Basic Facts about the Thai Language and the Thai People
An overview the Thai People and Thai Language
Thai People-Thai Language
Thai is the first language of the Thai people, Thailand's major ethnic group and is also the official language of Thailand. The Thai people are divided geographically among the Central Thai, the Northeastern Thai or Isan or Lao, the Northern Thai, and the Southern Thai. The Central Thai have long dominated the nation politically, economically, and culturally.
Due to education system and the forging of a national identity, many people are now able to speak Central Thai as well as their own local dialects. Standard Thai, or Siamese, is spoken by about 65 million people (1990) including speakers of Bangkok Thai (although the latter is sometimes considered as a separate dialect).
Due to education system and the forging of a national identity, many people are now able to speak Central Thai as well as their own local dialects. Standard Thai, or Siamese, is spoken by about 65 million people (1990) including speakers of Bangkok Thai (although the latter is sometimes considered as a separate dialect).
The Tai-Kadai Language Group.
Thai is a member of the Tai language group and is part of the larger Tai-Kadai language group. The Tai-Kadai language group is a tonal language family originating in Southeast Asia as well as in and southern China. This language group was originally classified as part of the Sino-Tibetan language family, but is are now classified as an independent family. The Thai alphabet is derived from the Khmer alphabet which is modeled after the Brahmic script from the Indic family.
Thai Language: Tonal and Analytic
Of special note, is the fact that Thai is both a tonal (i.e. uses tone to distinguish words ) and an analytic language (i.e. any language where syntax and meaning are formed more by the use of particles and word order). The tonal aspect, as with many Asian languages, as well as a a complex orthography and its distinctive phonology makes Thai particularly difficult for Western or English speaking students unfamiliar with related languages and patterns.
Pimsleur: A Thai Language Resource
If you're interested in learning Thai, Pimsleur Programs are an excellent product to consider. While they focus on the conversational aspects only, this should prove an excellent starting point for most students.
New Del.icio.us bookmarks
New Link List
- Thai Talk Now
- Designed for beginners who want to start learning a new language as soon as possible. Whether on business, vacation, or perhaps meeting a foreign visitor, Talk Now! is the disc to get you started.
- FSI Thai CD ROM Course
- The goal of Foreign Service Institute courses is to provide the English Speaking student's from any occupational background with practical knowledge and proficiency in their language of interest.
- Pimsleur Thai
- Learn to speak Thai at an intermediate level in just thirty easy lessons with this course. Pimsleur audio courses teach you to understand & speak the essential elements of a new language.
Blog Posts from Google
Thai News
Thai Related Blogs and News to increase your Thai knowledge!
- Thai Hot Stocks-Energy, petrochemical, banks recover
- ... LIVE PRICES & DATA: World Stocks Currency rates Dow Jones/NASDAQ Nikkei FTSE 100 Debt Thai b...
- Three more swine flu deaths bring Thai toll to 21
- BANGKOK (AFP) ? Thailand confirmed three more swine flu fatalities on Monday, bringing the country...
- Ford aims at Asian small car market with Thai venture
- David Alden, Ford's president for southeast Asia and Japan, said Thai-built Fiestas would be shi...
- Thai Land & Houses' financial arm plans Q1 2010 IPO
- At midsession LH shares were down 3.9 percent at 4.4 baht, QH shares were 3.7 percent lower at 1.3 b...
New YouTube vids on Thai Language and Thai News
New YouTube vids on Thai Language and Thai News
Great Stuff on Amazon for Thai
Thai: An Essential Grammar (Routledge Grammars)
Amazon Price: $35.95 (as of 07/14/2009) 
Instant Thai: How to express 1,000 different ideas with just 100 key words and phrases! (Instant Phrasebook Series)
Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 07/14/2009)
Thai Language and Culture for Beginners Book 2
Amazon Price: $68.07 (as of 07/14/2009)
A.U.A. Language Center Thai Course, Book 1
Amazon Price: $22.00 (as of 07/14/2009)
New RSS: The Language Chronicle
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