HORTATORY STRATEGIES IN BUDDHIST DHARMA BOOKS OF PHRA MAHA VUDHIJAYA VAJIRAMEDHI AND PHRA MAHA SOMPONG TALAPUTTO

Abstract

This research article aims to study the hortatory strategies in Buddhist dharma books of PhraMahaVudhijayaVajiramedhi and PhraMahaSompongTalaputto. The language data collected for the studywas derived from texts in Buddhist dharma books written by PhraMahaVudhijayaVajiramedhi and PhraMahaSompongTalaputto.The statistical analysis was percentages.The study showed that there were nine types of hortatory strategies PhraMahaVudhijayaVajiramedhi applied in his dharma books namely expression of cause and result (23.19%), asking questions (21.47%), expression of differences (16.74%), expression of opinions (12.24%), expression of conditions (9.73%), comparisons (5.39%), commands (5.17%), reference of Buddhist expression (3.23%) and expression of examples (2.84%).  However, PhraMahaSompongTalaputto applied his nine types of hortatory strategies from most to least favorably as follows: expression of cause and result (22.56%), expression of differences (20.64%), expression of opinions (19.47%), asking questions (15.04%), expression of conditions (9.17%), comparisons (5.65%), commands (4.17%), expression of examples (2.26%) and reference of Buddhist expression (1.04%). It is concluded that both monks integrated various types of hortatory strategies in writing their dharma books to change readers’ thoughts and beliefs. That might influence readers to have Buddhist desired characteristics that complied with Buddhist teachafter all.