ABSTRACT
This paper aims to study a selected discourse feature in Southeast Asian narrative and its areal diffusion to determine its source. This feature serves as a sequential indicator highlighting a chronological theme-line or storyline of the narrative. The focus will be on the preverbal auxiliary kɔɔ3 in Thai narrative in comparison with the preverbal auxiliaries of other Southeast Asian languages having the same function in order to determine the historical implication of kɔɔ3 .
