Thai script

Thai script (Thai: อักษรไทย, Akson Thai) is the writing system used by the Thai to write the Thai language and other minority languages in Thailand. It has 44 consonant letters, 15 vowel symbols that combine into at least 28 vowel forms, and four tone diacritics.

History

The Thai script is a Brahmic script originating from the Khmer script. It was created during the Sukhothai Kingdom around 1283 by King Ramkhamhaeng the Great following a decree known as the Ramkhamhaeng Stele. The Thai script has undergone several modifications since its inception, but the basic structure has remained the same.

Structure

The Thai script is an Abugida, a script where consonant-vowel sequences are written as a unit. Each syllable consists of a consonant, a vowel, and an optional tone mark. The script is written from left to right, with no spaces between words, a feature known as scriptio continua.

Consonants

The Thai script has 44 consonant letters representing 21 distinct consonant sounds. The consonants are divided into three classes: low, middle, and high, which influence the tone of the syllable.

Vowels

The Thai script has 15 basic vowel symbols, which can be combined into at least 28 vowel forms. Vowels can be located above, below, before, or after the consonant they modify, unlike in the Latin script, where they are always written after the consonant.

Tone marks

The Thai script uses four diacritic marks to indicate the tone of a syllable. The tone marks are placed above the consonant they modify.

Usage

The Thai script is used to write the Thai language, the official language of Thailand. It is also used to write several minority languages in Thailand, such as Pali, Sanskrit, and Khmer.

See also

• Thai numerals
• Thai Braille
• Thai cultural mandates

References

Thai script Resources
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