Overview of the Thai Language
Thai Language Information
Introduction
The Thai language, also known as Siamese or Central Thai, is the national and official language of Thailand 🇹ðŸ‡. It is predominantly spoken in Thailand and also recognized as a minority language in Cambodia 🇰ðŸ‡.
Global Presence and Importance
Thai is mainly spoken in Thailand, with enclaves of speakers in Cambodia. As the official language, it is crucial for government, education, media, and cultural identity in Thailand.
Total and Native Speakers
Approximately 61 million people speak Thai, combining native and second-language speakers. There are about 21 million native speakers of Thai.
Language Family
Thai belongs to the Kra–Dai language family, specifically the Southwestern Tai group.
Similar Languages
Thai is mutually intelligible to some extent with Lao, Isan, and other Tai languages and dialects. It shares linguistic features with these languages due to a common historical origin.
Writing System
The Thai language uses its own unique script, the Thai script, which is an abugida system derived from the Old Khmer script. It also has a Braille version and religious texts sometimes use the Khom Thai script.