Standard Thai-English transcription overdue

Proper names and places should be annotated as pronounced according to internationally recognised phonemic sounds. I have seen the names of provinces written dubiously as Stool (Satoon), Sri Sakes (See Saget), Ratbury (Rahtburi), Ubol (Ubone), Phang-Nga (Punga). Pee Pee Island, Bang Sue and Porn Hotel have dual bilingual meanings.

Aeons ago, my initial Peace Corps Volunteer assignment was to Amphur Thungsong, which I deciphered as Amp-her or Amfur Thung (rhymes with brung) Song in an 18-letter jungwaht ending in “raj”. The tarnished Golden Rule should be quite simply “ph” is f, “th” is either THin or THen, “kh” is k as in khaki, and non-existent “v” and “z” are off limits. On my first day of teaching, I checked attendance by reading aloud the list of names I’d been given, according to spelling, met by muffled giggles – Anusakdi, Anunta, Ampol, Sakdinarin, Kovit, Vichien, Somkierti ... Drawing the biggest laugh was Thavil (rhymes with gavel).

The next day, I took charge and shifted gears, putting the flip-flop on the other foot, giving every student his very own unique English name, which we amicably used from then on. Samaht became Sammy, Jaroen, Jerry, etc. Agreeing on a mutually acceptable set of uniform standards for transcription is essential, since the present unruly, anything-goes chaos allows for Kriangsak, Kriengsakdi, Griengsuck and Greangsak to all represent the same-same but different guesstimated name. 

Systematic Romanisation of the Thai language in a way that is easily accessible to foreigners, whatever language they speak, is the optimal Asean goal. Remember that when visiting another country, you automatically become the 4N stranger in a strange land.

PS: In recent years, some of the fondest, most cherished moments have been re-bonding with highly successful “luke-sit” and reminiscing about the good old, bad old days. Proudly, they all remembered and relished the English names Ajaan ChanChai had given them. We never stop learning, unlearning and relearning, do we?

No Holds Bard Charles Frederickson                     

Asean citizen