‘adjective + noun’ and ‘noun + noun’ were used more often than other structures; for
example, martial law, inactive post, tough tasks, ethics assembly, charter referendum,
regime critics, etc. Verbs, nouns and adjectives are content words which have
independent lexical meanings for telling news story in headlines (Winkler, 2007).
The collocations with the structure of ‘noun + verb’ were found the forth
with the percentage of 5.53. This type of collocation is also generally found in
English. Each noun collocates with a specific verb. For example, the word ‘critics’
which was the subject in this headline: ‘Critics rap politics reboot’ must go with the
verb ‘rap’. Other examples are: ‘fake sealed—Yingluck’s fake sealed, say Pheu Thai’,
‘NLA votes—NLA votes to impeach Boonsong over G-to-G(rice scheme)’, ‘pressure
mounts—Pressure mounts on NCPO to declare its referendum stance’.
The collocation structures that appeared less than 5% are: ‘verb (meaning
eradication/nullification) + noun’ (4.06%), ‘verb + adverb’ (0.74%) (lexical
collocations) because these word chunks might not be required in the headlines.
‘Noun + preposition’ (4.06%), ‘preposition + noun’(1.48%), ‘verb + direct object + to
53
+ indirect object’ (0.36%) (grammatical collocations). These structures were found
less than other types because headline writing does not often require lengthy
grammatical structures. (Punyaratabendhu, 1998).
Additionally, the collocations with the structure of ‘verb + preposition’ that
did not include in Benson & Ilson (1997)’s framework were found with high
percentage (14.02%). This finding indicated that in writing headlines, preposition
after verbs were highly required to create meanings with grammatical accuracy
because these collocations are phrasal verb. Thus, prepositions cannot be omitted so
as to help readers grasp right messages of headlines. For example ‘PM warns public
against impeachment violence’, ‘against’ must be used with the verb ‘warn’.
Otherwise, the headline is written with ungrammatical English.
Lastly, the other three collocation structures that were not included in
Benson & Ilson (1997)’s framework were: ‘verb +noun +preposition phrase’(3.69%),
‘verb + noun clause’(1.10%), ‘verb + infinitive’(0.36%). The examples are: ‘seeks
B900bn for water plan’, ‘deny lese majeste led to shunt’ and ‘fails to show’
respectively. These types of collocations were used in headlines because of the
necessity in communication that cannot be done through other structures so as to
achieve grammatically correct English. In addition, Benson and Ilson (1997)’s
framework is based on the frequency of co-occurrence collocations in the area of
language teaching but this research analyzed language of newspapers that led to the
results of new type of collocations.
In conclusion, lexical collocations appear the most in headlines because of
the principle of brevity and clarity in writing political news headlines. Nouns, verbs
and adjectives in the structure of lexical collocations are content words which contain
lexical meanings and give readers news story in the headlines. While, function words
are prepositions or auxiliary verbs that are included in the structure of grammatical
collocations, they are for grammatical correctness and do not show the meanings in
the headlines (Winkler, 2007).
54
Question 2: Which semantic prosody of collocations is reflected in the
front page headlines of political news in The Bangkok Post?
The semantic prosody analysis revealed that for collocational meaning, 145
collocations (53.51%) had negative semantic prosody, 58 collocations (21.40%)
neutral semantic prosody and 68 collocations (25.09%) positive semantic prosody.
With the contextual meaning, 147 collocations (54.24%) had negative semantic
prosody, 46 collocations (16.98%) neutral semantic prosody and 78 collocations
(28.78%) positive semantic prosody.
The finding suggested that: firstly, collocations in both collocational
meaning and contextual meaning had more negative semantic prosody than other
types of prosody. This indicated that the political news writers of the Bangkok Post
were more likely to present political news with negative views. The negative views
towards political situations were reflected in the use of collocations in the following
examples of the headlines: ‘PM claims sole power on reshuffle’, ‘Steering panel
‘sways outcome’ of vote’, ‘Yingluck’s fate sealed, say Pheu Thai’, ‘Cabinet eyes 100
changes to charter’, etc. This finding was supported by the research titled ‘Language
and point of view in coverage on Thai political news. The research finding found that
words and phrases were most frequently used in negative contexts of political news
and also had negative meaning in Thai political news (Jaiyai, 2007).
Second, collocations with positive semantic prosody were found in both
collocational meaning and contextual meaning. However, they were reflected in
contextual meaning more than in collocational meaning. This suggested that the
positive semantic prosody and neutral prosody of some collocations with collocational
meaning changed to the negative prosody in contextual meaning as discussed in the
section of question 3. The collocations in the following examples showed the
phenomenon: ‘warns on political ‘fairness’’, ‘stay at helm’, ‘face challenge’, etc.
In addition, collocations with positive semantic prosody were found less
than negative ones. This indicated clearly that news writers of the Bangkok Post
reflected less positive views than negative views towards the political situations in
Thailand. They had expressed their positive views towards certain political situations
55
such as ‘corruption fight’, ‘extends Section44 net’, etc. The following headlines
reflected the positive prosody of the collocations in the headlines: ‘Corruption fight
takes center stage’ and ‘Prayut extends Section44 net’. This finding was also
supported by the research of ‘Language and point of view in coverage on Thai
political news, which showed that negative words and phrases were most frequently
used in Thai political news (Jaiyai, 2007).
Third, collocations with neutral semantic prosody in both collocational
meaning and contextual meaning were found the least. These collocations appeared in
the structures of ‘noun + noun’ and ‘verb + preposition’ the most because most of
these collocations had neutral denotative meanings. The examples are: ‘Draft
charter’, ‘privy council’, ‘focus on’, etc. Besides, this type of semantic prosody
appearing less than other types is due to the fact that the journalist usually writes
political headlines with either negative or positive views towards the political
situations. Therefore, the collocations with neutral semantic prosody were unlikely to
appear as frequently as the ones with negative or positive semantic prosody.
Furthermore, negative meaning of news can call readers’ attention because readers
tend to focus on bad news. (Stafford, 2014).
In conclusion, negative semantic prosody of collocations always appear in
both collocational meaning and contextual meaning in Thai political news headlines.
As people are primarily interested in bad news rather than good ones, it is not
surprised that negative news can easily call their attention. Journalists reported bad
things which are more compelling than good news stories (Stafford, 2014).
Question 3: Is semantic prosody of each collocation still the same or
different when it appears in the context?
The answer to the third question is that the semantic prosody of certain
collocations in the collocational meaning changed when it appeared in the context.
The analysis results showed that 7 collocations (2.58%) with negative semantic
prosody changed to positive semantic prosody, 7 collocations (2.58%) with neutral
semantic prosody to negative semantic prosody, 4 collocations (1.48%) with neutral
meaning to positive semantic prosody, and 3 collocations (1.11%) with positive
56
semantic prosody to negative semantic prosody. However, there were no collocations
with negative or positive semantic prosody changing to neutral ones. The finding
obviously revealed that the context did not change the types of semantic prosody. This
evidence indicated that news writers of the Bangkok Post tended to use collocations
that reflected collocational meaning that matched with contextual meaning in political
contexts. The original semantic prosody, thus, was likely to be the same in both
collocational meaning and contextual meaning.
However, there were some cases that the semantic prosody of certain
collocations changed to another type as shown in the findings. For the phenomenon
that negative semantic prosody change to positive semantic prosody, it could be found
in the headline ‘Prayut extends Section44 net’. The collocation ‘extends Section44
net’ had a negative semantic prosody but when it appeared in the political context. Its
meaning changed to positive because it meant to increase the scopes of using
Section44 to eradicate crime. Such condition was found with the percentage of 2.58.
Positive semantic prosody also changed to negative semantic prosody. The example
of such condition was shown in ‘warns on political’ in the headline ‘US warns on
political ‘fairness’’. Only 1.11% of such condition was found in the sample.
Neutral semantic prosody could also change to either negative or positive
meaning. For example, in the headline ‘Govt targets Yingluck’s assets over rice
scheme’, the collocation ‘rice scheme’ changed from neutral semantic prosody to
negative prosody when being in the context of political corruption. The collocation ‘at
UN’ in the headline ‘Prayut to extol regime gains at UN’ changed from neutral to
positive prosody when appearing in the context of international affairs. These
conditions were found only 2.58% and 1.48% respectively.
It is evident that the type of semantic prosody that changed to other types
was in low percentage. This condition is due to the fact that the political news writers
of the Bangkok Post avoided making headlines ambiguous. Buaphuean (2014) stated
that the journalists should work with a norm of mass media. The Normative Theory of
Media Performance explained how a media system should operate in order to conform
to or realize a set of ideal social value (Stanley & Dennis, 2006). Especially, the
57
political issue, the press has a role in a democracy to employ normative theory. They
should realize to broadcast political news and matters based on social values and
principles. A clear political news can lead understanding a truthful story by news
readers (Buaphuean, 2014)
However, attitude, belief, and personal perspective of the journalist and
readers directly affected the meaning of news stories. Word choices, phrases and
language used in political news for calling attention from readers also depends on the
news reporters to reflect their attitude in different meanings. Thus, the readers’
perspectives in political news might vary in different ways (Jaiyai, 2007).
To sum up, some political news headlines changed semantic prosody in
contextual meaning. Attitudes, believes, and personal perspectives of the journalist
and readers directly affected the meaning of news stories. As a result, collocations in
political news headlines can possibly have various meanings.
58
CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter is divided into two main parts. The first part is the conclusion
of the research results. The second part focuses on recommendations for pedagogical
implications and further studies.
Conclusion
This study aimed to explore the types and characteristics of collocations and
semantic prosody of the collocations in Thai political news headlines in the Bangkok
Post. The collocations were analyzed to determine their types and characteristics
based on the framework of Benson and Ilson (1997). The types of semantic prosody
were also explored to find whether the types of semantic prosody were affected by the
news context based on the framework of Stubb (1996). The research systematically
selected 148 front-page political news headlines during January 1st to December 31st,
2015 from the Bangkok Post as the sample. Totally 271 collocations were found in
the headlines.
The results of the study indicated that lexical collocations appeared the most
in headlines because of the principle of brevity and clarity in writing political news
headlines. Nouns, verbs and adjectives in the structure of lexical collocations are
content words which contain lexical meanings and give readers news story in the
headlines. While, prepositions or auxiliary verbs are function words that appearing in
the structure of grammatical collocations, they are for grammatical correctness and do
not show the meanings in the headlines In addition, there were four other types of
collocation which were not included in the framework of Benson and Ilson(1997).
Especially, the structure of ‘verb + preposition’ often appeared in the headlines
because they are phrasal verb that preposition cannot be omitted for grammatical
accuracy and correct meaning.
59
Additionally, negative semantic prosody of collocations always appeared in
both collocational meaning and contextual meaning in Thai political news headlines.
This is because people are primarily interested in bad news rather than good ones.
Negative news can easily call their attention. Therefore, journalists reported bad
things which are more compelling than good news stories. Finally, news writers of the
Bangkok Post tended to use collocations that reflected collocational meaning that
matched with contextual meaning in political news headlines. The original semantic
prosody, thus, was likely to be the same in both collocational meaning and contextual
meaning because new writers avoided making headlines ambiguous for operating
based on the values of the social system.
Recommendations
On the basis of the interpretations of the findings and discussions in the
present study, the following recommendations are for pedagogical implications.
Teachers should assist students to develop their capacity of using
collocations. Students should be taught to grasp the usage of collocations in English in
both denotation and connotation meaning. Teachers should train their students to be
aware of collocations when reading English texts. Teachers should provide their
students with exercises for practicing using collocations in order to enhance their
understanding of English collocations.
For semantic prosody, an English newspaper can be used as a reading
material in class. Teachers should help students grasp attitudinal meaning of writers
when reading English texts. The attitude of journalists affects word choice in news
writing that reflects positive or negative meaning in collocations. Students should be
trained to identify semantic prosody created by the news writers to understand the
message conveyed.
The following recommendations are made for further investigations in the
areas of English study and communication arts.
The present research was designed to identify and explore English
collocations and their semantic prosody. The sample size might have created some
60
limitations for the study. For example, some types or characteristics of collocations
did not appear in the sampled headlines. A larger sample size might reflect more
details in language use.
The future study should be conducted with other types of news headlines
such as economic news or criminal news in order to obtain wider views about the use
of collocations and semantic prosody.
The study comparing political news headlines in one English newspaper
with another English newspaper on the same news headlines should be done to find
out whether they have the same types of semantic prosody. The study should be
replicated by using other English newspapers such as ‘The Nation’ to find whether
each newspaper has its own manner to express attitudinal meaning or semantic
prosody.
61
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APPENDICES
66
APPENDIX A
Table of Determining Sample Size from a Given Population
67
Table for Determining Sample Size from a Given Population
N S N S N S
10 10 220 140 1,200 291
15 14 230 144 1,300 297
20 19 240 148 1,400 302
25 24 250 152 1,500 306
30 28 260 155 1,600 310
35 32 270 159 1,700 313
40 36 280 162 1,800 317
45 40 290 165 1,900 320
50 44 300 169 2,000 322
55 48 320 175 2,200 327
60 52 340 181 2,400 331
65 56 360 186 2,600 335
70 59 380 191 2,800 338
75 63 400 196 3,000 341
80 66 420 201 3,500 346
85 70 440 205 4,000 351
90 73 460 210 4,500 354
95 76 480 214 5,000 357
100 80 500 217 6,000 361
110 86 550 226 7,000 364
120 92 600 234 8,000 367
130 97 650 242 9,000 368
140 103 700 248 10,000 370
150 108 750 254 15,000 375
160 113 800 260 20,000 377
170 118 850 265 30,000 379
180 123 900 269 40,000 380
190 127 950 274 50,000 381
200 132 1,000 278 75,000 382
210 136 1,100 285 100,000 384
Note.—N is population size.
S is sample size.
69
APPENDIX B
Collocations Analysis in Thai Political News Headlines
69
Table of Collocations Analysis in Thai Political News Headlines
Headlines Collocations Type of collocations Explanation
1 Red shirts send signal to the boss
Send signal to the boss V+direct obj+to+indirect
obj
2 Regime faces early challenge
Face challenge V+N
3 Corruption fight takes center stage
Corruption fight
Corruption fight takes
Center stage
N+N
N+V
N+N
4 Govt seeks B900bn for water plan
seeks B900bn
seeks for
seeks B900bn for water plan
V+N
V+prep
V+N+prep. phrase
5 Impeach bids will ‘spur faith in reform’
Impeach bids
Spur faith
N+N
V+N
6 Govt boosts anti-trafficking push
Boost anti-trafficking push
anti-trafficking push
V+N
Adj +N
7 Ex-PM faces NLA impeach vote
Face NLA impeach vote
impeach vote
V+N
N+N
8 CDC backs consumer, media bodies
back consumer V+N
9 Yingluck fails to show at NLA
fails to show
Show at
V+infinitive V+ Prep
10 Yingluck’s fate sealed, say Pheu Thai
fate sealed N+V
11 PM warns public against impeachment
violence
warns against
impeachment violence
warns public against
impeachment violence
V+prep
N+N
V+N+prep. phrase
70
Headlines Collocations Type of collocations Explanation
12 Panel seeks criminal rap for Yingluck
Seeks criminal rap
seeks for
criminal rap
seeks criminal rap for
Yingluck
V+N
V+prep
Adj+N
V+N+prep. phrase
13 OAG denies it agreed to charge ex-PM
denies it agreed
charge ex-PM
V+N clause
V+N
Deny that …
14 Axe poised to fall on Yingluck
fall on Yingluck
fall on
V+prep.phrase
V+prep
15 Yingluck vows fight for justice
fight for
N+prep
16 Shinwatra clan faces end of a political
era
faces end of a political era
V+ N
17 Yingluck free to travel, if she asked
No collocation
18 US warns on political ‘fairness’
warns on political ‘fairness’
warns on
V+prep. phrase
V+prep
19 PM rebuffs US martial law barbs
PM rebuffs
martial law
martial law barbs
N+V
Adj+N
N+N
20 Govt scolds US envoy for Yingluck jibe
envoy for N+prep
21 Prayut seeks to snuff out coup
opposition revival
snuff out
coup opposition revival
snuff out coup opposition
revival
V+prep
N+N
V+prep. phrase
22 CDC plans cronyism crackdown. cronyism crackdown
N+N
71
Headlines Collocations Type of collocations Explanation
23 Army issues warning to CDC critics issues warning V+N
24 PM tries to hush rising discontent rising discontent Adj+N
25 NRC mulls extra ethics assembly mulls extra ethics assembly
ethics assembly
V+N
N+N
26 Whips urge NLA nepotism halt nepotism halt N+N
27 NCPO faces 2-year ban from politics faces 2-year ban
V+N
28 PM scoffs at proposed politics ban scoffs at
politics ban
scoffs at proposed politics ban
V+prep
N+N
V+prep. phrase
29 Graftbusters launch probe into nepotism launch probe into nepotism
launch into
V+N+prep. Phrase
V+prep
30 CDC rejects coup bodies two-year ban rejects coup bodies
two-year ban
V+N
N+N
31 PM admits to almost punching reporter admits to …punching reporter
admits to
V+prep. phrase
V+prep
32 Draft charter ‘steals democracy’ Draft charter
steals democracy
N+N
V+N
33 Grenade strike aims to stir chaos, Prayut
warns
Grenade strike
stir chaos
N+N
V+N
34 Charter to boost citizen’s power Boost citizen’s power V+N
72
Headlines Collocations Type of collocations Explanation
35 Prayut shunts Narong to inactive post
shunts Narong
inactive post
V+N
Adj+N
36 Narong lambasts transfer order lambasts transfer order
transfer order
V+N
N+N
37 Phue Thai backs charter referendum backs charter referendum
charter referendum
V+N
N+N
38 PM blasts squabbling over charter
blasts squabbling
squabbling over charter
V+N
N+N
39 Court orders Yingluck to appear May19
Court orders N+V
40 Govt hopes to avert EU sanctions avert EU sanctions V+N
41 Prayut mulls axeing martial law mulls axeing martial law
martial law
V+N
Adj+N
42 ‘Dictator law’ spurs rights abuse fears Dictator law
spurs rights abuse fears
rights abuse
N+N
V+N
N+N
43 Govt pins hope on industry to lift growth pins hope on industry
lift growth
pins on
V+N+prep.phrase
V+N
V+prep
idiom
44 PM can’t use S44 to hold referendum hold referendum V+N
45 NLA votes to impeach Boonsong over
G-to-G (rice sheme)
NLA votes
impeach Boonsong over G-to-
G (rice sheme)
impeach over
N+V
V+prep. Phrase
V+prep
73
Headlines Collocations Type of collocations Explanation
46 Drafters, NRC back charter referendum
back charter referendum
charter referendum
V+N
N+N
47 Yingluck face red payout rap
face red payout rap
red payout rap
V+N
Adj+N
48 Graft probe sideline 45 top officials
Graft probe
top officials
N+N
Adj+N
49 Pressure mounts on NCPO to declare its
referendum stance
Pressure mounts
mounts on
mounts on NCPO
declare its referendum stance
referendum stance
N+V
V+prep
V+prep. Phrase
V+N
N+N
50 Govt backs referendum for January
backs referendum V+N
51 PM hails regime success a year on
hails regime success
regime success
V+N
N+N
52 Prayut denies privy council behind coup
denies privy council behind
coup
privy council
behind coup
V+N
N+N
Prep+N
53 NCPO fears third hand in coup protests
third hand
coup protests
Adj+N
N+N
54 Police hunt for criminal court vandals
hunt for criminal court vandals
criminal court vandals
hunt for
V+prep. Phrase
N+N
V+prep
55 Cabinet eyes 100 changes to charter eyes 100 changes to charter
changes to
V+N+prep. Phrase
N+prep
74
Headlines Collocations Type of collocations Explanation
56 NRC panels call for charter cuts
NRC panels
call for charter cuts
charter cuts
call for
N+N
V+prep. Phrase
N+N
V+prep.
57 Thaksin hit with royal slur probe
hit with royal slur probe
royal slur probe
hit with
V+prep. Phrase
Adj+N
V+prep
58 New charter ‘won’t’ stop coups stop coups V+N
59 Ex-PM faces stripping of police rank faces stripping of police rank
V+N+prep. Phrase
60 Cops wait on Thaksin rank move wait on Thaksin rank move
Thaksin rank move
wait on
V+prep. Phrase
N+N
V+prep
61 ‘Payback’ threat issued to Thaksin Payback threat
issued to Thaksin
issued to
N+N
V+prep. Phrase
V+prep
62 Govt to draw up 20-yr reform plan
draw up
draw up 20-yr reform plan
reform plan
V+prep
V+prep. Phrase
N+N
63 Nipon pins water crisis on Yingluck pins water crisis on Yingluck
pins on
water crisis
V+N+prep phrase
V+prep
N+N
64 Court tipped to free protester students free protester students V+N
65 Military judge pledge fair trial for 14
students activists
pledge fair trial
fair trial
V+N
Adj+N
66 PM claims sole power on reshuffle claims sole power
sole power V+N
Adj+N
75
Headlines Collocations Type of collocations Explanation
67 Prayut extends Section44 net
extends Section44 net V+N
68 Cabinet reshuffle looks on the cards
Cabinet reshuffle
on the cards
N+N
Prep.+N
69 Pressure mounts on Gen Prayut
Pressure mounts
mounts on
mounts on Gen Prayut
N+V
V+prep
V+prep.phrase
70 Govt girds for TIP rating
girds for TIP rating
girds for
V+prep. phrase
V+prep
71 Prayut says no party politicians will join
his cabinet
party politicians
join his cabinet
N+N
V+N
72 PM predicts 2016 TIP upgrade
predicts 2016 TIP upgrade V+N
73 Suthep leaves monkhood to start NGO
start NGO
leaves monkhood
V+N
V+N
74 Suthep scheming to prop up NCPO
prop up NCPO
prop up
V+prep. Phrase
V+prep
75 Suthep says reform vital before poll No collocation
76 Supreme Court acquits Noppadon
Supreme Court acquits
acquits Noppadon
N+V
V+N
77 Steering panel ‘sways outcome’ of vote Steering panel
sways outcome
N+N
V+N
76
Headlines Collocations Type of collocations Explanation
78 Drafter ‘to blame’ for charter rejection
blame for charter rejection
charter rejection
blame for
V+prep. Phrase
N+N
V+prep
79 NCPO takes flak for roadmap
takes flak
flak for
V+N
N+prep.
80 New roadmap to focus on reform, PM
says
focus on
focus on reform
V+prep.
V+prep. Phrase
81 PM denies new panel picks made
denies new panel picks
picks made
V+N
N+V
82 ‘PM wants Meechai’ to lead drafting lead drafting
V+N
83 Somkid launches green incentives
Launches … incentives
green incentives
V+N
Adj+N
84 PM renews attack on regime critics
renews attack
attack on
regime critics
V+N
N+Prep.
N+N
85 PM seeks speedier time frame for
charter drafting
speedier time frame
time frame
charter drafting
Adj+N
N+N
N+N
86 Big parties face shake-up face shake-up V+N
87 Pheu Thai welcomes idea of re-
registering parties
idea of
re-registering parties
N+Prep.
V+N
88 PM launches ‘people’s state’ policy
launches people’s state policy V+N
77
Headlines Collocations Type of collocations Explanation
89 Critics rap politics reboot Critics rap
politics reboot
N+V
N+N
90 Prayut to extol regime gains at UN Prayut to extol
regime gains
at UN
N+V
N+N Prep.+N
91 Meechai asked to head CDC
head CDC V+N
92 Government dismisses UN protests dismisses UN protests UN protests
V+N N+N
93 PM assures Ban of return to democracy assures Ban
assure of
return to
V+N
V+prep.
N+prep
94 PM urges nations to bridge inequalities bridge inequalities
V+N
95 Govt warns netizen ‘protesters’ netizen protesters
N+N
96 63 ex-reform council member win seats
on NRSA
win seats
seats on
V+N
N+prep.
97 CDC targets to finish first draft by
January
finish first draft V+N
98 Govt to woo Western investors woo Western investors V+N
99 Prayut mulls ‘selective’ amnesty plan
mulls ‘selective’ amnesty plan
amnesty plan
V+N
N+N
100 ‘Don’t rely on democracy’ for charter
rely on democracy
rely on
V+prep. Phrase
V+prep
78
Headlines Collocations Type of collocations Explanation
101 Govt targets Yingluck’s assets over rice
scheme
Govt targets
targets assets
targets assets over rice scheme
rice scheme
N+V
V+N
V+N+ prep. phrase
N+N
102 CDC chief hints at outsider PM
hints at
hints at outsider PM
V+prep.
V+prep. Phrase
103 Govt says reforms key to future
key to
Noun + prep.
104 Activists threaten full-scale ‘cyber war’
on Government
full-scale
cyber war
cyber war on
Adj+N
N+N
N+prep.
105 NRSA sets 20-month reform goal sets goal
reform goal
V+N
N+N
106 Prayut vows lese majeste blitz
vows lese majeste blitz
V+N
107 Three lese majeste suspects charged lese majeste suspects
suspects charged
Adj+N
N+V
108 Agencies brace for ‘cyber war’ cyber war
brace for ‘cyber war’
brace for
N+N
V+prep. Phrase
V+prep
109 Tough tasks await new NACC pick Tough tasks Adj+N
110 CDC mulls change to vote system mulls change
vote system
V+N
N+N
111 Cops deny lese majeste led to shunt deny lese majeste led to shunt
V+N clause
Deny
that+clause
79
Headlines Collocations Type of collocations Explanation
112 PM says he may need to stay at helm stay at helm
stay at
V+prep. Phrase
V+prep
113 Govt to roll out decree in IUU fight
roll out decree
roll out
V+prep. Phrase
V+prep
114 Prawit defends PM’s ‘close country’
gaffe
close country gaffe N+N
115 Use S44 ‘wisely on megaprojects’
Use …wisely V+Adv
116 Pheu Thai riled by poll plan “shame’
riled by poll plan “shame’
riled by
V+prep. Phrase
V+prep
117 Boonsong raps NCPO amnesty
raps NCPO amnesty
V+N
118 Immunity order comes under attack
comes under attack
comes under
V+prep. Phrase
V+prep
119 Prawut fails to turn up for work after
overseas trip
turn up for work
overseas trip
turn up
V+prep. phrase
N+N
V+prep
120 Voting plan takes heavy flak as ‘unfair
and unjust’
takes heavy flak
heavy flak
V+N
121 CDC insists on new voting plan
insists on
insists on new coting plan
V+prep.
V+prep. phrase
122 Somsak denies B16m house is his at trial at trial
denies B16m house is his
Prep+N Deny
that+clause
123 City governor snubs Abhisit in bribes
saga
City governor
snubs Abhisit
bribes saga
N+N
V+N
N+N
80
Headlines Collocations Type of collocations Explanation
124 CDC backtracks over electoral system
electoral system
backtracks over
backtracks over electoral
system
Adj+N
V+prep
V+prep. phrase
125 Ratjabhakti Park in CIB graft probe
graft probe N+N
126 Govt denies Rajabhakti corruption
denies Rajabhakti corruption V+N
127 Rajabhakti Park figure ‘flees country’
flees country V+N
128 Army hunts Rajabhakti Park clues
hunts clues
V+N
129 Prayut visits key red- shirt stronghold No collocation
130 Veerun vows ‘above-board’ park probe
vows ‘above-board’ park probe
park probe
‘above-board’ park probe
V+N
N+N
Adj+N
131 PM assures fairness in park probe assures fairness
fairness in
park probe
V+N
N+prep.
N+N
132 NCPO scrambles to protect Udomdej
No collocation
133 Rajabhakti probe due out today
No collocation
134 Army deckares park graft case closed
graft case N+N
81
Headlines Collocations Type of collocations Explanation
135 Anti-graft agencies mull Rajabhakti Park
probe
Mull probe
Park probe
V+N
N+N
136 Prawit orders new Rajabhakti probe No collocation
137 Three more sought for lese majeste
sought for lese majeste
sought for
V+prep. Phrase
V+prep
138 PM accuses red shirts of unrest plot
accuses of unrest plot
unrest plot
accuses of
V+prep. Phrase
N+N
V+prep
139 Foundries to ‘whitewash’ Rajabhakti No collocation
140 Army sends soldiers to block UDD from
park
No collocation
141 Pressure mounts on Udomdej to quit
Pressure mounts
mounts on
N+V
V+prep
142 Udomdej refuses to step down
step down V+adv (phrasal verb)
143 PM lets Udomdej ‘decide his own fate’ No collocation
144 Court vetoes Yingluck trip Court vetoes N+V
145 Udomdej tipped to resign No collocation
146 Army detains anti-coup activists Army detains
anti-coup activists
N+V
N+N
147 Govt takes aims at UK envoy comments takes aims
takes aims at UK envoy
comments
V+N
V+N+prep. phrase
148 Govt clarifies salary plan for ID cards
amid privacy backlash
salary plan
ID cards
privacy backlash
N+N
N+N
N+N
APPENDIX C
List of Collocations Found in Political News Headlines
83
List of collocations found in political news headlines
Type of collocations Lists of collocations
1. Lexical collocations
1.1. Verb (meaning creation/activation) +
noun
1. face challenge
2. Spur faith
3. boost anti-trafficking push
4. face NLA impeach vote
5. back consumer
6. charge ex-PM
7. issues warning
8. mulls extra ethics assembly
9. faces 2-year ban
10. steals democracy
11. stir chaos
12. boost citizen’s power
13. backs charter referendum
14. avert EU sanctions
15. mulls axeing martial law
16. spurs rights abuse fears
17. lift growth
18. hold referendum
19. back charter referendum
20. face red payout rap
21. declare its referendum stance
22. backs referendum
23. hails regime success
24. free protester students
25. pledge fair trial
26. claims sole power
27. extends Section44 net
28. join his cabinet
29. predicts 2016 TIP upgrade
30. start NGO
31. acquits Noppadon
32. sways outcome
33. takes flak
34. lead drafting
35. launches … incentives
36. renews attack
37. face shake-up
38. re-registering parties
39. launches people’s state policy
40. head CDC
41. bridge inequalities
42. win seats
43. targets assets
84
Type of collocations Lists of collocations
44. sets goal
45. vows lese majeste blitz
46. mulls change
47. raps NCPO amnesty
48. takes heavy flak
49. hunts clues
50. vows ‘above-board’ park prob
51. assures fairness
52. mull probe
53. takes aims
54. faces end of a political era
55. seeks B900bn
56. seeks criminal rap
57. assures Ban
58. finish first draft
59. woo Western investors
60. mulls ‘selective’ amnesty plan
61. snubs Abhisit
62. flees country
Verb (meaning creation/activation) +
prepositional phrase
63. fall on Yingluck
64. warns on political ‘fairness’
65. admits to …punching reporter
66. impeach Boonsong over G-to-G
(rice sheme)
67. mounts on NCPO
68. hunt for criminal court vandals
69. call for charter cuts
70. hit with royal slur probe
71. wait on Thaksin rank move
72. issued to Thaksin
73. draw up 20-yr reform plan
74. mounts on Gen Prayut
75. girds for TIP rating
76. prop up NCPO
77. blame for charter rejection
78. rely on democracy
79. brace for ‘cyber war’
80. stay at helm
81. roll out decree
82. riled by poll plan “shame’
83. comes under attack
84. insists on new coting plan
85. sought for lese majeste
86. accuses of unrest plot
87. turn up for work
85
Type of collocations Lists of collocations
88. snuff out coup opposition revival
89. scoffs at proposed politics ban
90. focus on reform
91. hints at outsider PM
92. backtracks over electoral system
1.2. Adjective + noun
Noun +noun
1. anti-trafficking push
2. criminal rap
3. martial law
4. rising discontent
5. inactive post
6. martial law
7. red payout rap
8. top officials
9. third hand
10. royal slur probe
11. fair trial
12. sole power
13. green incentives
14. speedier time frame
15. full-scale
16. lese majeste suspects
17. Tough tasks
18. electoral system
19. center stage
20. heavy flak
21. ‘above-board’ park probe
22. Corruption fight
23. Center stage
24. Impeach bids
25. impeach vote
26. impeachment violence
27. martial law barbs
28. coup opposition revival
29. cronyism crackdown
30. ethics assembly
31. nepotism halt
32. politics ban
33. two-year ban
34. Draft charter
35. Grenade strike
36. transfer order
37. charter referendum
38. Dictator law
86
Type of collocations Lists of collocations 39. rights abuse
40. charter referendum
41. Graft probe
42. referendum stance
43. regime success
44. privy council
45. coup protests
46. criminal court vandals
47. NRC panels
48. charter cuts
49. Thaksin rank move
50. Payback threat
51. reform plan
52. water crisis
53. Cabinet reshuffle
54. party politicians
55. Steering panel
56. charter rejection
57. regime critics
58. time frame
59. charter drafting
60. politics reboot
61. UN protests
62. netizen protesters
63. rice scheme
64. cyber war
65. reform goal
66. cyber war
67. vote system
68. close country gaffe
69. overseas trip
70. graft probe
71. graft case
72. unrest plot
73. anti-coup activists
74. salary plan
75. ID cards
76. privacy backlash
77. Seeks criminal rap
78. squabbling over charter
79. regime gains
80. amnesty plan
81. City governor
82. bribes saga
83. park probe
87
Type of collocations Lists of collocations
1.3. Verb (meaning eradication and/or
nullification) + noun
1. rejects coup bodies
2. shunts Narong
3. lambasts transfer order
4. denies privy council behind coup
5. stop coups
6. denies new panel picks
7. denies Rajabhakti corruption
8. blasts squabbling
9. leaves monkhood
10. dismisses UN protests
11. snuff out coup opposition revival
1.4. Noun + Verb 1. fate sealed
2. PM rebuffs
3. Court orders
4. NLA votes
5. Pressure mounts
6. Pressure mounts
7. Supreme Court acquits
8. picks made
9. Critics rap
10. Govt targets
11. suspects charged
12. Pressure mounts
13. Court vetoes
14. Army detains
15. corruption fight take
1.5. Verb + adverb 1. Use …wisely
2. step down
2. Grammatical collocations
2.1. Noun + preposition 1. fight for
2. envoy for
3. flak for
4. attack on
5. idea of
6. seats on
7. cyber war on
8. fairness in
9. return to
10. changes to
11. key to
2.2. Preposition + noun 1. behind coup
2. on the cards
88
Type of collocations Lists of collocations
3. at UN
4. at trial
2.3. Verb + direct object + to + indirect object 1.Send signal to the boss
3. Other types of collocations
3.1. Verb + Preposition 1. Show at
2. warn against
3. snuff out
4. scoff at
5. mount on
6. draw up
7. pins on
8. mount on
9. focus on
10. hint at
11. backtrack over
12. mount on
13. seek for
14. seek for
15. assure of
16. insist on
17. fall on
18. warn on
19. admit to
20. impeach over
21. hunt for
22. call for
23. hit with
24. wait on
25. issue to
26. gird for
27. prop up
28. blame for
29. rely on
30. brace for
31. stay at
32. rile by
33. comes under
34. sought for
35. accuse of
36. turn up
37. launch into
38. pins on
89
Type of collocations Lists of collocations
3.2. Verb +Noun +prep phrase 1. launch probe into nepotism
2. eyes 100 changes to charter
3. faces stripping of police rank
4. pins water crisis on Yingluck
5. targets assets over rice scheme
6. takes aims at UK envoy comments
7. pins hope on industry
8. seeks B900bn for water plan
9. seeks criminal rap for Yingluck
10. warns public against
impeachment violence
3.3. Verb + Noun clause
1. deny lese majeste led to shunt
2. denies B16m house is his
3. denies it agreed
3.4. Verb + infinitive
1. fails to show
91
APPENDIX D
Semantic Prosody in Thai Political News Headlines
91
Table of Semantic Prosody Analysis in Thai Political News Headlines
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning
Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
1 Red shirts
send signal
to the boss
Send signal to
the boss
“To send something to someone” has a neutral
meaning, therefor the meaning of the headline is
neutral.
The red shirts send messages to former Prime
minister Thaksin.
The collocation does not change its meaning
when use in context.
2 Regime
faces early
challenge
Face challenge To face challenge means to deal with problems. It
has a neutral meaning.
When using as a verb of regime, it has a negative
meaning. It suggests that the government under
NCPO has difficulties in administration.
92
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
3 Corruption
fight takes
center stage
Corruption
fight
Corruption
fight take
Center stage
Corruption fight means the work eradicating of
corruption. It has a negative meaning but it has a
positive contextual meaning.
Corruption fight take has a neutral meaning.
Center stage means an important position where
somebody can easily get people attention.
A push to eradicate corruption became an
important issue after the National Reform
Council has completed its task of making charter
recommendation. Corruption fight
suggests a positive meaning of the news while
central stage suggests a neutral meaning of the
headline.
4 Govt seeks
B900bn for
water plan
seeks B900bn
seeks for
seeks B900bn
for water plan
To seek (something) for (something) has a
positive meaning.
Seeks B900bn for water plan has a positive
meaning.
The government has proposed a draft of new
national water management projects and wanted
to boost investment to a massive 900 billion baht
under a 10-year plan. The collocation suggests a
positive meaning of the headline.
93
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
5 Impeach bids
will spur
faith in
reform’
Impeach bids
Spur faith
Impeach means to change an important public
figure with a serious crime.
Bid means an effort to do something or to obtain
something.
Impeach bid has a negative meaning.
Spur means to make something happen faster
Spur faith has positive meaning.
A National Anti-Corruption Commission
member said the impeachment motions against a
former House speaker and an ex-senate speaker
ensured public confidence in the ongoing
national inform process.
Impeach bid suggests negative action while Spur
faith indicate positive result. Impeach bids
suggests a negative meaning of the headline
while Spur faith suggests a positive meaning.
6 Govt boosts
anti-
trafficking
push
Boost anti-
trafficking
push
anti-
trafficking
push
Push- effort to do something
To boost anti-trafficking push has a positive
meaning. The government encourages the effort to prevent
human trafficking. Both collocations suggest
positive meanings of the headline. Both
collocations suggest positive meanings of the
news.
94
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
7 Ex-PM faces
NLA
impeach vote
Face NLA
impeach vote
impeach vote
Face NLA impeach vote means to deal with NLA
impeach vote. It has a negative meaning.
The headline informs that Yingluck had to face
with the impeach vote by the National
Legislative Assembly. Both collocations suggest
negative meanings of the headline.
8 CDC backs
consumer,
media bodies
back
consumer
Back- to support somebody.
To back consumer has a positive meaning.
The Constitution Drafting committee has agreed
on a proposal to include the establishment of two
independent organizations in the new
constitution. One would protect consumer and
the other would ensure media freedom, welfare
and ethics. The collocation suggests a positive
meaning of the headline.
9 Yingluck
fails to show
at NLA
fails to show
Show at
Fail to show has a negative meaning in both
collocation and contextual condition.
Show at has a neutral meaning; however, the
headline suggests a negative meaning because
Yinglick did not show at the meeting of the
National Legislative Assembly. The collocation
does not change the meaning of the headline.
95
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
10 Yingluck’s
fate sealed,
say Pheu
Thai
fate sealed To seal means to make something definite not to
be argued about. It has a negative meaning. The
headline suggests that Yingluck’s lawsuit was
unable to be argued about.
11 PM warns
public
against
impeachment
violence
warns against
impeachment
violence
warns public
against
impeachment
violence
Both collocations have negative meanings. The
PM warned the public not to bring about
violence against Yingluck’s impeachment. Both
collocations suggest a negative meaning of the
headline.
12 Panel seeks
criminal rap
for Yingluck
Seeks
criminal rap
seeks for
criminal rap
seeks
criminal rap
for Yingluck
To Seek something for something has a positive
meaning. Seeks criminal rap for Yingluck has a
negative meaning.
Criminal rap- a record of the crimes somebody
has committed. It has a negative meaning.
Seeks criminal rap for Yingluck has a negative
meaning.
The panel looked for the crime records that they
suspected that Yingluck had committed. Both
collocations suggest negative meaning of the
headline.
96
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
13 OAG denies
it agreed to
charge ex-
PM
denies it
agreed…
charge ex-
PM
Denies it agreed… has a negative collocation
meaning but it has a positive contextual
meaning.
To charge ex-PM has a negative meaning. It
suggests a negative meaning of the headline.
The Officer of the Attorney General refused that
they had agreed to accuse Yingluck of doing
something illegal.
14 Axe poised
to fall on
Yingluck
fall on
Yingluck
fall on
To fall on Yingluck and fall on have a negative
meaning.
The judgment of the NLA seemed to
demonstrate that Yingluck was likely to be guilty
in rice pledging project. The collocation
suggests a negative meaning of the headline.
15 Yingluck
vows fight
for justice
fight for
Vow- to make a formal and serious promise to
do sth
Fight for has a positive meaning.
Yingluck strongly declared that she would fight
for her justice. The collocation suggests a
positive meaning of the headline.
97
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
16 Shinwatra
clan faces
end of a
political era
faces end of
a political era
Faces end of a political era has a negative
meaning.
The headline informs that the Shinwatra family
was facing difficulties to end their political
activities. The collocation suggests a negative
meaning of the headline.
17 Yingluck
free to travel,
if she asked
No
collocation
18 US warns on
political
‘fairness’
warns on
political
‘fairness’
warns on
Warns on political ‘fairness’ has a positive
collocational meaning but it has a negative
contextual meaning.
Warns on has a negative meaning.
The US diplomat has warned the Thai
government on political justice.
19 PM rebuffs
US martial
law barbs
PM rebuffs
martial law
martial law
barbs
Rebuff- make unkind refusal
Barb- a remark that is meant to hurt somebody’s
feeling
PM rebuffs, martial law and martial law barbs
have negative meanings.
The PM refused the US diplomat’s strong
remark on Thai martial law. All collocations
suggest negative meanings of the headline.
98
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
20 Govt scolds
US envoy for
Yingluck jibe
envoy for Scold someone for something has a negative
meaning.
Deputy Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai
expressed “disappointment” at comments made
by an American envoy, saying the comments
denouncing martial law and the impeachment of
Yingluck Shinawatra “wounded the hearts” of
many Thais. The collocation suggest a negative
meaning of the headline.
21 Prayut seeks
to snuff out
coup
opposition
revival
snuff out
coup
opposition
revival
snuff out
coup
opposition
revival
Snuff out means to stop or destroy something
completely. It has a negative collocation
meaning but it has a positive contextual
meaning.
Coup opposition revival has a positive meaning.
Snuff out coup opposition revival has a negative
meaning.
The PM looked for ways to get rid of coup
opposition revival. Both collocations suggest a
positive meaning of the headline.
99
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
22 CDC plans
cronyism
crackdown.
cronyism
crackdown
Cronyism crackdown means cronyism
elimination. It has a positive meaning.
The Constitution Drafting Committee planned to
eliminate the cronyism of the CDC. The
collocation suggests a positive meaning of the
headline.
23 Army issues
warning to
CDC critics
issues
warning
To issue warning means to giving a warn. It has
a negative meaning.
The army warned the CDC critics to stop
criticizing CDC’s action. The collocation
suggests a negative meaning of the headline.
24 PM tries to
hush rising
discontent
rising
discontent
Rising discontent means increasing
dissatisfaction. It has a negative meaning.
The PM tried to stop the public’s discontent
toward the government.
100
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
25 NRC mulls
extra ethics
assembly
mulls extra
ethics
assembly
ethics
assembly
To mull extra ethics assembly means to consider
setting up an ethics assembly. It has a positive
meaning.
Ethics assembly means the assembly that deals
with ethics. It has a positive meaning.
The National Reform Council carefully thought
about setting up special ethics assembly. Both
collocations suggest a positive meaning of the
headline.
26 Whips urge
NLA
nepotism halt
nepotism halt Nepotism halt means nepotism ending. It has a
positive meaning.
National Legislative Assembly (NLA) whips
were calling on members who appointed
relatives as aides to retroactively end their
employment. The collocation suggests a positive
meaning of the headline.
27 NCPO faces
2-year ban
from politics
faces 2-year
ban
To faces 2-year ban means being unable to get
involved in politics for 2 years. It has a negative
meaning.
The National Council for Peace and Order
members might be prohibited to get involved in
politics for 2 years.
101
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
28 PM scoffs at
proposed
politics ban
scoffs at
politics ban
scoffs at
proposed
politics ban
To scoff at means to say that something is stupid
or ridiculous. It has a negative meaning.
Politics ban and scoffs at proposed politics ban
have a negative meaning.
The PM expressed his opinion that the NCPO
members’ prohibition from politics was
ridiculous and unreasonable. Both collocations
suggest a negative meaning of the headline.
29 Graftbusters
launch probe
into nepotism
launch probe
into nepotism
launch into
To launch probe into nepotism means to conduct
a probe into nepotism. It has a positive meaning.
Launch into has a positive meaning.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission
started an investigation NLA nepotism.
30 CDC rejects
coup bodies
two-year ban
rejects coup
bodies
two-year ban
Rejects coup bodies means to reject the members
of the coup. It has a negative meaning. Two-year
ban has a negative meaning.
The Constitution Drafting Committee rejected a
proposal for members of the other four key
bodies which made up the so-called ‘five rivers’
to take a two-year break from politics after
completing their work. Both collocations suggest
a negative meaning of the headline.
102
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
31 PM admits to
almost
punching
reporter
admits to
…punching
reporter
admits to
Admits to …punching reporter means to admit to
hit the news reporter. It has a negative meaning.
Admit to also has a negative meaning.
The PM admitted that he almost punched the
reporter for making negative criticism.
32 Draft charter
‘steals
democracy’
Draft charter
steals
democracy
Draft charter refers to the constitution drafting
committee. It has a neutral meaning.
Steals democracy means not to include
democratic principles in the constitution. It has a
negative meaning.
The draft charter was accused of not including
some democratic principles into the constitution
drafting. Steals democracy suggests a negative
meaning of the headline.
33 Grenade
strike aims to
stir chaos,
Prayut warns
Grenade
strike
stir chaos
Grenade strike means bombing strike. It has a
negative meaning. To stir chaos means to bring
about chaos.
The PM warned the bombers not to use the
bombing strike to bring about chaos in the city.
Both collocations suggest a negative meaning of
the headline.
103
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
34 Charter to
boost
citizen’s
power
Boost
citizen’s
power
To boost citizen’s power means to promote the
citizen’s power. It has a positive meaning.
The draft charter aimed to promote the citizen’s
power in the constitution.
35 Prayut shunts
Narong to
inactive post
Shunt
Narong
inactive post
To shunt means to move somebody to a different
place. It has a negative meaning.
Inactive post means insignificant post. It has a
negative meaning.
The PM moved Narong to an insignificant post
in administration. Both collocations suggest a
negative meaning of the headline.
36 Narong
lambasts
transfer
order
lambasts
transfer order
transfer order
To lambast- criticize severely
To lambast transfer order means to criticize the
transfer order severely.
Transfer order means an order somebody to a
new position. Both have negative meanings.
Narong criticized the transfer order severely after
being transferred to a new position. Both
collocations suggest a negative meaning of the
headline.
104
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
37 Phue Thai
backs charter
referendum
backs charter
referendum
charter
referendum
To backs charter referendum means to support
the charter referendum. It has a positive
meaning. Charter referendum has a neutral
meaning.
Phue Thai Party supported the charter
referendum, which suggested positive action.
Backs charter referendum suggests a positive
meaning of the headline while charter
referendum does not add either negative or
positive meaning.
38 PM blasts
squabbling
over charter
blasts
squabbling
squabbling
over charter
Blast- criticize
Squabbling – to quarrel noisily about something
To blast squabbling means to criticize the
quarrel. Squabbling over charter means the
disagreement on the constitution. Both have
negative meanings.
The PM criticized the public’s quarrel over the
constitution. Both collocations suggest a
negative meaning of the headline.
39 Court orders
Yingluck to
appear
May19
Court orders Court order means court issues an order. It has a
negative meaning.
The court ordered Yingluck to appear at the
court on May,19. This suggested negative action.
105
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
40 Govt hopes
to avert EU
sanctions
avert EU
sanctions
Avert- to prevent something bad or dangerous
from happening.
Avert EU sanctions means to prevent EU
sanctions. It has a positive meaning.
The Thai government hoped to prevent the EU
sanctions in trading.
41 Prayut mulls
axeing
martial law
mulls axeing
martial law
martial law
Axe- to get rid of a system
To mull axeing martial law means to consider
getting rid of martial law. It has a positive
meaning.
Martial law has negative meanings.
Prayut thought carefully about stopping using
martial law.
42 ‘Dictator
law’ spurs
rights abuse
fears
Dictator law
spurs rights
abuse fears
rights abuse
Spur- to make sth happen faster
Dictator law means martial law.
To spur rights abuse fears means to cause fears
of right abuse.
Right abuse means using right wrongly. All of
them have negative meanings.
A plan to replace martial law with sweeping new
powers for Prime Minister Prayut has prompted
fears that it would promote human right abuse.
All collocations suggest a negative meaning of
the headline.
106
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
43 Govt pins
hope on
industry to
lift growth
pins hope on
industry
lift growth
pins on
Pins hope on something means to rely on
something completely for success.
To pin hope on industry means to rely on
industry.
To lift growth means to increase growth.
Pin hope on industry , lift growth and Pins on
have positive meanings.
The government hoped to rely on industry to
improve economic growth of Thailand. Both
collocations suggest a positive meaning of the
headline.
44 PM can’t use
S44 to hold
referendum
hold
referendum
To hold referendum means to obtain referendum.
It has a positive meaning.
The public had an opinion that the PM could not
use Section 44 to obtain charter referendum. The
collocation suggests a positive meaning of the
headline.
107
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
45 NLA votes to
impeach
Boonsong
over G-to-G
(rice sheme)
NLA votes
impeach
Boonsong
over G-to-G
(rice sheme)
impeach over
Impeach- to charge an important public figure
with a serious crime
NLA vote has a neutral meaning.
Impeach Boonsong over G-to-G (rice sheme) has
a negative meaning.
Impeach over also has a negative meaning.
The National Legislative Assembly voted to
impeach Boonsong because of the G-to-G (rice
sheme) which was deemed to be a serious crime.
Impeach Boonsong over G-to-G (rice sheme)
suggests a negative meaning of the headline.
46 Drafters,
NRC back
charter
referendum
back charter
referendum
charter
referendum
To back charter referendum means to support
the charter referendum. It has a positive
meaning.
The constitution drafter and the National reform
council supported the charter referendum. The
headline has positive meaning.
108
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
47 Yingluck
face red
payout rap
face red
payout rap
red payout
rap
Rap - criminal conviction
To face red payout rap means to deal with the
debt which was considered a crime. It has a
negative meaning.
Yingluck had to deal with the debt crime
involving the rice pledging project. Both
collocations suggest a negative meaning of the
headline.
48 Graft probe
sideline 45
top officials
Graft probe
top officials
Graft probe means the investigation into
corruption. It has a negative meaning.
Top officials mean high-ranked officials. It has a
neutral meaning.
The graft buster investigated the corruption of 45
high-ranked officials. This suggested a negative
meaning of the headline. Graft probe suggests a
negative meaning of the headline.
109
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
49 Pressure
mounts on
NCPO to
declare its
referendum
stance
Pressure
mounts
mounts on
mounts on
NCPO
declare its
referendum
stance
referendum
stance
Mount - increase
Stance - opinion
Pressure mounts on NCPO means pressure
increased on NCPO. It has a negative meaning.
To declare its referendum stance means to show
the opinions about referendum. It has a neutral
meaning.
The National Council for Peace and Order got
pressures to show its opinions about the charter
referendum. Mounts on NCPO suggest a
negative meaning of the headline.
50 Govt backs
referendum
for January
backs
referendum
To back referendum means to support
referendum. It has a positive meaning.
The government supported the idea that the
charter referendum should be made in January
2016.
110
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
51 PM hails
regime
success a
year on
hails regime
success
regime
success
Hail - to describe that something is very good
To hail regime success means to praise the
success of the regime government. It has a
positive meaning.
The PM described that the regime government
succeeded in its administration. Both
collocations suggest a positive meaning of the
headline.
52 Prayut denies
privy council
behind coup
denies privy
council
behind coup
privy council
behind coup
To deny privy council behind coup means to
refuse that the privy council was behind the
coup. It has a negative collocational meaning but
it has a positive contextual meaning.
Privy council has a neutral meaning.
Behind coup has a negative meaning.
Prayut refused the public’s accusation that the
privy council was behind the coup in 2014.
The headline suggested a positive meaning.
53 NCPO fears
third hand in
coup protests
third hand
coup protests
Coup protest means the protest against coup. It
has a positive meaning.
The National Council for Peace and Order was
afraid that the coup protest would be led by the
third hand. Third hand suggests a negative
meaning of the headline while coup protests
suggests a positive meaning.
111
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
54 Police hunt
for criminal
court vandals
hunt for
criminal
court vandals
criminal
court vandals
hunt for
Vandal - a crime of destroying public property
To hunt for criminal court vandals means to look
for criminal court vandals. It has a negative
meaning. Hunt for has a negative meaning.
The police hunted for the criminals who
destroyed the criminal court property. Both
collocations suggest a negative meaning of the
headline.
55 Cabinet eyes
100 changes
to charter
eyes 100
changes to
charter
changes to
To eye 100 changes to charter means to aim to
make 100 changes in the constitution. It has a
negative meaning. Changes to has a negative
meaning.
The cabinet aimed to make 100 changes in the
drafted constitution.
56 NRC panels
call for
charter cuts
NRC panels
call for
charter cuts
charter cuts
call for
NRC panels has a neutral meaning.
To call for charter cuts means to ask to shorten
the constitution. It has a negative meaning.
Charter cuts has a negative meaning. Call for has
a neutral meaning.
The National Reform Council asked the CDC to
shorten or to make changes in the drafted
constitution. To call for charter cuts suggests a
negative meaning of the headline.
112
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
57 Thaksin hit
with royal
slur probe
hit with royal
slur probe
royal slur
probe
hit with
To be hit with royal slur probe means to be
accused of committing lese majeste and be
probed. It has a negative meaning.
Royal slur probe and hit with also have a
negative meaning.
Thaksin was accused of committing lese majeste
and was probed.
58 New charter
‘won’t’ stop
coups
stop coups To stop coups means to prevent coup. It has a
positive meaning.
The new constitution being drafted was unable to
prevent coups in the future.
59 Ex-PM faces
stripping of
police rank
faces
stripping of
police rank
Strip - to take away property or honours from
somebody as a punishment
To faces stripping of police rank means to deal
with the process of taking away his police rank.
It has a negative meaning.
Thaksin was in the process stripping of his police
rank as a punishment for his illegal action in the
past.
113
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
60 Cops wait on
Thaksin rank
move
wait on
Thaksin rank
move
Thaksin rank
move
wait on
Wait on – to wait for something to happen before
you do or decide to do something. Wait on has a
neutral meaning.
To wait on Thaksin rank move means to wait for
the move of Thaksin’s police rank. It has a
negative meaning.
The police was waiting for the final judgment for
stripping of Thaksin’s police rank.
61 ‘Payback’
threat issued
to Thaksin
Payback
threat
issued to
Thaksin
issued to
Payback threat means to threaten to take back of
something. It has a negative meaning.
Issued to Thaksin and issued to have a neutral
meaning.
Thaksin was threatened to be taken back all of
his royal decorations
62 Govt to draw
up 20-yr
reform plan
draw up
draw up 20-
yr reform
plan
reform plan
Draw(something) up- make or write something
that needs careful thought
To draw up 20-yr reform plan means to write up
a 20-year reform plan. It has a positive meaning.
The government planned to write up a 20-year
plan to reform the country. Draw up 20-yr
reform plan suggests a positive meaning in the
headline.
114
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
63 Nipon pins
water crisis
on Yingluck
pins water
crisis on
Yingluck
pins…on
water crisis
Pin (something) on (somebody) - to make
somebody be blamed for something they did not
do.
Pins…on and water crisis have negative
meanings.
Nippon blamed Yingluck for causing water crisis
in 2015. All collocations suggest a negative
meaning of the headline.
64 Court tipped
to free
protester
students
free protester
students
Tip - overturn/ decide that a legal decision is not
correct and to make it no longer valid
To free protester students means to let protester
students free from being detained. It has a
positive meaning.
The court was likely to free protester students.
65 Military
judge pledge
fair trial for
14 students
activists
pledge fair
trial
fair trial
Pledge- formally promise
To pledge fair trial means to promise to give
justice in the court trial. It has a positive
meaning.
The military judge promised to arrange fair trial
for the 14 arrested student activists. Both
collocations suggest a positive meaning of the
headline.
115
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
66 PM claims
sole power
on reshuffle
claims sole
power
sole power
Sole – belonging to one person and not shared
To claims sole power means to claim to have his
own absolute power. It has a negative meaning.
The PM claimed that the cabinet reshuffle would
be made by his sole power. Both collocations
suggest a negative meaning of the headline.
67 Prayut
extends
Section44 net
extends
Section44 net
To extends Section44 net means to increase the
scopes of using Section44. It has a negative
collocational meaning but it has a positive
contextual meaning.
The PM had invoked his power to tackle illegal
street crimes. This suggested that the PM has
extended his use of Section44 to eradicate
different crimes.
68 Cabinet
reshuffle
looks on the
cards
Cabinet
reshuffle
on the cards
Cabinet reshuffle has a negative meaning.
On the cards means likely to happen. It has a
neutral meaning.
The PM said that the cabinet reshuffle was likely
to happen. Cabinet reshuffle suggests a negative
meaning of the headline.
116
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
69 Pressure
mounts on
Gen Prayut
Pressure
mounts
mounts on
mounts on
Gen Prayut
Pressure mounts means pressure increases. It has
a negative meaning.
To mounts on means to increase gradually. It has
a neutral meaning.
The pressure to reshuffle the cabinet gradually
increases on Prime Minister Prayut. Mounts on
Gen Prayut suggests a negative meaning of the
headline.
70 Govt girds
for TIP
rating
girds for TIP
rating
girds for
girds for (something) - prepare for sth difficult
TIP stands for trafficking in persons.
To girds for TIP rating means to prepare for the
rating of human trafficking. Both collocations
have a positive meaning.
The government has prepared for human
trafficking rating issued by the USA. It suggests
a positive meaning of the headline.
117
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
71 Prayut says
no party
politicians
will join his
cabinet
party
politicians
join his
cabinet
Party politicians mean the politicians who have
registered with a particular political party. It has
a neutral collocational meaning, but it has a
negative contextual meaning.
Join his cabinet has a neutral meaning.
Prime minister Prayut refused to invite party
politicians to join his cabinet. This suggested that
the PM had a negative attitude toward party
politicians. Party politicians suggests a negative
meaning of the headline.
72 PM predicts
2016 TIP
upgrade
predicts 2016
TIP upgrade
To predict 2016 TIP upgrade means to predict
that the situation of human trafficking will get
better. It has a positive meaning.
The PM predicted that the human trafficking in
2016 would be improved.
73 Suthep
leaves
monkhood to
start NGO
leaves
monkhood
start NGO
To leave monkhood means to stop being a monk.
It has a neutral meaning.
Start NGO has a neutral collocation meaning but
it has a negative contextual meaning.
It was said that Suthep left monkhood to start
NGO activities. This suggests negative meaning
of the headline.
118
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
74 Suthep
scheming to
prop up
NCPO
prop up
NCPO
prop up
Prop (something) up- to help something that is
having difficulties.
Prop up has a positive meaning.
Scheme- to make secret plan to do something.
(negative)
To prop up NCPO means to help to solve the
difficulties faced by NCPO. It has a negative
collocational meaning, but a positive contextual
meaning. Suthep has made a plan to help the NCPO to deal
with difficulties in administration. It suggests a
positive meaning of the headline. 75 Suthep says
reform vital
before poll
No
collocation
76 Supreme
Court acquits
Noppadon
Supreme
Court acquits
acquits
Noppadon
Acquit (somebody) means to decide and state
officially in a court of law that somebody is not
guilty of a crime. Supreme Court acquits means the supreme court
states officially in a court. It has a neutral
collocational meaning, but a positive contextual
meaning.
The supreme court officially stated that
Noppadon was not guilty of a crime involving
the Preah Vihear temple communique with a
Cambodian representative. Both collocations
suggest a positive meaning of the headline.
119
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
77 Steering
panel ‘sways
outcome’ of
vote
Steering
panel
sways
outcome
Steering panel refers to the National Reform
Council. It has a neutral meaning.
To sway outcome means to influence the
outcome. It has a negative meaning.
The NRC would influence the outcome of the
vote on the constitution draft. Sway outcome
suggests a negative meaning of the headline.
78 Drafter ‘to
blame’ for
charter
rejection
blame for
charter
rejection
charter
rejection
blame for
To blame for charter rejection means to be
blamed for the rejection of the constitution. It has
a negative meaning.
The United Front for Democracy against
Dictatorship said that the constitution drafter had
to be responsible for the constitution rejection.
Both collocations suggest a negative meaning of
the headline.
79 NCPO takes
flak for
roadmap
takes flak
flak for
Flak- severe criticism
To takes flak means to receive severe criticism. It
has a negative meaning.
The National Council for Peace and Order would
be severely criticized for the government
roadmap.
120
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
80 New
roadmap to
focus on
reform, PM
says
focus on
focus on
reform
To focus on and focus on reform have a neutral
meaning.
The new governmental roadmap would focus on
the country reform, according to the PM.
81 PM denies
new panel
picks made
denies new
panel picks
picks made
Pick- an act of choosing something
To deny new panel picks means to deny the
selection of the new committee.
The PM denied the selection of new 21-member
charter drafting panel. Deny new panel picks
suggests a negative meaning of the headline.
82 ‘PM wants
Meechai’ to
lead drafting
lead drafting To lead drafting means to be the leader of the
constitution drafting. It has a neutral meaning.
The PM wanted Meechai to be the constitutional
drafting leader. This collocation suggests a
neutral meaning of the headline.
121
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
83 Somkid
launches
green
incentives
Launches …
incentives
green
incentives
Launch- to start an activity especially an
organized one
Green- related to environment
To launches … incentives mean to provide
incentives. It has a positive meaning.
Green incentives mean the incentives that
conserve the environment. It has a positive
meaning.
Somkid had a plan to develop a new incentive
package for investment in green industry on
Thailand’s eastern seaboard. Both collocations
suggest a positive meaning of the headline.
84 PM renews
attack on
regime critics
renews attack
attack on
regime critics
Attack- an act of using violence to try to hurt sb.
Renew- to emphasize something by saying it
again
Renews attack means to say something
negatively again. It has a negative meaning.
All of collocations have negatives meanings.
The PM negatively reacted toward the regime
critics.
122
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
85 PM seeks
speedier time
frame for
charter
drafting
speedier time
frame
time frame
charter
drafting
Speedy- happening or done quickly
Speedier time frame means accelerate the
activities to reduce the length of time. It has a
positive meaning.
Time frame and charter drafting have neutral
meanings.
The PM asked the charter drafter to speed up the
charter drafting. Speedier time frame suggests a
positive meaning of the headline
86 Big parties
face shake-
up
face shake-
up
To face shake-up means to face the changes. It
has a negative meaning.
The major political parties were likely to face
with the so-called 6-4-6-4 model used to
undertake a new charter drafting process, and
seem to cause changes in politics. The
collocation suggests a negative meaning of the
headline.
87 Pheu Thai
welcomes
idea of re-
registering
parties
idea of
re-registering
parties
Re-registering parties means to register political
parties again. Both of collocations have neutral
meanings.
Pheu Thai Party accepted the idea of registering
parties again. Both of collocations suggest a
neutral meaning of the headline.
123
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
88 PM launches
‘people’s
state’ policy
launches
‘people’s
state’ policy
To launches ‘people’s state’ policy means to
start people’s state policy. It has a positive
meaning.
The PM started to implement the people’s state
policy in his administration.
89 Critics rap
politics
reboot
Critics rap
politics
reboot
Rap- criticize severely
Reboot-start again
Critics rap means the public criticize.
Politics reboot means new political rules. Both
of them have negative meanings.
Many key politicians severely criticized the new
political rules.
90 Prayut to
extol regime
gains at UN
Prayut to
extol
Regime gain
at UN
Extol- to praise somebody/something very much
Prayut to extol has a positive meaning.
Regime gain means the success the regime
government. It has a positive meaning.
At UN has a neutral collocational meaning, but a
positive contextual meaning.
Prime minister Prayut firmly praised the regime
government at UN. Both of collocations suggest
a positive meaning of the headline.
124
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
91 Meechai
asked to head
CDC
head CDC
Head CDC has a neutral meaning.
Meechai was asked to be the chairman of the
Constitution Drafting Committee.
92 Government
dismisses
UN protests
dismisses
UN protests
UN protests
Dismiss UN protests has a positive meaning.
UN protests has a negative meaning.
The government eliminated the protest against
the UN. The headline has a positive meaning
because the word ‘dismiss’.
93 PM assures
Ban of return
to democracy
assures Ban
assures of
return to
To assure someone of something means to
promise something will happen. Both have a
positive meaning.
Return to has a positive meaning. Prime minister Prayut promised Ban Ki-moon
that Thailand would return to democracy.
94 PM urges
nations to
bridge
inequalities
bridge
inequalities
To bridge - to reduce or get rid of the differences
that exist between groups of people (idiom)
To bridge inequalities has a positive meaning.
Prime minister Prayut asked different nations to
reduce the economic inequalities existing in their
countries. The collocation suggests a positive
meaning of the headline.
125
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
95 Govt warns
netizen
‘protesters’
netizen
‘protesters’
Netizen protesters mean web activists. It has a
negative meaning.
The government warned these activists to stop
their activities to protest the government. The
collocation suggests a negative meaning of the
headline.
96 63 ex-reform
council
members win
seats on
NRSA
win seats
seats on
Win seat means to get position. It has a positive
meaning.
Seat on means a position in an organization. It
has a neutral meaning.
63 ex-reform council members were selected to
be the members of the National Reform Steering
Assembly. Win seat suggests a positive
meaning of the headline.
97 CDC targets
to finish first
draft by
January
finish first
draft
Finish first draft has a positive meaning.
The Constitution Drafting Committee aimed to
finish the first draft of the constitution by
January 2016
126
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP
98 Govt to woo
Western
investors
woo Western
investors
Woo- try to persuade
Woo Western investors means to try to persuade
Western investors. It has a positive meaning.
The Thai government persuaded Western
investors to invest in Thailand.
99 Prayut mulls
‘selective’
amnesty plan
mulls
‘selective’
amnesty plan
amnesty plan
Mulls ‘selective’ amnesty plan means to consider
‘selective’ amnesty plan. It has a positive
meaning.
Prime minister Prayut has admitted the
government is considering a selective amnesty
for political offenders as a part of efforts to bring
about national unity.
100 ‘Don’t rely
on
democracy’
for charter
rely on
democracy
rely on
Rely on democracy and rely on have a neutral
meaning.
Prayut told the charter drafter not to rely solely
on the democracy principle to ensure that there
would be no coup in the future. The headline has
a negative because of theword ‘don’t’.
127
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP 101 Govt targets
Yingluck’s
assets over
rice scheme
Govt targets
targets
assets
targets
assets over
rice scheme
rice scheme
Govt targets has a neutral meaning.
Targets assets means to claim assets. It has a
negative meaning.
Targets assets over has a negative meaning.
Rice scheme refers to rice pledging project. It has
a neutral collocational meaning, but a negative
contextual meaning.
The government aimed Yingluck to pay for the
loss of the rice pledging project. The headline
has a negative meaning.
102 CDC chief
hints at
outsider PM
hints at
hints at
outsider PM
Hint at (something) means to suggest something
in an indirect way. It has a neutral collocational
meaning, but a negative contextual meaning.
Hints at outsider PM has a negative meaning.
The chief of Constitution Drafting Committee
suggested that there might be outsider Prime
minister in forming a new government. ‘Outsider
PM’ suggests a negative meaning of the
headline.
128
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP 103 Govt says
reforms key
to future
key to
Key to means a strategy to do something. It has a
neutral collocational meaning but a positive
contextual meaning.
The government focused on reforms to rebuild
the country’s competitiveness.
104 Activists
threaten full-
scale ‘cyber
war’ on
Government
full-scale
cyber war
cyber war on
Full scale means that is as complete and
thorough as possible. It has a positive
collocational meaning but negative contextual
meaning.
Cyber war and cyber war on have negative
meanings.
Political activists threatened the government to
make full-scale cyber war on the government.
Full scale cyber war suggests a negative
meaning of the headline.
105 NRSA sets
20-month
reform goal
sets goal
reform goal
To set goal means something that you hope to
achieve. It has a positive meaning.
Reform goal has a positive meaning.
The National Reform Steering Assembly set a
20-month reform goal for the country. Both
collocations suggest a positive meaning of the
headline.
129
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP 106 Prayut vows
lese majeste
blitz
vows lese
majeste blitz
Vow - to make a formal and serious promise to
do sth
Blitz- a lot of information about sth on television
or newspapers etc
Vows lese majeste blitz has a positive meaning.
The PM promised to crack down on people who
violate the lese majeste law.
107 Three lese
majeste
suspects
charged
lese majeste
suspects
suspects
charged
Lese majeste suspects and suspects charged have
negative meanings.
Three lese majeste suspects were accused of
committing lese majeste.
108 Agencies
brace for
‘cyber war’
cyber war
brace for
‘cyber war’
brace for
To brace mean to prepare something difficult or
unpleasant.
Cyber war means cyber-attack. It has a negative
meaning.
Brace for ‘cyber war’ means to prepare for
cyber-attack threat. It has a positive meaning.
Brace for has a positive meaning.
Government agencies and state enterprises have
been urged to set up their database security
following cyber-attack threats by international
hacking groups. Brace for ‘cyber war’ suggests a
positive meaning of the headline.
130
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP 109 Tough tasks
await new
NACC pick
Tough tasks
Tough task has negative meaning.
The selection of new members of the National
Anti-Corruption Commission would be difficult
tasks. Tough task suggests a negative meaning
of the headline.
110 CDC mulls
change to
vote system
mulls change
vote system
Mull- to spend time thinking carefully about a
plan, a proposal
To mulls change means to consider some
changes. It has a negative meaning.
Vote system has a neutral meaning.
The Constitution Drafting Committee was
considering some changes in the voting system.
Mulls change suggests a negative meaning of the
headline.
111 Cops deny
lese majeste
led to shunt
deny lese
majeste led
to shunt
Shunt means to move somebody to less
important place.
Deny lese majeste led to shunt has a negative
meaning.
The police chief refused to transfer some
policemen who were involved in lese majeste
cases.
131
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP 112 PM says he
may need to
stay at helm
stay at helm
stay at
To stay at helm means to remain in power. It has
a positive collocational meaning, but a negative
contextual meaning.
Stay at has a neutral meaning.
Prayut said he may need to remain in power as
long as the country is not at peace. The headline
has a negative meaning.
113 Govt to roll
out decree in
IUU fight
roll out
decree
roll out
Decree- law
Roll (something)out- to officially make a new
product launch
To roll out decree means to make a new law. It
has a positive meaning.
The Government would make a new law to deal
with illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The collocation suggests a positive meaning of
the headline.
114 Prawit
defends
PM’s ‘close
country’
gaffe
‘close
country’
gaffe
Gaffe- mistake
‘Close country’ gaffe has a negative meaning.
Prawit came out in defense of Prime minister
Prayut after he remarked he would stay on in
power and ‘close the country’. The collocation
suggests a negative meaning of the headline.
132
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP 115 Use S44
‘wisely on
megaprojects
’
Use …wisely
Use …wisely has a positive meaning.
Anti-corruption advocates and academics have
called on the government to be cautious in using
sweeping power under Section44 of the interim
constitution to fast-track megaprojects. Use
Section44 wisely suggests a positive meaning of
the headline.
116 Pheu Thai
riled by poll
plan “shame’
riled by poll
plan “shame’
riled by
Rile- to annoy
To rile by poll plan “shame’ means to feel
unsatisfied with the poll plan. It has a negative
meaning.
Rile by has a negative meaning.
Pheu Thai Party has criticized as ‘shameful’ a
proposed electoral system under which votes for
unsuccessful constituency MP candidates would
be used to allocate party list seats. Rile by poll
plan “shame’ suggests a negative meaning of the
headline.
133
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP 117 Boonsong
raps NCPO
amnesty
raps NCPO
amnesty
To raps NCPO amnesty means to criticize
severely the amnesty plan of NCPO. It has a
negative meaning.
Former commerce minister Boonsong
Teriyapirom has slammed an order by the
military regime that gave officials investigating
the rice-pledging scheme immunity from future
lawsuits.
118 Immunity
order comes
under attack
comes under
attack
comes under
Immunity- to state of being protected from
something
To come under attack means to be criticized. It v
come under has a negative meaning.
The regime has defended its move to provide
officials probing the rice-pledging scheme
immunity from lawsuit. This immunity was
severely criticized by the public. Come under
attack suggests a negative meaning of the
headline.
119 Prawut fails
to turn up for
work after
overseas trip
turn up for
work
overseas trip
turn up
Turn up for work means to come to work.
All collocations have neutral meanings. Prayut did not come to work after overseas trip.
The headline has a negative meaning because of
the word ‘fail’ while both collocations still have
neutral meanings.
134
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP 120 Voting plan
takes heavy
flak as
‘unfair and
unjust’
takes heavy
flak
heavy flak
To takes heavy flak means to receive severe
criticism. It has a negative meaning.
The voting plan in the new constitution was
severely criticized as unfair and unjust. Both
collocations suggest a negative meaning of the
headline.
121 CDC insists
on new
voting plan
insists on
insists on
new voting
plan
Insists on new voting plan has a positive
meaning.
The Constitution Drafting Committee insisted on
including new voting plan in the constitution.
122 Somsak
denies B16m
house is his
at trial
denies B16m
house is his
at trial
Both collocations have negative meanings.
At the National Legislative Assembly meeting,
former education minister Somsak has made an
effort to defend himself against the accusations
of having acquire ‘unusual wealth’. Both
collocations suggest a negative meaning of the
headline.
135
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP 123 City
governor
snubs Abhisit
in bribes
saga
City
governor
snubs Abhisit
bribes saga
Snub – to refuse to accept something
Saga – a long story about events over a period of
many years
City governor has a neutral meaning.
Bribes saga means a long story of bribery. It has
a negative meaning.
The city governor of Bangkok, Sukhumbhand
refused to attend the meeting to discuss with
Abhisit about the bribery. Snubs Abhisit in bribes
saga suggests a negative meaning of the
headline.
124 CDC
backtracks
over electoral
system
backtracks
over
electoral
system
backtracks
over electoral
system
Backtracks over means to go back along the
same route that you have just come along or to
stick to something earlier. It has a negative
meaning.
Electoral system has a neutral meaning.
The Constitution Drafting Committee sticked to
the proposed electoral system. Backtracks over
suggests a negative meaning of the headline.
136
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP 125 Rachapakdi
Park in CIB
graft probe
graft probe
Graft probe means careful investigation in
bribery. It has a negative meaning.
The Central Investigation Bureau has launched
an investigation into possible irregularities in the
army’s one-billion-baht Ratchapakdi park. Graft
probe suggests a negative meaning of the
headline.
126 Govt denies
Rajabhakti
corruption
denies
Rajabhakti
corruption
Denies Rajabhakti corruption has a negative
collocational meaning, but a positive contextual
meaning.
Deputy Defence Ministry Udomdej was insisting
that the construction of Rajabhadi Park and its
giant statues of former kings was transparent
following concern over possible irregularities in
the project.
127 Rajabhakti
Park figure
‘flees
country’
flees country
To flee country means to leave the country. It has
a negative meaning.
An amulet trader accused of demanding millions
of baht of commission fees during the
construction of the Rajabhakti Park and its giant
statues of former kings in Prachuap Khiri Khan
has fled the country. Flee country suggests a
negative meaning of the headline.
137
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP 128 Army hunts
Rajabhakti
Park clues
hunts clues
Hunt clues means to search for clues. It has a
positive meaning.
The army has ordered a probe into alleged
irregularities surrounding the construction of
Rajabhati Park in HuaHin.
129 Prayut visits
key red- shirt
stronghold
No
collocation
130 Veerun vows
‘above-
board’ park
probe
vows ‘above-
board’ park
probe
park probe
‘above-
board’ park
probe
To vow (something) means to promise
(something)
Vows ‘above-board’ park probe has a positive
meaning because of the word ‘vow’.
Park probe and ‘above-board’ park probe have
negative meanings.
The head of an army committee investigating
alleged irregularities in the construction of
Rajabhakti Park in Hua Hin said the inquiry
would be above board responsibility. The
meaning of the headline is positive.
138
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP 131 PM assures
fairness in
park probe
assures
fairness
fairness in
park probe
To assure fairness means to guarantee fairness. It
has a positive meaning.
Fairness in has a neutral meaning.
Park probe has a negative meaning.
Prime minister Prayut guaranteed that there
would be fairness in the investigation of alleged
irregularities in the Rajabhakti Park construction.
Assures fairness suggests a positive meaning of
the headline. 132 NCPO
scrambles to
protect
Udomdej
No
collocation
133 Rajabhakti
probe due
out today
No
collocation
134 Army
declares park
graft case
closed
graft case
Graft case means corruption case. It has a
negative meaning.
The army commander Theerachai Nakvanich
believed there was no need for the National Anti-
Corruption Commission or the media to
investigate the Rajabhakti Park project after its
probe found no irregularities. Graft case
suggests a negative meaning of the headline.
139
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP 135 Anti-graft
agencies
mull
Rajabhakti
Park probe
Mull probe
Park probe
Mull probe means consider about probing into
something. It has a negative meaning.
Park probe has a negative meaning.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission
considered a probe into Rajabhakti Park
construction. Mull Rajabhakti Park probe
suggests a negative meaning of the headline.
136 Prawit orders
new
Rajabhakti
probe
No
collocation
137 Three more
sought for
lese majeste
sought for
lese majeste
sought for
Sought for lese majeste means sought for lese
majeste suspects. It has a negative meaning.
Sought for has a neutral meaning.
The Bangkok Military Court issued arrest
warrants for three more suspects, a soldier and
two police officers, in connection with a high
profile lese majeste case. Sought for lese majeste
suggests a negative meaning of the headline.
140
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP 138 PM accuses
red shirts of
unrest plot
accuses…of
unrest plot
unrest plot
accuses…of
To accuse of unrest plot means to accuse of
planning a protest or fight. It has a negative
meaning.
Unrest plot means a secret plan to protest or
fight. It has a negative meaning.
Accuses…of has a negative meaning.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has accused
the United Front for Democracy against
Dictatorship of being behind an alleged plot to
bring about unrest and possibly attack key
figures during festive events in Bangkok and the
provinces. Accuse of unrest plot suggests a
negative meaning of the headline. 139 Foundries to
‘whitewash’
Rajabhakti
No
collocation
140 Army sends
soldiers to
block UDD
from park
No
collocation
141 Pressure
mounts on
Udomdej to
quit
Pressure
mounts
mounts on
Pressure mounts means pressure increases. It has
a negative meaning. Udomdej was pressured to resign from his post.
Pressure mounts on Udomdej suggests a
negative meaning of the headline.
141
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP 142 Udomdej
refuses to
step down
step down
Step down means to resign. It has a negative
meaning.
Udomdej refused to resign from his post.
143 PM lets
Udomdej
‘decide his
own fate’
No
collocation
144 Court vetoes
Yingluck trip
Court vetoes
To veto something means to stop something
from happening by using authority.
Court vetoes means court orders to stop
something. It has a negative meaning.
The Court did not let Yingluck to go abroad.
The headline has a negative meaning.
145 Udomdej
tipped to
resign
No
collocation
146 Army detains
anti-coup
activists
Army detains
anti-coup
activists
Army detains means the army keeps someone in
prison. It has a negative meaning.
Anti-coup activists has a negative meaning.
The army detained anti-coup activists who
protested against the close of Park probe. Both
collocations suggest a negative meaning of the
headline.
142
Headlines Collocations
Collocational
Meaning Contextual
Meaning Explanation
NP NeuP PP NP NeuP PP 147 Govt takes
aims at UK
envoy
comments
takes aims
takes aims at
UK envoy
comments
To take aims (something) means to slam. It has a
negative meaning.
Take aim at UK envoy comments
means to slam at envoy comments. It has a
negative meaning.
The government has slammed the British
ambassador's comments which supported law-
breakers. Both collocations suggest a negative
meaning of the headline.
148 Govt clarifies
salary plan
for ID cards
amid privacy
backlash
salary plan
ID cards
privacy
backlash
Salary plan and ID cards have neutral meanings.
Privacy backlash means a strong negative
reaction by a large number of people to protect
their privacy. It has a negative meaning.
The government was playing down plans to
include citizens’ incomes and occupations in
government-issued identification cards which
has sparked public uproar concerning their
privacy. Privacy backlash suggests a negative
meaning of the headline.
APPENDIX E
The List of Collocations with Changing Meaning in Semantic Prosody
144
Table: The list of collocations with changing meaning in semantic prosody
Changing prosody
CollocationContextual
Negative
Neutral
Negative
positive
Neutral
negative
Neutral
positive
Positive
negative
Positive
Neutral
1. Lexical collocations
1.2. Verb (meaning
creation/activation) +
noun/
Preposition phrase
extends
Section44 net
prop up NCPO
face challenge
start NGO
acquits
Noppadon
warns on
political
‘fairness’
stay at helm
1.2. Adjective +
Noun
Noun +noun
Corruption
fight
party
politicians
rice scheme
full-scale
1.3. Verb (meaning
eradication and/or
nullification) + noun
denies privy
council behind
coup
denies
Rajabhakti
corruption
1.4. Noun + Verb Supreme
Court acquits
1.5. Verb + adverb
145
Negative
Neutral
Negative
positive
Neutral
negative
Neutral
positive
Positive
negative
Positive
Neutral
2. Grammatical
collocations
2.1. Noun + preposition key to
2.2. Preposition + noun
at UN
2.3. Noun + to +
infinitive
2.4. Verb + direct
object + to + indirect
object
3. Other types of
collocations
3.1. Verb + Preposition snuff out Show at
mounts on
hint at
3.2. Verb +Noun +prep
phrase
3.3. Verb + Noun
clause
Denies it
agreed
3.4. Verb + infinitive
Total
7 7 4 3
Percentage 2.58% 2.58% 1.48% 1.11%
146
BIOGRAPHY
Name Miss Nareethip Nitsaisook
Date of birth April 16, 1984
Place of birth Chonburi
Present address 71 Moo 4 Soi Huaykapi12, Huaykapi sub-
district, Muang district, Chonburi Province
20130
Education
2002 - 2006 Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Faculty of Arts,
Assumption University, Thailand
2012 - 2017 Master of Arts (M.A.), Faculty of Humanities
and Social Sciences, Burapha University,
Thailand
