Southern Thai language

Southern Thai
ภาษาไทยถิ่นใต้ /pʰaːsǎː tʰaj tʰìn tâːj/
Native to	Southern Thailand, Kedah, Kelantan and Tanintharyi Region
Ethnicity	Thai (Southern), Peranakan, Thai Chinese, Malaysian Siamese, Thai Malays and Mani
Native speakers	4.5 million (2006)[1]
Language family	Kra–Dai Tai Southwestern (Thai) Southern Thai
Writing system	Thai script Thai Braille
Official status
Recognised minority language in	Thailand
Language codes
ISO 639-3	sou
Glottolog	sout2746[2]
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Southern Thai (Southern Thai/Thai: ภาษาไทยถิ่นใต้  [pʰaːsǎː tʰaj tʰìn tâːj]), also known as Pak Thai (Southern Thai: ภาษาปักษ์ใต้) or Dambro (Thai: ภาษาตามโพร  [pʰaːsǎː taːmpʰroː]), is a Southwestern Tai language spoken in the fourteen provinces of southern Thailand as well as by small communities in the northernmost Malaysian states. It is spoken by roughly five million people, and as a second language by the 1.5 million speakers of Pattani and other ethnic groups such as the local Thai Chinese communities, Negritos, and other tribal groups. Most speakers are also fluent or understand the Central Thai dialects.

Contents

• 
  1 Varieties and related languages
  
  
  
  • 
    1.1 Dialects
    
    
    
    • 
      1.1.1 Southern Thai (Eastern)
      
    
    
    • 
      1.1.2 Southern Thai (Western)
      
    
    
    • 
      1.1.3 Takbai dialect
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 
    1.2 Related languages
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  2 Distribution
  


• 
  3 History
  


• 
  4 Phonology
  
  
  
  • 
    4.1 Dialects
    
  
  
  • 
    4.2 Tones
    
  
  
  • 
    4.3 Consonants
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  5 Differences from Central Thai
  


• 
  6 References
  


• 
  7 External links
  

Varieties and related languages

Although Central Thai is most widely spoken, Thailand is home to other related Tai languages. Although linguists usually classify these idioms as related, but distinct languages, native speakers often identify them as regional variants or dialects of the "same" Thai language, or as "different kinds of Thai".^[3]

Dialects

Phonyarit (2018)^[4] recognizes the following nine main dialects of Southern Thai, based on tone split and merger patterns.

Southern Thai (Eastern)

• Nakhonsithammarat dialect (Standard), spoken in upper part of Nakhon Si Thammarat province and eastern part of Surat Thani province.


• Thungsong dialect, spoken in lower part of Nakhon Si Thammarat province and surround provinces such as Phatthalung Province.


• Songkhla dialect, spoken in Songkhla province and surround provinces, but not native in Hat Yai District which speak Central Thai with southern loanword.


• Syburi dialect, spoken in Syburi (Kedah), Palis and Satun Province
  

Southern Thai (Western)

• Chaiya dialect, spoken in northern part of Surat Thani province and Ranong province, classified as Peranakan's dialects


• Chumphon dialect, spoken in Chomphon and southern part of Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces
  


• Phuket dialect, spoke by Peranakans in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga provinces
  


• Samui dialect, spoken in Samui district and Pha-ngan district
  

Takbai dialect

• Takbai dialect, spoke by Siamese minority in Patani
  

Related languages

Main article: Southwestern Tai languages

• 
  Isan (Northeastern Thai), the language of the Isan region of Thailand, a collective term for the various Lao dialects spoken in Thailand that show some Central Thai influences, which is written with the Thai script. It is spoken by about 20 million people. Thais from both inside and outside the Isan region often simply call this variant "Lao" when speaking informally.


• 
  Northern Thai (Phasa Nuea, Lanna, Kam Mueang, or Thai Yuan), spoken by about 6 million (1983) in the formerly independent kingdom of Lanna (Chiang Mai). Shares strong similarities with Lao to the point that in the past the Siamese Thais referred to it as Lao.


• 
  Central Thai (Thai Klang, Leang Ka Luang), is the sole official and national language of Thailand, spoken by about 20 million (2006)


• 
  Phu Thai, spoken by about half a million around Nakhon Phanom Province, and 300,000 more in Laos and Vietnam (2006).


• 
  Phuan, spoken by 200,000 in central Thailand and Isan, and 100,000 more in northern Laos (2006).


• 
  Shan (Thai Luang, Tai Long, Thai Yai), spoken by about 100,000 in north-west Thailand along the border with the Shan States of Burma, and by 3.2 million in Burma (2006).


• 
  Lü (Lue, Yong, Dai), spoken by about 1,000,000 in northern Thailand, and 600,000 more in Sipsong Panna of China, Burma, and Laos (1981–2000).


• 
  Nyaw language, spoken by 50,000 in Nakhon Phanom Province, Sakhon Nakhon Province, Udon Thani Province of Northeast Thailand (1990).


• 
  Song, spoken by about 30,000 in central and northern Thailand (2000).

Distribution

In Thailand, speakers of Southern Thai can be found in a contiguous region beginning as far north as southern part of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province and extending southward to the border with Malaysia. Smaller numbers of speakers reside in the Malaysian border states, especially Kedah, Kelantan, Penang, Perlis, and Perak. In these areas, it is the primary language of ethnic Thais as well as of the ethnically Malay people on both sides of the Thai-Malaysian border in Satun and Songkhla provinces. Although numerous regional variations exist and there is no one standard, the language is most distinct near the Malaysian border. All varieties, however, remain mutually intelligible. For economic reasons, many speakers of Southern Thai have migrated to Bangkok and other Thai cities. Some have also emigrated to the Malaysia, which offers not only economic opportunity but also a culture which shares the Islamic faith practiced by some speakers of Southern Thai.

History

Malay kingdoms ruled much of the Malay Peninsula,^{[citation needed]} such as the Pattani Kingdom and Tambralinga, but most of the area, at one time or another, was under the rule of Srivijaya. The population of the Malay peninsula was heavily influenced by the culture of India transmitted through missionaries or indirectly through traders. Numerous Buddhist and Hindu shrines attest to the diffusion of Indian culture. The power vacuum left by the collapse of Srivijaya was filled by the growth of the kingdom of Nakhon Si Thammarat, which subsequently became a vassal of the Sukhothai Kingdom. The area has been a frontier between the northern Tai peoples and the southern ethnic Malays as well as between Buddhism and Islam.

Phonology

Dialects

• Ligor dialect, spoken in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang, Satun provinces and Mueang Pattani Kedah state, Mae Lan, Khok Pho and Nong Chik Districts of Pattani Province.


• Chaiya dialect, spoken in Krabi, Phang Nga, Phuket, Ranong, Surat Thani and Chumphon Provinces.


• Singora dialect, spoken in Songkhla, Yala and mostly part of Pattani Provinces.


• Tak Bai dialect, spoken in Kelantan state, Narathiwat Province and Yaring, Panare, Sai Buri districts of Pattani Province.

Tones

There are five phonemic tones in the Nakhon Si Thammarat dialect: high, mid rising-falling, low-rising, mid-high, and low.^[5]

Tone	Standard Thai	Phonemic	Phonetic	Example meaning in English
high	ผ่า	/pʰáː/	[pʰaː˥]	to split
mid rising-falling	ปลา	/plâː/	[plaː˧˦˧]	fish
low-rising	ถ้า	/tʰǎː/	[tʰaː˩˦]	lf
mid-high	ห้า	/haː/	[haː˦]	five
low	ค้า	/kʰàː/	[kʰaː˩]	to trade

Consonants

		Labial	Alveolar	Palatal	Velar	Glottal
Nasal		m	n		ŋ*
Stop	tenuis	p	t	tɕ	k	ʔ**
	aspirate	pʰ	tʰ	tɕʰ	kʰ
	voiced	b	d
Fricative		f	s			h
Approximant		w	l	j
Trill			r

^* Final consonant only.

^** Implied before any vowel without an initial and after a short vowel without a final.

Differences from Central Thai

Although of the major regional languages of Thailand, Southern Thai is most similar in lexicon and grammar to Central Thai, the varieties are sufficiently different that mutual intelligibility between the two can be problematic. Southern Thai presents a diglossic situation wherein registers range from the most formal (Standard Central Thai spoken with Southern Thai tones and accent) to the common vernacular (usually a contracted form of Thai expressions and with some amount of loan words from Malay). The Thai language was introduced with Siamese incursions into the Malay Peninsula possibly starting as early as the Sukhothai Kingdom. During this and successive kingdoms, the area in which Southern Thai is spoken was a frontier zone between Thai polities and the Malay Sultanates.^{[citation needed]} Malay vocabulary has been absorbed into the lexicon, as a considerable number of Malay speakers lived in or near Patani polity and interacted with the Thai speakers through trade; and the Malay language was formerly considered to be a lingua franca of the southern part of the Malay peninsula.

Southern Thai is mainly a spoken language, although the Thai alphabet is often used in the informal situations when it is written.

The words used that are etymologically Thai are often spoken in a reduced and rapid manner, making comprehension by speakers of other varieties difficult. Also, as Southern Thai uses up to seven tones in certain provinces, the tonal distribution is different from other regional varieties of Thai. Additionally, Southern Thai speakers almost always preserve ร as /r/ in contrast to Northern Thai, the Lao-based Isan language, and informal registers of Central Thai where it is generally realized as /l/.

Differences between Southern Thai and Central Thai

Dambro	Siam	English	Dambro	Siam	English
หร่อย, rɔːj	อร่อย, aʔrɔ̀ːj	delicious	ม่าย, maːj	ไหม, mǎj	question particle
แหลง, lɛːŋ	พูด, pʰûːt	to speak	จังหู้, tɕaŋhuː	มาก, mâːk	a lot
ดีปรี, _diːpriː	พริก, pʰrík	chilli	หลุหละ, lulaʔ	สกปรก, sòk.ka.pròk	dirty
หยีบ, jip	ยี่สิบ, jîːsìp	twenty	บาย, baːj	สบาย, saʔbaːj	to be well
ยานัด, jaːnát	สับปะรด, sàp.paʔ.rót	pineapple	นากา, naːkaː	นาฬิกา, naːlí.kaː	clock
ขี้มัน, kʰiːman	ขี้เหนียว, kʰîːnǐaw	stingy	พรือ, pʰrɯːa	อะไร, aʔraj	what?
ยัง, jaŋ	มี, miː	to have	แค, kʰɛː	ใกล้, klâj	near
พี่บ่าว, pʰiːbaːw	พี่ชาย, pʰîːtɕʰaːj	older brother	เกือก, kɯːak	รองเท้า, rɔːŋtʰáːw	shoe
ตอเช้า, tɔ.tɕʰaw	พรุ่งนี้, pʰrûŋ.níː	tomorrow	พร้าว, pʰraːw	มะพร้าว, máʔ.pʰráːw	coconut
หลาด, laːt	ตลาด, taʔ.làːt	market	ตู, tuː	ประตู, praʔ.tuː	door
แล, lɛː	ดู, duː	to see	นายหัว, naːj.hua	หัวหน้า, hǔa.nâː	boss

References

1. 
   ^ Southern Thai at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
   


2. 
   ^ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Southern Thai". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
   


3. 
   ^ Antonio L. Rappa; Lionel Wee (2006), Language Policy and Modernity in Southeast Asia: Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, Springer, pp. 114–115
   


4. 
   ^ Phonyarit, Ratchadaporn (2018). Tonal Geography of the Southern Thai Dialects. Paper presented at the 28th Annual Meeting of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society, held May 17–19, 2018 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
   


5. 
   ^ Gedney, William J., and Thomas J. Hudak. William J. Gedney's Tai Dialect Studies: Glossaries, Texts, and Translations. Ann Arbor, MI: Center for South and Southeast Asian Studies, The University of Michigan, 1997. Print.
   

• Bradley, David. (1992). "Southwestern Dai as a lingua franca." Atlas of Languages of Intercultural Communication in the Pacific, Asia, and the Americas. Vol. II.I:13, pp. 780–781.


• Levinson, David. Ethnic Groups Worldwide: A Ready Reference Handbook. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISPN: 1573560197.


• Miyaoka, Osahito. (2007). The Vanishing Languages of the Pacific Rim. Oxford University Press.
  ISBN 0-19-926662-X.


• Taher, Mohamed. (1998). Encylopaedic Survey of Islamic Culture. Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd.
  ISBN 81-261-0403-1.


• Yegar, Moshe. Between Integration and Secession: The Muslim Communities of the Southern Philippines, Southern Thailand, and Western Burma/Myanmar. Lexington Books.
  ISBN 0-7391-0356-3.


• Diller, A. Van Nostrand. (1976). Toward a Model of Southern Thai Diglossic Speech Variation. Cornell University Publishers.


• Li, Fang Kuei. (1977). A Handbook of Comparative Tai. University of Hawaii Press.
  ISBN 0-8248-0540-2.

External links

Southern Thai language test of Wikipedia at Wikimedia Incubator

v t e Kra–Dai languages
Kra	(Proto-Kra) Laha Gelao Lachi Paha Buyang En Qabiao
Kam–Sui	(Proto-Kam–Sui) Mulam Kam (Dong) Cao Miao Naxi Yao Sanqiao Then Maonan Chadong Sui Mak Ai-Cham
Biao–Lakkia	Biao Lakkia
Hlai	(Proto-Hlai) Hlai Cun
Jiamao	Jiamao
Be–Jizhao	Be Jizhao
Tai (Zhuang)	(Proto-Tai) Northern Standard Zhuang Bouyei Hezhang Buyi Yei Zhuang Longsang Zhuang E Saek Tai Yo (Nyaw) Yoy Tai Pao Central Nong Zhuang Dai Zhuang Min Zhuang Yang Zhuang Pyang Zhuang Myang Zhuang Nung Tày Ts'ün-Lao Southwestern (Thai) Northwestern Shan Tai Ya Tai Nuea Tai Long Tai Hongjin Khamti Tai Laing Tai Phake Tai Aiton Khamyang Ahom Turung Lao–Phutai Lao Phu Thai Isan Nyaw Lao Nyo Kaloeng Chiang Saen Thai (Siamese) Northern Thai Tai Daeng Tai Dón Tai Hang Tong Tai Lue Tai Dam Khun Phuan Thai Song Tày Tac Southern Southern Thai (other) Sapa Pa Di Tai Muong Vat Tai Thanh Tai Khang Yong Kuan (mixed) Caolan
(mixed origins)	Hezhang Buyi E Caolan Sanqiao Jiamao
proposed groupings	Kam–Tai

v t e Languages of Thailand
Official language	Thai
Indigenous languages	Austroasiatic Bru Chong Chung Jahai Kensiu Khmer Northern Western Kintaq Kuy Mlabri Mon Nyah Kur Palaung Ten'edn Thavung Vietnamese Austronesian Cham Malay Bangkok Malay Pattani Malay Satun Malay Moken Urak Lawoi’ Hmong-Mien Hmong Iu Mien Sino-Tibetan Akha Eastern Pwo Lisu Nuosu Mpi Northern Pwo Phrae Pwo Red Karen (Eastern Kayah) S'gaw Karen Ugong Kra-Dai Isan Khün Northern Thai Lao Phu Thai Phuan Shan Southern Thai Tai Lü Tai Nüa Thai Song
Sign languages	Thai Sign Language Ban Khor Sign

v t e Languages of Malaysia
Main	Official Malaysian Recognised English (comparison with British English)
Significant minority	Chinese Sino-Tibetan Cantonese Malaysian Cantonese Eastern Min Fuqing Fuzhou Hokkien Mandarin Chinese Malaysian Mandarin Pu-Xian Min Penang Hokkien Southern Peninsular Malaysian Hokkien Yue Chinese Indian Dravidian Malayalam Tamil Malaysian Tamil Telugu Indo-European Gujarati Hindi Punjabi Urdu
Families	Austroasiatic Aslian Austronesian Bornean Land Dayak Malayic Philippine Sama–Bajaw Tai-Kadai Tai
Creoles	Chavacano Kristang Manglish Other Malay trade and creole languages
Natives & Indigenous	Nationwide Banjar Buginese Javanese Malay (Malayan) Peninsular Malaysia Baba Malay Batek Baweanese Cheq Wong Chetty Malay Duano’ Jah Hut Jahai Jakun Jedek Kedah Malay Kelantan-Pattani Malay Kenaboi1 Kensiu Kintaq Kristang Lanoh Mah Meri Minriq Mintil Mos Negeri Sembilan Malay Orang Kanaq Orang Seletar Pahang Malay Perak Malay Rawa Malay Sabüm1 Semai Semaq Beri Semelai Semnam Southern Thai Temiar Temoq2 Temuan Terengganu Malay Wila'1 East Malaysia Abai Bahau Bajaw Balau Belait Berawan Biatah Bintulu Bonggi Bookan Bruneian/Kedayan Malay Brunei Bisaya Bukar Sadong Bukitan Coastal Kadazan Cocos Malay Daro-Matu Dumpas Dusun Eastern Kadazan Gana’ Iban Ida'an Iranun Jagoi Jangkang Kajaman Kalabakan Kanowit Kayan Kelabit Kendayan Keningau Murut Kinabatangan Kiput Klias River Kadazan Kota Marudu Talantang Kuijau Lahanan Lelak1 Lengilu1 Lotud Lun Bawang Mainstream Kenyah Maranao Melanau Molbog Momogun Murik Kayan Narom Nonukan Tidong Okolod Paluan Papar Punan Batu2 Penan Remun Sa'ban Sabah Bisaya Sabah Malay Sama Sarawak Malay Sebop Sebuyau Sekapan Selungai Murut Sembakung Seru1 Serudung Sian Suluk Sungai Tagol Timugon Tombonuwo Tring Tringgus Tutoh Ukit2 Uma’ Lasan
Mixed & Others	Rojak Tanglish Esperanto
Immigrants	African Arab Bangladeshi Burmese Cambodian East Timorese Filipino Indonesian comparison with Malaysian Iranian Japanese Korean Laotian Nepalese Pakistani Sri Lankan Thai Vietnamese
Signs	Main Malaysian Sign Language (Manually Coded Malay) By states Penang Sign Language Selangor Sign Language
1 Extinct languages. 2 Nearly extinct languages.

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