Regional Dialects of the Thai Language
Within Thailand there are four major regional dialects, including Southern Thai, spoken in the southern provinces; Northern Thai or “Yuan,” spoken in the northern provinces that were once part of the independent kingdom of Lannathai; Northeastern Thai, which is very similar in nature to the Lao language; and Siamese Thai, the national language of the country, which is also referred to as Central Thai or Bangkok Thai. The Siamese Thai dialect is used in most schools throughout Thailand, used for media and entertainment broadcasts, and is widely understood by a sizable majority of the population. In addition to the four major regional dialects, there are also within Thailand a few minor dialects, such as the Phuan and Lue variations of the language, spoken only by very small pockets of the population.
It’s important to remember that the four primary dialects of the Thai language are not the same as the different language “registers”—forms of the language used in various social contexts and for different circumstances in Thailand. Certain words, for instance, are used only by Thai royalty, thus creating a separate, but mutually understandable “royal language.” Below is a brief look at the different language registers in the Siamese Thai language and the situations in which each is used:
Royal Thai. Influenced by the Khmer language, Royal Thai is used when addressing members of the Royal family or when discussing their activities.
Religious Thai. Based on Sanskrit and Pāli, Religious Thai is used when discussing Buddhism, the official national religion of Thailand, and when addressing monks and other religious leaders.
Formal Thai. Also known as Elegant Thai, Formal Thai, in its official written form, includes respectful terms of address, and is used by many of the country’s newspapers and other media publications.
Rhetorical Thai. Rhetorical Thai is used most commonly in public speaking.
Common Thai. Common Thai, or Street Thai, is the informal register of the Thai language. It is used for daily conversation between friends, family and colleagues—the most common form of Thai utilized in the country.
The five different registers of the Thai language are mutually intelligible for most of the country’s residents. Street and Elegant Thai are the basis of all conversations, while Rhetorical, Religious and Royal Thai are taught in schools as part of the national curriculum.