Main Translations

• English: Acquit
• Thai: ยกฟ้อง (Yok fong)
• Phonetic: Yok fong (pronounced as "yohk fong" with a rising tone on "yok" and a mid tone on "fong")
• Detailed Explanation: The word "acquit" is primarily a verb used in legal contexts to mean declaring someone not guilty of a crime or charge after a trial. It carries emotional connotations of relief, justice, and vindication, often evoking a sense of closure for the accused. Semantic nuances include its formal and objective tone, emphasizing evidence-based decisions rather than personal opinions. Usage scenarios are mostly confined to courtrooms, legal discussions, or news reports, where it highlights the outcome of a judicial process. For example, in everyday English, it might be used in conversations about high-profile cases to discuss fairness in the justice system.
• Thai: ประกาศว่าไม่มีความผิด (Prakard wa mai mee khwam pit)
• Phonetic: Prakard wa mai mee khwam pit (pronounced as "prah-kard wah my mee khwahm pit" with a mid tone on most syllables)
• Detailed Explanation: This secondary translation is a more descriptive phrase meaning "to declare that there is no guilt." It shares similar emotional connotations of exoneration and relief but is less concise than "ยกฟ้อง." Semantic nuances involve its use in formal or official statements, such as in Thai legal documents or media, where it underscores the procedural aspects of the justice system. This phrase is often employed in scenarios involving public announcements or appeals, reflecting cultural emphasis on maintaining social harmony and avoiding direct confrontation in Thai society.

Overview of Usage Scenarios

The word "acquit" is predominantly used in formal and legal contexts, such as court trials, news reports, or discussions about justice. It can extend to business settings involving corporate lawsuits, leisure conversations about true crime stories, and informal chats. Key scenarios include declaring innocence in criminal cases, resolving disputes, or metaphorically absolving someone of blame. In Thai culture, it often appears in media or legal proceedings, emphasizing fairness and evidence, with nuances varying by context to reflect emotional relief or societal implications.

Example Sentences

Example Sentences in Different Scenarios

Business Scenario

• English: The executive was acquitted of insider trading charges after the evidence was deemed insufficient.
• Thai: ผู้บริหารถูกยกฟ้องข้อหาซื้อขายหลักทรัพย์ภายในหลังจากหลักฐานถูกพิจารณาว่าไม่เพียงพอ (Poo borri sat tuk yok fong eua ha sa mai lak tuap yang nai lae ha lae bang tuk pijarn wa mai pleng por)
• Grammatical Breakdown: "The executive" (subject, noun phrase) + "was acquitted" (verb in past passive voice) + "of insider trading charges" (prepositional phrase indicating the crime) + "after the evidence was deemed insufficient" (subordinate clause with verb "deemed").
• Structural Analysis: This sentence follows a subject-verb-object structure with a passive voice to emphasize the action on the subject. It uses a subordinate clause for additional context, common in business English to provide justification, enhancing clarity and professionalism.

Leisure Scenario

• English: During our movie night, we discussed how the protagonist was acquitted in the thriller plot.
• Thai: ระหว่างคืนดูหนัง เราคุยกันว่าตัวเอกถูกยกฟ้องในพล็อตเรื่องระทึกขวัญ (Rian waan keun doh nang, rao kuy gan wa dtua ek tuk yok fong nai plot reuang ra took khwahn)
• Grammatical Breakdown: "During our movie night" (prepositional phrase, adverbial) + "we discussed" (subject-verb) + "how the protagonist was acquitted" (object clause with passive verb) + "in the thriller plot" (prepositional phrase).
• Structural Analysis: The sentence uses a complex structure with an adverbial phrase at the start for setting, followed by a main clause and an embedded clause. This casual flow suits leisure contexts, making it engaging for storytelling.

Formal Occasion

• English: The judge announced that the defendant was acquitted due to lack of evidence.
• Thai: ศาลประกาศว่าจำเลยถูกยกฟ้องเนื่องจากหลักฐานไม่เพียงพอ (Sarn prakard wa jam ley tuk yok fong neung jaak lae bang mai pleng por)
• Grammatical Breakdown: "The judge" (subject) + "announced" (verb) + "that the defendant was acquitted" (object clause with passive verb) + "due to lack of evidence" (prepositional phrase).
• Structural Analysis: This declarative sentence employs a formal, straightforward structure with a subordinate clause for precision, typical in legal or official settings to convey authority and objectivity.

Informal Occasion

• English: I can't believe they acquitted him so easily; it felt like a total surprise!
• Thai: ฉันไม่อยากเชื่อเลยที่พวกเขายกฟ้องเขาง่ายๆ แบบนี้ มันรู้สึกเซอร์ไพรส์มาก! (Chan mai yak cheua loey tee puak khao yok fong khao ngai-ngai baep nee, man roo seuk ser prize mak!)
• Grammatical Breakdown: "I can't believe" (subject-verb phrase) + "they acquitted him" (object clause with verb) + "so easily" (adverb) + "it felt like a total surprise" (independent clause).
• Structural Analysis: The sentence combines exclamatory elements with informal language, using compound structure for emphasis. This reflects conversational tone, making it relatable in casual discussions.

Example Sentences in Different Sentence Types

Declarative Sentence

• English: The jury decided to acquit the suspect after reviewing the testimony.
• Thai: คณะลูกขุนตัดสินใจยกฟ้องผู้ต้องสงสัยหลังจากตรวจสอบคำให้การ (Khana luk khun tad sin jai yok fong poo dtong sng sai lae ha lae jaak truat sop kham hai gan)
• Grammatical Breakdown: "The jury" (subject) + "decided to acquit" (verb phrase) + "the suspect" (object) + "after reviewing the testimony" (subordinate clause).
• Structural Analysis: A simple declarative structure with a time clause, used to state facts clearly and logically.

Interrogative Sentence

• English: Will the court acquit the accused if new evidence emerges?
• Thai: ศาลจะยกฟ้องผู้ถูกกล่าวหาหากมีหลักฐานใหม่ปรากฏหรือไม่? (Sarn ja yok fong poo tuk glorb ha haak mee lae bang mai bpra got reu mai?)
• Grammatical Breakdown: "Will the court" (subject-auxiliary verb) + "acquit the accused" (verb-object) + "if new evidence emerges" (conditional clause) + "?" (question marker).
• Structural Analysis: This yes/no question uses inversion for interrogation, with a conditional clause to add complexity, encouraging discussion in legal contexts.

Imperative Sentence

• English: Always ensure that the facts are clear before you acquit anyone in a debate.
• Thai: อย่าลืมตรวจสอบข้อเท็จจริงให้ชัดเจนก่อนที่คุณจะยกฟ้องใครในข้อถกเถียง (Ya luem truat sop eua tej jing hai chad jen kon tee kun ja yok fong khrai nai eua tok thiang)
• Grammatical Breakdown: "Always ensure" (imperative verb phrase) + "that the facts are clear" (object clause) + "before you acquit anyone" (subordinate clause).
• Structural Analysis: An imperative structure with adverbs for emphasis, designed to give advice or instructions in informal or educational settings.

Exclamatory Sentence

• English: What a relief that the innocent man was finally acquitted!
• Thai: ช่างเป็นความโล่งอกที่ชายผู้บริสุทธิ์ถูกยกฟ้องในที่สุด! (Chang pen khwam loang ok tee chai poo bri sut tuk yok fong nai thi sut!)
• Grammatical Breakdown: "What a relief" (exclamatory phrase) + "that the innocent man was acquitted" (clause) + "finally" (adverb).
• Structural Analysis: Exclamatory form with an embedded clause, used to express strong emotions like joy or surprise in narrative contexts.

Example Sentences of Different Difficulties

Simple Sentence

• English: They acquitted him yesterday.
• Thai: พวกเขายกฟ้องเขาเมื่อวานนี้ (Puak khao yok fong khao muea wan nee)
• Grammatical Breakdown: "They" (subject) + "acquitted" (verb) + "him" (object) + "yesterday" (adverb).
• Structural Analysis: A basic subject-verb-object structure, ideal for beginners due to its simplicity and directness.

Intermediate Sentence

• English: The lawyer argued effectively, so the judge acquitted the client of all charges.
• Thai: ทนายความโต้แย้งอย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ ทำให้ศาลยกฟ้องลูกความจากข้อหาทั้งหมด (Tanai khwam toe yaeng yang mee prasit tipam, tam hai sarn yok fong luk khwam jaak eua ha taang mod)
• Grammatical Breakdown: "The lawyer argued effectively" (main clause) + "so" (conjunction) + "the judge acquitted the client" (clause) + "of all charges" (prepositional phrase).
• Structural Analysis: Compound structure with a conjunction, adding cause-effect relationships for intermediate learners.

Complex Sentence

• English: Although the prosecution presented strong evidence, the jury chose to acquit the defendant because of reasonable doubt.
• Thai: แม้ว่าอัยการจะนำเสนอหลักฐานที่แข็งแกร่ง คณะลูกขุนก็เลือกที่จะยกฟ้องจำเลยเนื่องจากข้อสงสัยที่สมเหตุสมผล (Mae wa aiyak ja nam seno lae bang tee khaeng kraeng, khana luk khun gor leuk thi ja yok fong jam ley neung jaak eua sng sai tee sam het sam prol)
• Grammatical Breakdown: "Although the prosecution presented strong evidence" (subordinate clause) + "the jury chose to acquit" (main clause) + "the defendant" (object) + "because of reasonable doubt" (subordinate clause).
• Structural Analysis: Multi-clause structure with concessive and causal elements, suitable for advanced users to convey nuanced arguments.

Related Phrases and Expressions

Synonyms/Near Synonyms:

• Exonerate – Used to clear someone of blame or fault, often in formal or legal contexts, implying a restoration of reputation.
• Absolve – Similar to acquit but with a moral or religious connotation, as in forgiving sins or releasing from responsibility.

Antonyms:

• Convict – Refers to declaring someone guilty, often in legal settings, carrying connotations of punishment and accountability.
• Condemn – Means to express strong disapproval or sentence to punishment, with emotional undertones of judgment and severity.

Common Collocations:

• Acquitted of charges – Frequently used in legal discussions to specify the crimes in question, e.g., "acquitted of murder charges."
• Fully acquitted – Emphasizes complete clearance, often in contexts requiring absolute vindication, e.g., in international law cases.

Cultural Background and Usage Habits

Cultural Background:

• Cultural Point 1: In Western cultures, particularly in English-speaking countries, "acquit" is deeply tied to the adversarial justice system, symbolizing the presumption of innocence. In Thai culture, however, it aligns with a more collectivist approach, where outcomes like "ยกฟ้อง" emphasize social harmony and community impact, often highlighted in media to discuss moral lessons or national pride in the justice system.

Usage Habits:

• Habit 1: "Acquit" is frequently used in formal Thai media and legal discussions, popular among educated groups like lawyers and journalists. It appears less in everyday casual talk due to its technical nature, with higher frequency in urban areas or during high-profile cases, reflecting a preference for indirect language to maintain politeness.

Grammar Explanation

• Grammatical Function: "Acquit" functions primarily as a transitive verb, requiring an object (e.g., "acquit the defendant"). It can act as the main verb in a sentence or part of a larger clause, often followed by a prepositional phrase like "of charges."
• Tense and Voice: "Acquit" changes with tenses: present (acquit), past (acquitted), future (will acquit), and progressive (acquitting). In voice, it is active (e.g., "The judge acquits the suspect") or passive (e.g., "The suspect was acquitted"), allowing flexibility in emphasizing the action or the recipient.

References

Etymology and History:

The word "acquit" originates from Old French "aquiter," meaning "to discharge" or "free from," derived from Latin "ad-" (to) and "quitare" (to quit or pay). It evolved in Middle English around the 13th century to denote legal release from charges, reflecting historical developments in common law systems. Over time, its usage expanded to metaphorical contexts, such as moral exoneration, influenced by judicial reforms in the 18th century.

Literary References:

• In William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice," the line "The quality of mercy is not strained; it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven" indirectly relates to acquittal themes, as mercy leads to Shylock's partial acquittal. Source: Act 4, Scene 1.
• In modern literature, Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" features the acquittal of Tom Robinson, highlighting racial injustice: "Atticus Finch tried to acquit an innocent man." Source: Chapter 24, emphasizing societal critiques.