Verbal elements and identity construction as reflected in the representations of the transgender character in the Thai Sitcom Series Pentor

Abstract

This research aims to examine the verbal elements and identity construction as reflected in the representations of the transgender character in the Thai sitcom series Pentor. The sitcom broadcast overall 376 episodes from 2004 to 2012 on channel 3. The transgender woman or a kathoey character in the sitcom named Golf acts as a supporting character who is a housemaid to the family of the main character named Pentor. This transgender character is portrayed as a ridiculous kathoey who is regularly insulted by other characters in order to create a sense of humor in the audience. This study employed a qualitative methodology. Data was collected from the recorded video of 10 selected episodes of the sitcom considering the transgender character’s prominent roles along with her remarkable expressions. The literary devices including figurative language (metaphor, simile, hyperbole, and rhetorical question) and tone were used to analyze the verbal elements. It was found that verbal elements were effective means to construct as well as humiliate the identity of the transgender or kathoey character. She was usually made fun of as an awfully fat and dumb kathoey. Moreover, the transgender character was dehumanized in the way that she was compared with different animals. The repetition of verbal elements also revealed the negative stereotypical images of the character. Therefore, it can be concluded that the identity construction of the character resulted from the use of verbal interactions between the transgender character and the other characters as well.