33 replies to this topic

[ROY]

Siamese are Khmer turned inside out.

[Thailand John]

Thailand used well played politics to not be colonized but lost a lot of land in the process .. is my understanding.

As for English signs ... yes it is to help get more tourist business (English is the international language) but much comes from Thais love of copying trends from the West and other countries. Look at all the magazines with English headings on the cover but no English on the inside. It is considered Chic to do this. It may also help more Thais learn English ... which again is the international language, especially in business, and what they try to teach all school kids.

[JohnnyWishbone]

Thailand should abolish Thai all together.
Not all Thai's can understand Thai, so what is the point?

[Goddess me]

Thailand John, on 11 March 2010 - 10:40 AM, said:

Thailand used well played politics to not be colonized but lost a lot of land in the process .. is my understanding.

Correct. Geographically, East of Thailand was colonized by the French (Lao, Cambodia, Vietnam). West and South were colonized by the British (Burma and Malaysia). Thailand or Siam once the biggest country in the region was like a wall between the French and the British. So if one of them be able to take Siam, that would be another story on history page.

Siam began losing the land since King Rama IV till world war II when Germany and Japan involved. But lost the land heavily in King Rama V. The invasion of the French and the British made King Rama V visiting Europe twice and Russia many times and made good relationship with the Russian. They both had threaten Siam and took the land bits and bits (Koh Chang once was colonized by the French too). When the French wanted to invade Siam, the British opposed it. Also they were worried of the Russian if they invaded Siam.

Basically, thanks to the well-play politics of King Rama V and the location of this country. (And sorry if you don't understand my writing .

[ROY]

You folks need to go further back in you regional history, for what are today the borders of Thailand was once 75% Khmer.

[MzPlaya]

Lots of things in history are in-accurate all over the world, it is just what the majority claim is what is recognised, ofcourse not for most of history.

Most signs in Thailand are in English, so I am not sure what the OP friends are even complaining about.

[ROY]

Goddess me, on 11 March 2010 - 08:35 PM, said:

Thailand John, on 11 March 2010 - 10:40 AM, said:

Thailand used well played politics to not be colonized but lost a lot of land in the process .. is my understanding.

Correct. Geographically, East of Thailand was colonized by the French (Lao, Cambodia, Vietnam). West and South were colonized by the British (Burma and Malaysia). Thailand or Siam once the biggest country in the region was like a wall between the French and the British. So if one of them be able to take Siam, that would be another story on history page.

Siam began losing the land since King Rama IV till world war II when Germany and Japan involved. But lost the land heavily in King Rama V. The invasion of the French and the British made King Rama V visiting Europe twice and Russia many times and made good relationship with the Russian. They both had threaten Siam and took the land bits and bits (Koh Chang once was colonized by the French too). When the French wanted to invade Siam, the British opposed it. Also they were worried of the Russian if they invaded Siam.

Basically, thanks to the well-play politics of King Rama V and the location of this country. (And sorry if you don't understand my writing .

Less we forget the modern 'occupation' of Thailand by the Japanese and American, during their respective eras.

[ROY]

MzPlaya, on 13 March 2010 - 02:39 PM, said:

Lots of things in history are in-accurate all over the world, it is just what the majority claim is what is recognised, ofcourse not for most of history.

Most signs in Thailand are in English, so I am not sure what the OP friends are even complaining about.

No. Most signs in LOS are not duplicated in English. This is reserved for the obvious areas that have heavy Farang presence.

[Ping]

sign should be chinese

[ROY]

Ping, on 15 March 2010 - 12:07 PM, said:

sign should be chinese

Yep. Easily the most spoken language {pure numbers} in the world.

[Bonki]

ROY, on 16 March 2010 - 06:23 AM, said:

Yep. Easily the most spoken language {pure numbers} in the world.

Is it also the most written language though ?
That would be more appropriate

[Damo]

More then 1 language too.

[Goddess me]

Should make Chinese an international language. You see Chinese in everywhere you go and if you're able to speak Chinese, more advantage to get a job.

[ROY]

Goddess me, on 17 March 2010 - 11:39 AM, said:

Should make Chinese an international language. You see Chinese in everywhere you go and if you're able to speak Chinese, more advantage to get a job.

Chinese has been an international language for centuries. And historically, one of only a handful of accepted and used lingua franca.