Campaign to stop use of Thai numerals in official documents

[webfact]

 

A signature collection campaign has been launched on social media, calling for state agencies to end the use of Thai numerals in official documents, for the sake of digital development.

 

Over 1,300 people had signed up by 6pm today (Sunday) in support of the campaign, which was launched via the change.org website.

 

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The campaign’s initiator pointed out that, as a person engaged in digital activities on daily basis, Thai numerals used in calculation pose an obstruction to the use of digital documentation.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/campaign-to-stop-use-of-thai-numerals-in-official-documents/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-05-31

 

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[RichardColeman]

But, but, the PM once said that Thai would be the number one language used in the world once, say it is not so !

[RandiRona]

Since change.org is not available in Thai language, I doubt anyone would even read or care what is being requested in english....foolish effort!

[law ling]

What an interesting problem.

 

However, the OP doesn't make clear HOW the numerals "pose an obstruction to the use of digital documentation."

 

(I understand the wish to preserve national identity, but that doesn't explain how the numerals are alleged to be deficient.)

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The campaign’s initiator pointed out that, as a person engaged in digital activities on daily basis, Thai numerals used in calculation pose an obstruction to the use of digital documentation.

TAT never use them... they like the zero's

[jacko45k]

Any chance they will stop being used at the entrances to theme parks and National Parks, and on some food menus, where the extra foreigner charge is being somewhat disguised by it. 

[jollyhangmon]

... 'borrowed' from the ancient Cambos apparently ...

 

 

[Purdey]

Not sure how an electronic system could mix Thai and Arabic numbers. If the govt uses Thai numerals for general use but Arabic for money it could get confusing. 

[JayClay]

3 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

But, but, the PM once said that Thai would be the number one language used in the world once, say it is not so !

No he didn't 

[lopburi3]

15 minutes ago, JayClay said:

No he didn't 

Did you read this?

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/prayuth-thai-will-become-world-language/

[JayClay]

6 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Did you read this?

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/prayuth-thai-will-become-world-language/

Yes. And I also recognise the difference between the words "may"/"could" and "will".

[Guderian]

Yes, please do stop using them to cheat innocent foreigners who have no idea what those numerals mean. This place, for example, is charging foreigners ten times what they want from Thais.

 

[rbkk]

So they'll have to change Thailand 4.0?

1 hour ago, jollyhangmon said:

... 'borrowed' from the ancient Cambos apparently ...

 

 

Having grown up in Hong Kong I know a bit of Cantonese. The numbers in spoken Cantonese for 3 (Saam), 8 (Baat)and 9 (Gau) sound the same as in Thai.

[Liverpool Lou]

27 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

43 minutes ago, JayClay said:

No he didn't 

Did you read this?

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/prayuth-thai-will-become-world-language/

That confirms that what JayClay posted was accurate.   Prayut did not say that Thai would become the number one language used in the world!

[Mr Meeseeks]

1 hour ago, jollyhangmon said:

... 'borrowed' from the ancient Cambos apparently ...

 

 

Sorry to nitpick but 'ancient' refers to the history of the civilizations of the Mediterranean area and the Near East up to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476.

[Mr Meeseeks]

37 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Did you read this?

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/prayuth-thai-will-become-world-language/

Just when you thought his buffoonery could not get any worse. 

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, law ling said:

the OP doesn't make clear HOW the numerals "pose an obstruction to the use of digital documentation."

It does, there's a link with examples!

[KhunBENQ]

3 hours ago, law ling said:

However, the OP doesn't make clear HOW the numerals "pose an obstruction to the use of digital documentation."

E.g.: can you build Excel tables, using formulas using Thai numerals?

Which commercial SW packages can handle Thai numerals for sorting, searching, formulas?

Serious questions. I don't know.

 

[KhunBENQ]

24 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Yes, please do stop using them to cheat innocent foreigners who have no idea what those numerals mean. This place, for example, is charging foreigners ten times what they want from Thais.

Indispensable application

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, jollyhangmon said:

... 'borrowed' from the ancient Cambos apparently ...

 

 

There is a claim that the number "zero" (0) and its mathematical operation possibly came oroginally from India in 628 AD, then adopted by Arabs of Baghdad by 773 AD for complex mathematics. Logically, the number zero hen spread to Asia by traders.

[Will B Good]

One of the infinite number of deputy prime ministers has announced Thai numbers are to be retained....end of.....it is all about preserving Thai culture and the Arabs can go to ....

[Srikcir]

9 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Sorry to nitpick but 'ancient' refers to the history of the civilizations of the Mediterranean area and the Near East up to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476.

Roman's didn't use zero (0) in their numbering system. 

[KhunBENQ]

From the article:

Quote

He also claimed that, in 1942, then Prime Minister Pibulsongkram mandated the use of Arabic numerals to replace Thai numerals, but three years later, a new government under prime minister Khuang Abhaiwongse reverted to the use of Thai numerals.

The fuehrer managed a lot but failed with his attempt to reform the language

[BayArea]

1 hour ago, jollyhangmon said:

... 'borrowed' from the ancient Cambos apparently ...

 

 

The numbers aren't the only thing they borrowed from Khmer. 

[Nickelbeer]

2 hours ago, jollyhangmon said:

... 'borrowed' from the ancient Cambos apparently ...

 

 

What???   Thailand never borrows from anybody. It’s the REST of the world that borrows from THEM. Yep, righto!!!

[BayArea]

36 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

There is a claim that the number "zero" (0) and its mathematical operation possibly came oroginally from India in 628 AD, then adopted by Arabs of Baghdad by 773 AD for complex mathematics. Logically, the number zero hen spread to Asia by traders.

The Mayans already had the concept of zero 2,000 years ago.

They used it to precisely calculate their calendar which was more accurate than the Gregorian calendar. 

 

[Nickelbeer]

Not a single change will be made. I feel confident about that much.  Thais can be very obstinate about their cultural trappings.

[humbug]

2 hours ago, jollyhangmon said:

... 'borrowed' from the ancient Cambos apparently ...

 

 

great poster, and because the 'Thai' nation is fake history, trying to eliminate this land from  the cultures of Lavo kingdom, kmer, java, whose cultures, languages, elite families were closely connected, and all have their beginnings from the Vedic nearly 2000 years ago, Sanskrit and Pali languages, Songkran, Loy Kratong festivals, customs and ceremonies, even class/claste systems

[Joe Farang]

This is a true story and it happened to me, not a friend.

About 15+ years ago 5 friends and I were returning from Thailand to Ireland via Heathrow. We had an overnight stay in a hotel near LHR due to a late flight. We had prebooked and paid for the hotel.

We fancied a few pints in the residence bar, but I was the only one with cash (7 thousand Baht) and I also had a Credit Card that wasn't maxed. I asked at reception if they could change my Thai baht and the young lad in his early 20's on the night reception said yes after looking up whether it was a currency they could change.

I handed him the 7K baht and he started to count it. He said to me 63K, is that ok? He was looking at the back of the notes and thought they were 9,000 baht notes.

I said "No" turn them over, they are only 1K notes. The lad literally went white in the face when he realised his error and started thanking me profusely for telling him.

Off we went to the hotel bar and we ordered a round. I attempted to pay with the cash I had exchanged but was told it would be better to charge to room and pay with CC. That was Ok and we ended up having 5 or 6 pints each before calling it a night.

The thing is, the drinks were never charged to my room, so we had a free session.

 

[Nsp64]

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

That confirms that what JayClay posted was accurate.   Prayut did not say that Thai would become the number one language used in the world!

However he stated the comment it shows how out of touch he is and even considers Thailand has so much relevance on the global stage that the world world even entertain Thai language as a second method of communication.

It's the "Thailand is the centre of the universe" mentality.