Languages, Identities and Education in Thailand

  • Kimmo Kosonen
  • Kirk R. Person
Chapter
Part of the Palgrave Studies in Minority Languages and Communities book series (PSMLC)

Abstract

Wander through Thailand’s ancient monuments and you will be struck by an abundance of ancient inscriptions. Look closer, and you will realize that a diversity of scripts is carved in the stones: Khmer, Mon, Burmese, Chinese, Jawi, Tamil-Brahmi, Javanese, Devanāgarā, as well as several ancient Tai scripts. These artefacts reflect Thailand’s place as a crossroads of diverse languages and cultures, between South and East Asia. Empires have expanded and contracted through the region, bringing together the amalgam of language and culture that is modern Thailand.

Keywords

Language Policy Early Childhood Education Mother Tongue Royal Institute Minority Language 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Ampra, K & Thaithae, C 2000, ‘Thailand: curriculum planning, development and reform’, in Globalization and living together: the challenges for educational content in Asia (Final report of the sub—regional course on curriculum development), New Delhi, India, 9–17 March 1999, UNESCO, Paris, pp. 126–130.Google Scholar
  2. Aluyufri, SA 2008, ‘The role of Pattani Malay in Thailand’s southern border provinces’, A paper presented at the International Conference on National Language Policy: Language Diversity for National Unity, Bangkok, 4–5 July 2008.Google Scholar
  3. Baker, C 2011, Foundations of bilingual education and bilingualism (5th rev), Multilingual Matters, Bristol.Google Scholar
  4. Bangkok Post 2004, ‘Pallop says rebels have huge support: 70,000 sympathisers, mostly young people’, 31 March 2004.Google Scholar
  5. Bangkok Post 2010a, ‘Bilingual education pays off for border students’, 11 July 2010.Google Scholar
  6. Bangkok Post 2010b, ‘Teaching in the mother tongue’, 3 October 2010.Google Scholar
  7. Bangkok Post 2011, ‘Bomb rocks central Pattani’, 4 October 2011.Google Scholar
  8. Benson, C 2004, ‘The importance of mother tongue—based schooling for educational quality’, Paper commissioned for the EFA Global Monitoring Report 2005, The Quality Imperative.Google Scholar
  9. Benson, C 2005, Girls educational equity and mother tongue-based teaching (Policy document), UNESCO Bangkok, Bangkok.Google Scholar
  10. Benson, C & Kosonen, K 2012, ‘A critical comparison of language-in-education policy and practice in four Southeast Asian countries and Ethiopia’, in K Heugh & T Skutnabb-Kangas (eds), Multilingual education and sustainable diversity work: from periphery to center, Routledge, New York. pp. 111–137.Google Scholar
  11. Boonyasaranai, P 2010, The development and use of common Akha orthography, Bangkok, Mahidol University dissertation.Google Scholar
  12. Buadaeng, K 2006, ‘The rise and fall of the Tribal Research Institute (TRI): “Hill Tribe” policy and studies in Thailand’, Southeast Asian Studies, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 359–384.Google Scholar
  13. Burutphakdee, N 2004, Khon Muang Neu Kap Phasa Muang: attitudes of Northern Thai youth towards Kammuang and the Lanna script, unpublished MA thesis, Payap University, Chang Mai.Google Scholar
  14. Chiang Mai University 2011, ‘NGO Directory of Thailand’, viewed 10 March 2011 <http://www.cesd—thai.info/?m=ngo&lang=en>.
  15. Diller, A 2002, ‘What makes Central Thai a national language?’, in CJ Reynolds (ed.), National identity and its defenders: Thailand today, Silkworm Books, Chiangmai, pp. 71–107.Google Scholar
  16. Embassy of the United States, Thailand 2006, Royal Thai government advances on Hill Tribe citizenship, viewed 28 November 2011, <http://thaicables.wordpress.com/2011/07/10/06bangkok1286-rtg-advances-on-hill-tribes-citizenship/>.
  17. Forest Peoples Programme 2011, Inter Mountain Peoples Education and Culture in Thailand Association (IMPECT), viewed 28 November 2011, <http://www.forestpeoples.org/partners/inter-mountain-peoples-education-and-culture-thailand-association-impect>.
  18. Garnier, D 2004, Ayutthaya: Venice of the East, River Books, Bangkok.Google Scholar
  19. Heugh, K & Skutnabb-Kangas, T (eds) 2011, Multilingual education and sustainable diversity work: from periphery to center, Routledge, New York.Google Scholar
  20. Hinton, L & Hale, K (eds) 2001, The green book of language revitalization in practice, Academic Press, San Diego.Google Scholar
  21. Human Rights Watch 2010, Targets of both sides: violence against students, teachers, and schools in Thailand’s southern border provinces, Human Rights Watch, New York, viewed 28 November 2011, <http://www.crin.org/docs/thailand_argets.pdf>.
  22. Kosonen, K 2003, ‘Community participation in minority language education in Thailand’, Journal of Southeast Asian Education, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 104–136.Google Scholar
  23. Kosonen, K 2005, ‘Education in local languages: policy and practice in South—East Asia’, in First Language First: community-based literacy programmes for minority language context in Asia, UNESCO, Bangkok, pp. 96–134.Google Scholar
  24. Kosonen, K 2006, ‘Multigrade teaching among ethnic minority children: the language issue, in L Cornish (ed.), Reaching EFA through multi-grade teaching: issues, contexts and practices, Kardoorair Press, Armidale, NSW Australia, pp. 239–258.Google Scholar
  25. Kosonen, K 2007, ‘Vernaculars in literacy and basic education in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand’, in AJ Liddicoat (ed.), Issues in language planning and literacy, Multilingual Matters, Clevedon, UK, pp. 122–142.Google Scholar
  26. Kosonen, K 2008, ‘Literacy in local languages in Thailand: language maintenance in a globalised world’, International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 170–188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. Kosonen, K 2009, ‘Language-in-education policies in Southeast Asia: an overview’, in K Kosonen & C Young (eds), Mother tongue as bridge language of instruction: policies and experiences in Southeast Asia, Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), Bangkok, pp. 22–43.Google Scholar
  28. Kosonen, K 2010, ‘Ethnolinguistic minorities and non-dominant languages in Mainland Southeast Asian language-in-education policies’, in MA Geo-JaJa & S Majhanovich (eds), Education, language, and economics: growing national and global dilemmas, Sense Publishers, Rotterdam, Boston, Taipei, pp. 73–88.Google Scholar
  29. Kosonen, K & Young, C (eds) 2009, Mother tongue as bridge language of instruction: policies and experiences in Southeast Asia, Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), Bangkok.Google Scholar
  30. Kosonen, K, Young, C & Malone, S 2007, Promoting literacy in multilingual settings, UNESCO, Bangkok.Google Scholar
  31. Lao PDR 2004, Lao national literacy survey 2001: final report, Ministry of Education, Department of Non-formal Education, UNESCO, Asia—Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, Bangkok.Google Scholar
  32. Leclerc, J 2012, ‘Thailande’, in L’Aménagement linguistique dans le monde [Language planning around the world], TLFQ, Université Laval, Quebec, viewed 3 February 2012, <http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/asie/thailande.htm>.
  33. Lewis, MP (ed.) 2009, Ethnologue: languages of the world, 16th edition, SIL International, Dallas, Texas, viewed 30 November 2011, <http://www.ethnologue.com/>.
  34. May, S 2001, Language and minority rights: ethnicity, nationalism and the politics of language, Pearson Education, Harlow, England.Google Scholar
  35. Ministry of Culture 2010, Recovering the Karen livelihood in Thailand — a cabinet resolution of the Royal Thai government, 3 August 2010, viewed 28 November 2011, <http://www.ikap—mmsea.org/thailand.htm>.
  36. MOE 2008, Thailand: national report 2008, Forty-eighth session of the International Conference on Education, Geneva, 25–28 November 2008, Ministry of Education, Bangkok, viewed 27 November 2011, <http://www.ibe.unesco.org/National_Reports/ICE_2008/thailand_NR08.pdf>.
  37. Nettle, D & Romaine, S 2000, Vanishing voices: the extinction of the world’s languages, Oxford University Press, Oxford.Google Scholar
  38. OECD 2004, Learning for tomorrow’s world: first results from PISA 2003, Organisation for Economic Co—Operation and Development, Paris.Google Scholar
  39. ONEC 1999, National Education Act of B.E.2542, Office of the National Education Commission (ONEC) and Office of the Prime Minister, Thailand.Google Scholar
  40. Owen, RW 2008, Language use, literacy and phonological variation in Khuen, unpublished MA Thesis in Linguistics, Payap University, Chiang Mai.Google Scholar
  41. Paramal, W 2008,’ success and challenges in developing a writing system for Pattani Malay’, paper presented at the International Conference on National Language Policy: Language Diversity for National Unity, 4–5 July 2008, Bangkok.Google Scholar
  42. Person, KR 2005, Language revitalization of dying gasp? Language preservation efforts among the Bisu of Northern Thailand, International Journal of the Sociology of Language, vol. 173, pp. 119–143.Google Scholar
  43. Person, KR 2009a, ‘Heritage scripts, technical transcriptions, and practical orthographies: a middle path towards educational excellence and cultural preservation for Thailand’s ethnic minority languages’, Proceedings from the International Conference on National Language Policy: Language Diversity for National Unity, Royal Institute of Thailand, Bangkok.Google Scholar
  44. Person, KR 2009b, Celebrating 20 years of cooperation: Payap University and SIL International, Payap University Press, Chiang Mai (Thailand).Google Scholar
  45. Person, KR 2010, ‘Language policy in Thailand: historical background and current work of the Royal Institute’, Proceedings from the International Academic Conference on Language Policy in Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the National Institute of the Korean Language), National Institute of the Korean Language, Seoul, pp. 151–172.Google Scholar
  46. Person, KR (forthcoming), ‘Opening comments, panel discussion on “Thainess” in the face of universal human rights protection of cultural and linguistic identity. 11th International Conference on Thai Studies’, 26–28 July 2011, Bangkok, Thailand, viewed 28 November 2011, <http://www.lc.mahidol.ac.th/thaistudies2011/archive.htm>.
  47. Person, KR & Siltragool, W 2007, ‘Thailand: bilingual education among the Pwo Karen of Omkoi’, in Mother tongue-based literacy programmes: case studies of good practice in Asia, UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, Bangkok, pp. 145–159, viewed 14 February 2012, <http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001517/151793e.pdf>.
  48. Prapasapong, B 2009, ‘Language policy and development of education management in public schools in Thailand’, in K Kosonen & Y Catherine (eds), Mother tongue as bridge language of instruction: policies and experiences in Southeast Asia, Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), Bangkok. pp. 102–108.Google Scholar
  49. Premsrirat, S, Deepadung, S, Suwannaket. E, Buasuang, A, Choosri, I, Srichampa, S, Thawornpat, M, Thawisak, A & Dumsa-ard, P 2001, Ethnolinguistic maps of Thailand, A research report, Institute of Language and Culture, Mahidol University, Bangkok. http://www.langrevival.mahidol.ac.th/book/Ethnolinguistic%20maps%20of%20Thailand.html
  50. Premsrirat, S 2006, ‘Thailand: language situation’, in Encyclopedia of language and linguistics, Vol. 2, K Brown (ed.), Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 642–644.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  51. Premsrirat, S 2007, ‘Endangered languages of Thailand’, International Journal of the Sociology of Language, vol. 186, pp. 75–93.Google Scholar
  52. Premsrirat, S 2008a, Comité International Permanent des Linguistes (The Permanent International Committee of Linguists) Award Acceptance Speech. 18th International Congress of Linguists, Korea University, Seoul, Korea, viewed 29 November 2011, <http://www.ciplnet.com/data/premsrirat.html>.
  53. Premsrirat, S 2008b, ‘Language for national reconciliation: Southern Thailand’, EENET — enabling education, Issue 12, pp. 16–17.Google Scholar
  54. Premsrirat, S 2009, ‘Bilingual education for national reconciliation in Southern Thailand: a role for Pattani Malay and Thai’, paper presented at SEAMEO’s regional meeting on the dissemination of project results and identification of good functioning models, ‘Project on Mother Tongue as Bridge Language of Instruction in Southeast Asian Countries: Policy, Strategies and Advocacy’, 24–26 February 2009, Bangkok.Google Scholar
  55. Premsrirat, S 2011, Personal communication, 22 November 2011.Google Scholar
  56. Rigg, J 2003, Southeast Asia: the human landscape of modernisation and development. Routledge, London and New York.Google Scholar
  57. Royal Institute, 2010, Rang Nayobai Phasa Haeng Chat (National Language Policy Draft), manuscript, Royal Institute of Thailand, Bangkok.Google Scholar
  58. Sahasewiyon, K 2004, ‘Working locally as a true professional: case studies in the development of local curriculum through action research in the context of Thai schools’, Educational Action Research, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 493–514.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  59. SEAMEO 2009, Project on mother tongue as bridge language of instruction in Southeast Asian countries: policy, strategies and advocacy, Proceedings of the regional meeting on the dissemination of project results and identification of good functioning models, Bangkok, 24–26 February 2009, Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), Bangkok.Google Scholar
  60. Schliesinger, J 2000, Ethnic groups of Thailand: non—Tai—speaking peoples, White Lotus, Bangkok.Google Scholar
  61. Siltragool, W & Petcharugsa S 2005, ‘Thailand country report’, in First Language First: Community—based literacy programmes for minority language context in Asia, UNESCO, Bangkok, pp. 195–212.Google Scholar
  62. Skutnabb-Kangas, T 2000, Linguistic genocide in education — or worldwide diversity and human rights?, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, NJ.Google Scholar
  63. Smalley, WA 1994, Linguistic diversity and national unity: language ecology in Thailand, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.Google Scholar
  64. Spolsky, B 2004, Language Policy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
  65. Tan HY 2011, Using Hmong in pre—primary education in Thailand: an evaluation of the orthography acceptance, teacher training and reported outcomes in a pilot project, unpublished MA Thesis in Linguistics, Payap University, Chiang Mai.Google Scholar
  66. The Nation 2005,’ solutions for strife: schools in South to teach Yawi’, 6 August 2005.Google Scholar
  67. The Nation 2007, ‘Historian wants country called “Siam”‘, 3 April 2007.Google Scholar
  68. Tienmee, W 2009, ‘The Mon—Thai bilingual project, Wat Wang Wiwekaram School, Kanchanaburi province’, paper presented at SEAMEO’s Regional Meeting on the Dissemination of project results and identification of good functioning models, ‘Project on mother tongue as bridge language of instruction in Southeast Asian countries: Policy, strategies and advocacy’, 24–26 February 2009, Bangkok.Google Scholar
  69. Trakulphadetkrai, NV 2011, ‘Thailand: educational equality and quality’, in C Brock & LP Symaco (eds), Education in South-East Asia, Symposium Books, Oxford, pp. 197–219.Google Scholar
  70. UNESCAP 2011, ‘United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)—general description’, viewed 30 November 2011, <http://www.unescap.org/about/>.
  71. UNESCO 2003, Education in a multilingual world, UNESCO Education Position Paper, UNESCO, Paris.Google Scholar
  72. UNESCO 2005, First Language First: Community-based literacy programmes for minority language context in Asia, UNESCO, Bangkok.Google Scholar
  73. UNESCO 2007a, Advocacy kit for promoting multilingual education: including the excluded, five booklets, UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, Bangkok.Google Scholar
  74. UNESCO 2007b, Mother tongue—based literacy programmes: case studies of good practice in Asia, UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, Bangkok.Google Scholar
  75. UNESCO 2007c, ‘Message from Mr Matsuura, Director—General of UNESCO, on the celebration of 2008, International Year of Languages’, viewed 28 November 2011, <http://www.un.org/events/iyl/unesco_stmt.shtml>.
  76. UNESCO 2008, Improving the quality of mother tongue-based literacy and learning. Case studies from Asia, Africa and South America, UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, Bangkok.Google Scholar
  77. UNESCO 2012, Mapping of classroom language practices, Asia Multilingual Education Working Group (MLE WG) hosted by UNESCO, Bangkok, viewed 2 July 2012, <http://www.unescobkk.org/education/multilingual-education/mle-mapping-data/>.
  78. UNICEF 2007, Multiple indicator cluster survey, UNICEF, Bangkok, viewed 14 November 2011, <http://www.unicef.org/thailand/MICS_Final_Report2.pdf>.
  79. Vail, P 2006, ‘Can a language of a million speakers be endangered? Language shift and apathy among Northern Khmers in Thailand’, International Journal of the Sociology of Language, vol. 178, pp. 135–147.Google Scholar
  80. Walter, S 2011, ‘Analyzing MLE data: A “stream-of-consciousness” set of heuristics’, unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
  81. Wannemacher, M 1998, ‘The relationship of selected sociolinguistic factors with written language development and written language vitality in minority languages of Northern Thailand,’ Technical Paper #31, Payap University Research and Development Institute, Chiang Mai.Google Scholar
  82. Warotamasikkhadit, U 2009,’ strengthening national languages in an international world’, Proceedings from the International Conference on National Language Policy: Language Diversity for National Unity, Royal Institute of Thailand, Bangkok, pp. 90–91.Google Scholar
  83. Wyatt, D 2002, Siam in mind, Silkworm Books, Chiang Mai.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Kimmo Kosonen and Kirk R. Person 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  • Kimmo Kosonen
  • Kirk R. Person

There are no affiliations available

Personalised recommendations