EDITORIAL
Rolling back the crimes of 'Thai-ness'
The Nation

A state policy of uniformity has air-brushed minorities out of the national picture; we need a national language policy to undo that wrong

BANGKOK: -- New light is being shed on the distinct cultures of Thailand's Northeast thanks to a project being launched by Khon Kaen University's Department of Culture and the city's authorities.

A memorandum of understanding signed today will mark the start of the joint project, which aims to preserve and promote Isaan culture. The emphasis will be on the learning of the Tai Noi script as a gateway to understanding the region's past and also creating new indigenous literature. The project will also promote home-grown performing arts such as mor lam and seek to improve the museums that showcase the region's cultural and historical treasures.

The initiative is an attempt to build on a European Union-funded effort - the Isaan Culture Maintenance and Revitalisation Programme. Eighteen public schools will participate in the project, with more expected to follow when the first phase ends in 12 months' time.

The scope and aims of the project are impressive, but success in achieving them is stymied by the absence of an official national language policy in Thailand. That lack means the Lao dialects spoken by millions in Isaan are not officially recognised as regional languages that should be taught and studied in Northeast schools.

Obviously any project that aims to preserve local indigenous culture in Thailand should be welcome. The Thai state needs to show that it values such efforts by forging a national language policy that offers official recognition to the many Isaan Lao dialects - including Black Tai, Lao Song, Lao Paun and Phu Tai - and their Khmer counterparts.

And as a national policy, that recognition should extend to the distinct ethnic cultures and dialects in the rest of the country.

Thailand's ethnic minorities have for too long been forced to accept the domination of a state-constructed culture of "Thai-ness".

Until relatively recently, public schools were required to fine any student who spoke the "local" language in class. The victims of this policy still talk of the humiliation they suffered at the hands of the state's effort to "Thai-ify" them.

They recall the awkwardness and indignity of having to speak Thai to friends or colleagues in public institutions, while anywhere else the conversation would have been held in their own language.

For a national language policy to be a success, it must be underpinned by real concern for human dignity. Moreover, the Thai state and mainstream society must learn to accept and appreciate the country's demographic diversity, rather than seeking to mould minority cultures into conformity.

The failure of such "moulding" is most evident in the Malay-speaking South, where resistance to the state construct of "Thai-ness" has flared into decades of armed conflict.

In other regions, too, the pressure to conform to government-sanctioned norms and manners has spawned deep resentment towards the state among minorities.

Sad to say, our authoritarian tendencies have destroyed much of the local diversity that makes this country so rich and civilised.

To protect what remains, we must make the proper distinction between the state and civilisation, so that the former does not destroy the latter.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Rolling-back-the-crimes-of-Thai-ness-30254959.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-27

Until relatively recently, public schools were required to fine any student who spoke the "local" language in class.

How barbaric!

"The initiative is an attempt to build on a European Union-funded effort"

Would take outsiders cash to make Bangkok folk care about up-country.

Mor Lam and picking up Lao dialects ain't their gig, unless they are given

a quid or two to pretend they are . . .

I don't think local dialect's should be banned but for the sake of unity in one country there should be one language otherwise there will be discord at every level.

As long as there is a common language understood and spoken by all, use of local languages should be encouraged. Take the UK for example where the learning of Welsh, Cornish etc is encouraged. Here in my village the local tongue is Khmer, or Khmen as it is locally called, they are proud of their language but are staunchly Thai, they do not associate themselves with the Khmer speaking Cambodians just across the border.

"Take the UK for example where the learning of Welsh, Cornish etc is encouraged."

True. But this is a relatively recent trend, it’s not that long ago that Welsh children were forbidden from speaking their own language in school.

This will always be the elephant in the room for those blinkered, elite Thai nationalists - to have to admit that Thailand is a nation of disparate, ethnically and culturally diverse human beings and not one homogeneous group of flag-waving, Thai speaking clones would be to face the reality that they are no different to any other group of humans on the planet.....................ergo, it will never happen.

I don't think local dialect's should be banned but for the sake of unity in one country there should be one language otherwise there will be discord at every level.

LKY of Singapore foresaw this 50 years ago, or else, Singapore would have followed Sri Lanka.

I don't think local dialect's should be banned but for the sake of unity in one country there should be one language otherwise there will be discord at every level.

Switzerland, Belgium, & Luxembourg all have multiple, official languages. Germany has dialects in every local region. Language isn't related to unity. Respect and an understanding for differences is much more important...

An unexpected surprise from The Nation.

Kudos for taking an enlightened position on culture and language.

I don't think local dialect's should be banned but for the sake of unity in one country there should be one language otherwise there will be discord at every level.

Switzerland, Belgium, & Luxembourg all have multiple, official languages. Germany has dialects in every local region. Language isn't related to unity. Respect and an understanding for differences is much more important...

These countries do not share one language, but most are Christians.

Singapore is multi-racial, and multi-religion.

I don't think local dialect's should be banned but for the sake of unity in one country there should be one language otherwise there will be discord at every level.

Switzerland, Belgium, & Luxembourg all have multiple, official languages. Germany has dialects in every local region. Language isn't related to unity. Respect and an understanding for differences is much more important...

These countries do not share one language, but most are Christians.

Singapore is multi-racial, and multi-religion.

seriously, I don't see the relevance of religion. And you might recall that not too long ago, being "Christian" was not a monolithic thing. JFK was the first "Catholic" president which was not any different at the time than Obama today...

but even if it were true that a homogeneous religious culture in a country helps, then Thailand is ready to go... in spades.

on the other hand, Thailand is also very multi-racial...

Kiwi teachers used to beat Maori children for speaking in their native tongue, 50 years ago. The language all but died out. Nowadays, there are schools from kindergarten to college providing immersion Maori education......

I can't see the problem,if they have a Thai id card they are Thai,Thai is the official language in Thailand so Thai should be spoken in Thai institutions in Thailand. They can speak Khmer or Lao in their villages. At school in England we were given one across the hand with a ruler for speaking slang which i agree with, how else were the children expected to learn the queens English if they only speak slang at home. These days with Lib / Lab in charge the standards of education and with it speech, have fallen drastically, every idiot can get into university these days,it used to be a badge of excellence.

I can't see the problem,if they have a Thai id card they are Thai,Thai is the official language in Thailand so Thai should be spoken in Thai institutions in Thailand. They can speak Khmer or Lao in their villages. At school in England we were given one across the hand with a ruler for speaking slang which i agree with, how else were the children expected to learn the queens English if they only speak slang at home. These days with Lib / Lab in charge the standards of education and with it speech, have fallen drastically, every idiot can get into university these days,it used to be a badge of excellence.

Today's slang, tomorrow's mainstream English. Your teacher was doing a "Canute". trying to hold back the tide. Languages evolve. Read "Mother Tongue" by Bill Bryson, (an American, yes I know that!!)

Sounds like a fear of accepting the real world

I can't see the problem,if they have a Thai id card they are Thai,Thai is the official language in Thailand so Thai should be spoken in Thai institutions in Thailand. They can speak Khmer or Lao in their villages. At school in England we were given one across the hand with a ruler for speaking slang which i agree with, how else were the children expected to learn the queens English if they only speak slang at home. These days with Lib / Lab in charge the standards of education and with it speech, have fallen drastically, every idiot can get into university these days,it used to be a badge of excellence.

Today's slang, tomorrow's mainstream English. Your teacher was doing a "Canute". trying to hold back the tide. Languages evolve. Read "Mother Tongue" by Bill Bryson, (an American, yes I know that!!)

Tides can leave behind a waste land. Listen to the newscasters from 50 years ago and compare them with those of today. Today one of the most awful accents,the London accent ( my own ) abounds unashamedly. We ought to have a standard of reference for excellence,not, anything goes, as long as you can just about understand it.

^{When I started reading the OP I thought it seemed like an interesting project but the more I read, the more it sounded like whoever wrote it has an enormous chip on their shoulder.}

The project will also promote home-grown performing arts such as mor lam

Really? My neighbour's Isaan wife was complaining that mor lam had been removed from the tv schedule listings.

I can't see the problem,if they have a Thai id card they are Thai,Thai is the official language in Thailand so Thai should be spoken in Thai institutions in Thailand. They can speak Khmer or Lao in their villages. At school in England we were given one across the hand with a ruler for speaking slang which i agree with, how else were the children expected to learn the queens English if they only speak slang at home. These days with Lib / Lab in charge the standards of education and with it speech, have fallen drastically, every idiot can get into university these days,it used to be a badge of excellence.

This has nothing to do with adhering to the Thai language and everything to do with this 'admin's' relentless push toward ultra nationalism. Remember we you aren't.

I can't see the problem,if they have a Thai id card they are Thai,Thai is the official language in Thailand so Thai should be spoken in Thai institutions in Thailand. They can speak Khmer or Lao in their villages. At school in England we were given one across the hand with a ruler for speaking slang which i agree with, how else were the children expected to learn the queens English if they only speak slang at home. These days with Lib / Lab in charge the standards of education and with it speech, have fallen drastically, every idiot can get into university these days,it used to be a badge of excellence.

This has nothing to do with adhering to the Thai language and everything to do with this 'admin's' relentless push toward ultra nationalism. Remember we you aren't.

We you aren't.....is that the same standard of English as, ''it is are not raining here also'' ?

Just doing what the French did 120 years ago.

There are many similarities between Thais and the French.

Excepting the ability to make edible bread.

Until relatively recently, public schools were required to fine any student who spoke the "local" language in class.

How barbaric!

Bloody good idea for England though, where in schools across most of the country have a minority of native English speakers who are neglected as money is poured into teaching foreigners English. Fine the parents of the non-English speaking pupils and use that money to fund the language lessons. Of course this does not apply to those who speak Geordie, Yorkshire, Scouse and the other native dialects.

I can now say I am doing my bit for Issan culture, since some of my UK tax money that is generously donated to the obscene, bloated EU without my consent is funding the project. Even the convoluted name sounds like it was thought up by a team of eurocrats.

I don't think local dialect's should be banned but for the sake of unity in one country there should be one language otherwise there will be discord at every level.

Switzerland, Belgium, & Luxembourg all have multiple, official languages. Germany has dialects in every local region. Language isn't related to unity. Respect and an understanding for differences is much more important...

But for Germany, Austria and German Switzerland everyone can speak with everyone if they want. It is not as bad that they can't communicate in German language.

Belgium has big problems between the different populations.

I can't see the problem,if they have a Thai id card they are Thai,Thai is the official language in Thailand so Thai should be spoken in Thai institutions in Thailand. They can speak Khmer or Lao in their villages. At school in England we were given one across the hand with a ruler for speaking slang which i agree with, how else were the children expected to learn the queens English if they only speak slang at home. These days with Lib / Lab in charge the standards of education and with it speech, have fallen drastically, every idiot can get into university these days,it used to be a badge of excellence.

This has nothing to do with adhering to the Thai language and everything to do with this 'admin's' relentless push toward ultra nationalism. Remember we you aren't.

We you aren't.....is that the same standard of English as, ''it is are not raining here also'' ?

or did you mean '' we, you aren't'' although i still don't know what you are getting at, imagine trying to explain that to me with a Birmingham accent while i could only understand a Scottish accent and neither of us had the ability to speak English as it is supposed to be spoken.

I actually shocked that this is even being discussed. It's been the elephant in the room, than none of the Bangkok rulers have ever dared want to acknowledge; that Thailand is in fact only a minority ethnic Thai country.

Thailand like many many other countries is a construct, melded together through conquest. The Lanna & Lao in the north, and especially the Malay's in the south are not Thai. They don't speak Thai, & probably the fact that at least the Lanna & Lao are Buddhist has prevented a similar backlash against imposed 'Thainess' that we witness every day in the South, at least up to now.

Countries with mixed ethnicities can, and do preserve national unity, but rarely survive when they try to homogenize their populations into a vision of the minority ruling sect

Rolling back the crimes of 'Thai-ness'

I was so hopeful when I read that headline.

Damn.

Just doing what the French did 120 years ago.

There are many similarities between Thais and the French.

Excepting the ability to make edible bread.

Quite understandable, the French have been baking for bread for centuries. I imagine if a French chef knocked up a bowl of som tum or pad Thai it would taste like crap.

Just doing what the French did 120 years ago.

There are many similarities between Thais and the French.

Excepting the ability to make edible bread.

Quite understandable, the French have been baking for bread for centuries. I imagine if a French chef knocked up a bowl of som tum or pad Thai it would taste like crap.

No.

I doubt a French chef would try to duplicate those dishes.