The Language during Field Marshal PlaekPhibunsongkhram; Unacceptable Simplicity

Abstract

This article aims to present the changes occurred in Thai language during Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, the consistency and the difference between Thai language during Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram and modern Thai usage, and the assumptions about the reasons why Thai language during Field Marshal Plaek Phibulsongkhram was not accepted by the people at that time. The changes that occurred in the Thai language during Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram include renunciation the use of 13 consonant letters; ฃ ฅ ฆ ฌ ฎ ฏ ฐ ฑ ฒ ณ ศ ษ and ฬ, renunciation the use of 5 vowels; ใ-, ฤ, ฤๅ, ฦ and ฦๅ, and the change of character from ญ to . The changes also included the regulation of the use of word, requiring some pronouns; ฉัน เรา ท่าน ท่านทั้งหลาย เขา เขาทั้งหลาย มัน and พวกมัน that classified by person and number. Moreover, this covered salutation to be used; จ้ะ ค่ะ and ครับ as well as disclaimer to be used;ไม่ and เปล่า. All of those mentioned are still used today, but with a greater number and variety. However, although the Thai language during Field Marshal Plaek Phibulsongkhram was simple and compact, but it was not accepted by the people at that time. It can be assumed that the change in Thai language during Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram was a change of language through external factors and contradicted the attitude towards language of the majority of people at that time, the use of letters according to the form which was specified may cause unknown to the origins of loan words. The regulation of using words was not consistent with the language usage situation in Thai society.