Hi! I’m curious if you have any insight on the use of the particle “ja”?
My main association of it is as the particle older women use with young adult characters. For example, we see Dean’s grandmother use it with Dean and Pharm in UWMA, and Than’s mother, Kwan, uses it when she meets Praifah. (Praifah: “Sawatdee kha” Kwan: “Sawatdee ja”.)
The impression I’ve always gotten is that it’s a way to capture the “ladylike” charm of politeness without implying any actual formality, social equality, or social distance. But I have no idea if that’s accurate or not.
However, I feel like I’ve heard the actual male young-adult characters using it recently, and not in a way that seems to have any intended gender or sexuality implications like some of the other alternative particles. Instead it seems to be a campy flourish when one is being overdramatic or jokey. Main example is MSP/MSP Our Skyy 2, where I know I heard at least Tinn and Por use it (and I’ve seen Ford use it on social media), and I think Gun as well. For example, when Tinn serves the jumba shaved ice in Our Skyy 2 when he does the weird hip-thrusting joke (which I still don’t understand) and says “Jumba ma laaeo ja” (“Jumba is served”).
Have you noticed this as well? Any idea if this a new usage or one that always existed but just hadn’t made its way into BL previously or hadn’t been popular with “the youths” until recently?
The Ja Particle - Thai Linguistics & Polite Particles
Thai particles and pronouns are pretty unfixed and evolve FAST.
Ja is a bit like ha but much less household intimate, also less soft. It's informal but not rude. It implies a level of familial/friendship intimacy but not over-familiarity or necessary equality. (so not like guu/mueng or wa).
It's most often used by elders to youngsters or amongst peers. I would be super cautious, and liable to pay close attention, if it showed up used by a younger person to an elder. That would be... unusual, and likely impolite. Husbands may use with wives, or parents with a group of their kids, or kids group of friends.
Not something a tourist should use.
For example, we see Dean’s grandmother use it with Dean and Pharm in UWMA, and Than’s mother, Kwan, uses it when she meets Praifah. (Praifah: “Sawatdee kha” Kwan: “Sawatdee ja”.)
This a a softening and acknowledgment of the kid's polite behavior. It's being used to "bring down to earth" the adult character in a way. Implies that the adult is "cool" or less stiff than others of their age might be.
The impression I’ve always gotten is that it’s a way to capture the “ladylike” charm of politeness without implying any actual formality, social equality, or social distance. But I have no idea if that’s accurate or not.
I don't think it has a feminine association, maybe a little bit. You do hear men using it. And queer men all the time. So maybe a little bit. It's more of a code switch.
So if a man is using it with his wife he is softening himself to meet her on her linguistic level. Adult to child, older to younger. Social positioning-wize. It's not lowering, its cross pollinating.
However, I feel like I’ve heard the actual male young-adult characters using it recently, and not in a way that seems to have any intended gender or sexuality implications like some of the other alternative particles. Instead it seems to be a campy flourish when one is being overdramatic or jokey. Main example is MSP/MSP Our Skyy 2, where I know I heard at least Tinn and Por use it (and I’ve seen Ford use it on social media), and I think Gun as well. For example, when Tinn serves the jumba shaved ice in Our Skyy 2 when he does the weird hip-thrusting joke (which I still don’t understand) and says “Jumba ma laaeo ja” (“Jumba is served”).
Yes, notice its emphasis and intonation is much different when used in this context? That's sarcasm and mockery. The WAY THE WORD IS SAID is really important in Thai. They have 5 tonal intonations. 5.
In this instance the ja is a bit like:
A gay boy yelling to his gay boy friends: "Hey bitches!"
Or a dude bro yelling to the other dudes, "'Zup assholes?"
Perhaps not quite so rude but there is a campy insolence going on that's only to be deployed with peers and that's all in the intonation.
Ja is ALSO often used by kathoey, lesbians, and gay men (especially those who request/use the pronoun jay) within the queer community. It's mostly gender neutral so it can sub in for krap/kha if you don't want to ID your gender. As, indeed, can ha.
I have noticed a rise in its use in BL. Recently.
I don't know if this rise is due to:
A rise in its use in Thai common parlance as well.
The general queering up of the BL genre.
Confirmation bias, I am also listening for it more.
The general softening around pronouns and language allowed to appear on mainstream Thai TV.*
(* for those who don't know guu/mueng have only been allowed on TV recently)
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