Richly diverse
in origin, the Thai language in use today is the end-result
of a centuries-long maturation.
Early Thai settlers in the late Dvaravati
period gradually enlarged their own Chinese-influenced,
tonal, monosyllabic language by borrowing and adapting
certain Mon and Khmer words. Later, the Thais absorbed
polysyllabic Sanskrit (the classical language of Hindu
India) and Pali words as Brahmanism and Theravada Buddhism
asserted their shaping influences. Foreign traders and
Chinese immigrants made minor additions in later centuries.
Today, standard Thai is spoken nationwide with regional
dialects differing widely from north
to west.
King Ramakamhaeng of Sukhothai
created the first Thai alphabet in 1283, basing it on
Mon and Khmer scripts which, in turn, were derived from
a South Indian script. With minor modifications - Particularly
individual character envolution into more refined shapes
- Ramkamhaenge's alphabet survived in tact through the
centuries so that the modern Thai can read 13th century
inscriptions as easily as could his ancestors.
Importantly, Ramkamhaeng's achievement
afforded the Thais a vital sense of unity and lent impetus
to a distinctive Thai cultural identity. Indeed, several
major literary workds, mainly Buddish is character,
were written during the followin century.
The spoken Thai language lends itself
to alliteration. Similar sounding words create plaesing
rhythmic patterns and form a poetic language which is
commonly used in everyday conversation. Indeed, poetry
is a major Thai art, and until 1850 all Thai literary
works were in verse form. Spoken and written similes
are especially popular and parables are commonly employed,
particularly for trainning children.
A gregarious race that loves to joke
and laugh, the Thais greatly appreciate puns and double-enterdres
which, besides enlivening everyday vernacular, spice
and propel outrageous dialogue in popular art forms
such as folk theatre.
The written Thai language, read horizontally
from left to right, as in English, consists of 44 consonants
and 32 vowels that combine to formulate sysllabic sounds.
The sounds are combined with five different tones-even,
high, low, rising and falling-to produce a melodious,
lyrical language.
Generally speaking, spoken grammar
is simple. The basic structure of Thai sentences is
subject/verb/object with adjectives following nouns.
In many case, verbs can be changed into nouns with the
use of a prefix, e.g. khit (think) with the prefix
kwam becomes kwam khit (thought).
Each Thai word is complete inasmuch
as there are no Thai suffixes, genders, articles, declensions
or plurals. Tenses are indicated by standard auxiliaries,
e.g. pai (go) with the auxiliary ja becomes
ja pai (will go); with the auxiliary kamlang
becomes kamlang pai (am going); and with the
auxiliary laew becomes pai laew (go already
(went)).
Different pronouns (at least 47, including
some 17 I's and 19 you's) and different
qualifying nouns and verbs are used by different class
- royalty, ecclesiastics and lay people. Because Thai's
pronominal structure illustrates rank and intimacy,
there are, in effect, four different langrages - a royal
language, an ecclesiastic language, a polite everyday
vernacular and an earthy, pungent slang.
Illustrative of this wide range of
variations is the verb to 'eat'. In royal language,
the word is sawuy; in ecclesiastic Thai, chan;
rappratan is a formal word used on engraved invitations
and its shortened from, tan is everyday polite
usage. Kin is a colloqauial form used between friends;
to use it with a new acquaintance woule be viewed as
presumptuous and perhaps rude. Even father down are
several vulgarisms which are offensive except when used
between ma le intimates in informal situations. (In
the written language it is important to understand that
words within sentences are not separated, punctuation
is rare and grammar can be complicated.)
The most unusual of Thailand's
"four languages" is the royal language, rachasap. Royalty
uses special words for common actions and for parts
of the body. This special, formal language is a mixture
of words of Khmer, Pali and Sanskrit origin c omplemented
by specially-coined Thai words. The Khmer-derived words
are the same as those commonly begin spoken throughout
Cambodia today.
Rachasap is usually reserved for
formal and state occasions, most royalty making use
of standard Thai, slightly modified, for everyday conversation
among themselves.
In conventional spoken Thai, two
or more words are often combined to form literal descriptions
of common objects. Thus, 'ice' is nam khaeng (solid
water) and 'match' is mai keet fai (stick/strike/fire).
Although satisfactory for common
objects, this system is inadequate for coining new Thai
words that can accurately convey Western concepts or
recent scientific terms. Accordingly, the Royal Institute,
a government body responsible for publishing the T hai
encyclopedia, employs its commitee of language experts
to coin equivalent Thai words by drawing upon Pali and
Sanskrit sources.
As a consequence, Thailand keeps
pace with international trends and scientific developments,
proof that, in one important respect, Thai is still
a growing language.
