Speech Play on a Character’s Name: A Case Study of Uncle Buḍh in a Thai Novel, Thiyot . . . Waew Siang Khruan Khlang (Death Whisperer)

• Main Author: Hongthong, Direk
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2024
• Subjects: speech play; homophones; Thai novel; character’s names; Thiyot . . . Waew Siang Khruan Khlang (Death Whisperer)
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/paha/vol14/iss2/11; https://archium.ateneo.edu/context/paha/article/1339/viewcontent/3_PAHA14.2_direk_pp33_54.pdf
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

The film adaptation of the novel Thiyot . . . Waew Siang Khruan Khlang (Death Whisperer) in 2023 significantly devalued the role of Uncle Buḍh, an important character in the novel. This article aims to reveal the ingenuity and importance of this character in the novel by studying it within the framework of speech play. The study reveals that the name “Buḍh” (พุฒ ิ) plays with sounds and meanings, through which device the character’s role is enhanced. The name can be pronounced in two ways: /put/ and /putthi/. The first pronunciation corresponds with the words “Buḍh” (พุฒ), “Buddh” (พุทธ), and “Buṭ” (พุด); the second with “Buddhi” (พุทธ ิ). The meanings of these homophones correspond to the characteristics and actions of the character, namely, his elderly appearance, his possession of wisdom and enlightenment, and his ability to help the protagonists and guide them after a major loss. What is demonstrated is the novelist’s ingenuity in creating the character and the importance Thai society places on seniority and Buddhism.