How Many Languages Are Spoken In Thailand

[MediumPaceBowler]

I can think of ....................

Main Languages

Thai

Laos

Chinese

Border Languages

Khmer (southern Isaan -- Surin, Buriram, Si Saket)

Ya Vee (deep south -- Yala, Narathiwat)

Hill Tribe Languages

Many -- but I don't know them

Burmese / Mon / Myanmar Languages

Many -- but I don't know them

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Over to you!

[Richard W]

Well Ethnologue lists 74 languages used in Thailand, so that's 71 languages spoken. However, I don't see any European languages on the list, and I don't think it includes the variety of Khmer spoken in Chantaburi Province. I'm surprised at the lack of Indian languages - not even Pali?

[samran]

Well Ethnologue lists 74 languages used in Thailand, so that's 71 languages spoken. However, I don't see any European languages on the list, and I don't think it includes the variety of Khmer spoken in Chantaburi Province. I'm surprised at the lack of Indian languages - not even Pali?

I would have thought Hindi would be there, especially through waves of Indian migrants and now long established Thai citizens.

[Naam]

Well Ethnologue lists 74 languages used in Thailand, so that's 71 languages spoken. However, I don't see any European languages on the list, and I don't think it includes the variety of Khmer spoken in Chantaburi Province. I'm surprised at the lack of Indian languages - not even Pali?

I would have thought Hindi would be there, especially through waves of Indian migrants and now long established Thai citizens.

the mother tongue of most Indian immigrants in Thailand is Punjabi.

[AyG]

I'm surprised at the lack of Indian languages - not even Pali?

Pali is a dead language, like Latin and classical Greek. Only used now for religious purposes. And the way it's pronounced by Thai monks is very different from the way it's pronounced by monks in other countries.

[Payboy]

1. Baht

2. Dollar

3. Pound

4. Euro

to name a few...

...and I'm sure there are many more.

[baboon]

Yawi in the deep south.

[ludditeman]

In the last week.

My friend spoke Mandarin Chinese with some HMong villagers.

I spoke central Thai with them.

Another friend spoke Arabic with same.

My wife speaks Issan, Central, Lanna and Southern Thai (as well as English)

[elektrified]

If you travel in the South of Thailand you will discover that many Thais don't even speak Thai. They speak Malay. But most do speak Thai. There are also numerous other dialects spoken in the Southern provinces.

[thequietman]

dont forget Thinglish.

Air conditioning

Air

Album

Ala – bum

Ball

Bawn

Bank

Baeng

Bar

Baa

Battery

Baet – ter –rii

Beer

Bia

Better

Bed – der

Bonus

Bo – nat

Brandy

Bran – dii

Bungalow

Bang – ka – lo

Cake

Khek

Christmas

Krit – maat

Cocktail

Khawk – theo

Computer

Khawm – phiw – ter

Copy

Kawp – pii

Draft

Draap

Electricity

Electric – city

Email

Emayo

Excuse me

Keius – mee

Football

Fut – bawn

Free

Frii

Film

Fiim

Fish

Fit

Golf

Gof

Guitar

Kii – taa

Ham

Haem

Ice cream

Ai – sa –krim

Jam

Yaem

Jeans

Yiin

Kilo

Ki – lo

Lift

Lip

Lipstick

Lip – sa –tik

Mail

Mayi

Menthol

Men – thawn

Milk

Miw

Motorcycle

Maw – ter – sai

Night club

Nai khlap

Office

Offit

Oil

Oi

Pepsi

Pep – see

Percent

Per - sen

Pick up truck

Pick – ap

Plaster

Paat – ter

Plug

Phak

Remote

Rii – mot

Plug

Phak

Rice

Lie

Sauce

Sawt

Serious

Ser – ee – at

Shirt

Chert

Show

Cho

Silk

Sin

Sleep

Sah – leep

Smoking

Sah – moking

Soda

So – daa

Spaghetti

Sa – paa- ket – tii

Speak

Sah – peak

Stamp

Sah – taem

Start

Sah – tat

Stay

Sah – tay

Swim

Sah – wim

Taxi

Thaek – sii

Tennis

Tennit

Waiting

Wei – ting

Wine

Wai

Whisky

We – skee

[MediumPaceBowler]

If you travel in the South of Thailand you will discover that many Thais don't even speak Thai. They speak Malay. But most do speak Thai. There are also numerous other dialects spoken in the Southern provinces.

I've never been south of Ranong, but I've heard that somewhere in the deep south there is a small group of negros. I think they live in a jungle near Trang. I doubt they would speak Malay, though.

[Fookhaht]

Central and eastern Isaan: Phu Thai language spoken by many villages, especially near Nakorn Phathom.

[MediumPaceBowler]

My wife speaks Issan, Central, Lanna and Southern Thai (as well as English)

Isaan is Laos. Your wife might say bak-see-da instead of farang.

But I don't think Central and Southern Thai are different languages. I think they are dialects. But I might be completely wrong!

[elektrified]

If you travel in the South of Thailand you will discover that many Thais don't even speak Thai. They speak Malay. But most do speak Thai. There are also numerous other dialects spoken in the Southern provinces.

I've never been south of Ranong, but I've heard that somewhere in the deep south there is a small group of negros. I think they live in a jungle near Trang. I doubt they would speak Malay, though.

There are many Negroes in the South of Thailand. One is/was a well known actor in Thailand. I don't know about living in the jungle but many live in the cities (Hat Yai, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, etc.) and run businesses, have jobs, etc. Basically everyday people just like you and me.

[elektrified]

My wife speaks Issan, Central, Lanna and Southern Thai (as well as English)

Isaan is Laos. Your wife might say bak-see-da instead of farang.

But I don't think Central and Southern Thai are different languages. I think they are dialects. But I might be completely wrong!

Southern Thai is pretty different.

[DP25]

If you travel in the South of Thailand you will discover that many Thais don't even speak Thai. They speak Malay. But most do speak Thai. There are also numerous other dialects spoken in the Southern provinces.

I've never been south of Ranong, but I've heard that somewhere in the deep south there is a small group of negros. I think they live in a jungle near Trang. I doubt they would speak Malay, though.

They're called the Mani. They speak a Mon-Khmer language so it's not related to Malay or Thai. A small number of them have managed to live separately for a long time and not get absorbed by the larger Thai or Malay communities.

[DP25]

My wife speaks Issan, Central, Lanna and Southern Thai (as well as English)

Isaan is Laos. Your wife might say bak-see-da instead of farang.

But I don't think Central and Southern Thai are different languages. I think they are dialects. But I might be completely wrong!

A language is a dialect with an army and a navy

[Fookhaht]

Isaan is Laos.

Not entirely. Every Isaan native speaker will tell you there are differences. The Lao language has developed independently from the mother country by immigrants who've settled in Isan over the last several hundred years. However, the similarities are in the 90% range.

[Fookhaht]

My wife speaks Issan, Central, Lanna and Southern Thai (as well as English)

Isaan is Laos. Your wife might say bak-see-da instead of farang.

But I don't think Central and Southern Thai are different languages. I think they are dialects. But I might be completely wrong!

A language is a dialect with an army and a navy

Well said.

In the 1950's and 60's the Thai army was used to try to eradicate the written Isaan language in NE Thailand by destroying (mostly burning) all written materials. Part of the motivation was to discourage the communist insurgency in the area at the time. They were quite successful, as there are virtually no written records or literature in the Isaan language which survived the purge.

Yes, it takes and army and navy to establish the linguistic upper hand among the dialects!

[MediumPaceBowler]

If you travel in the South of Thailand you will discover that many Thais don't even speak Thai. They speak Malay. But most do speak Thai. There are also numerous other dialects spoken in the Southern provinces.

I've never been south of Ranong, but I've heard that somewhere in the deep south there is a small group of negros. I think they live in a jungle near Trang. I doubt they would speak Malay, though.

There are many Negroes in the South of Thailand. One is/was a well known actor in Thailand. I don't know about living in the jungle but many live in the cities (Hat Yai, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, etc.) and run businesses, have jobs, etc. Basically everyday people just like you and me.

Actually, I've never met a Westerner in Thailand who know that Thailand has an indigenous negro population.

But maybe we're talking about different negro groups. The group I'm referring to number about 500-1000 and are definitely not urbanized.

I think I read about them in an in-flight magazine. Or maybe I saw them on National Geographic.

[MediumPaceBowler]

If you travel in the South of Thailand you will discover that many Thais don't even speak Thai. They speak Malay. But most do speak Thai. There are also numerous other dialects spoken in the Southern provinces.

I've never been south of Ranong, but I've heard that somewhere in the deep south there is a small group of negros. I think they live in a jungle near Trang. I doubt they would speak Malay, though.

They're called the Mani. They speak a Mon-Khmer language so it's not related to Malay or Thai. A small number of them have managed to live separately for a long time and not get absorbed by the larger Thai or Malay communities.

Yes, that's the group I meant. Was I right in thinking that they live in Trang?

I'll Google them later when I've got a bit more time.

[IanForbes]

How many languages are spoken in Thailand you ask?

My only answer is all the ones that I don't speak.

[Shot]

3?

[Richard W]

But maybe we're talking about different negro groups. The group I'm referring to number about 500-1000 and are definitely not urbanized.

It avoids a lot of confusion of you refer to the Man ias negrito rather than negro, especially as they aren't negroes.

[MediumPaceBowler]

But maybe we're talking about different negro groups. The group I'm referring to number about 500-1000 and are definitely not urbanized.

It avoids a lot of confusion of you refer to the Mani as negrito rather than negro, especially as they aren't negroes.

I read a lot about them over the last few days.

Thai people call them SAKAI, but the MANI dislike this name as apparently it means something like "barbarian".

The word NEGRITO is Spanish. It means LITTLE NEGRO.

The exact origins of Southeast Asian negritos is debated.

According to Wikipedia:

Negritos share some common physical features with African pygmy populations, including short stature, natural afro-hair texture, and dark skin; however, their origin and the route of their migration to Asia is still a matter of great speculation.

Read more here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negrito

PS. I altered your quote. You had written "Man ias" instead of "Mani as"

[sparebox2]

If you travel in the South of Thailand you will discover that many Thais don't even speak Thai. They speak Malay. But most do speak Thai. There are also numerous other dialects spoken in the Southern provinces.

I've never been south of Ranong, but I've heard that somewhere in the deep south there is a small group of negros. I think they live in a jungle near Trang. I doubt they would speak Malay, though.

Are the negros from West Africa? Possibly brought here by the Farang (could be Portugese) slave traders ships?

[Payboy]

[Richard W]

Are the negros from West Africa? Possibly brought here by the Farang (could be Portugese) slave traders ships?

No such recent connection - negritos' ancestors departure from Africa was tens of thousands of years ago. Read the Wiki article for what is deduced about their origin.

[PingManDan]

I would think in the next 5 years or so, Russian will be the predominate language spoken in Pattaya, with Phukett coming in 2nd.