Thailand Trivia..

[Chittychangchang]

There are no common Thai surnames. Surnames were largely introduced to Thai culture only by the 1913 Surname Act. The law does not allow one to create any surname that is duplicated with any existing surnames. Under Thai law, only one family can create any given surname: any two people of the same surname must be related, and it is very rare for two people to share the same full name. In one sample of 45,665 names, 81% of family names were unique.

[BaitongBoy]

Velly intellesting, Chitty Pornchangnographporn...

[DJ Pat]

Well, that expleins it.
I'd been wondering for some time.

[charleyboy]

^Yours is very unique, DJ Pat!

[DJ Pat]

My mums surname was quite simple, no long complicated bizarre combinations of odd letters

[nidhogg]

My mums surname was quite simple, no long complicated bizarre combinations of odd letters

Short, two syllable names are generally indicative of "normal" traditional Thai families. Longer (3 or more syllables) indicate either a royally bestowed name - OR- a Chinese immigrant family name.

(it is changing a bit, as some families with the old short names change them for longer more "auspicious" names")

[Hans Mann]

Just as well, otherwise it would be a nightmare identifying the correct Somchai, Lek, Moo or Noi.

[wasabi]

My Mary's maiden family name is long and for anybody reading the English translation almost unreadable.
It was much easier to change it to My family name,

[Hans Mann]

Here's another Thai trivia....

Until the early 1940's, when the nationalist regime of Plaek Pibunsongkhram promoted use of the greeting "swasdee krap/kra", Thai's used to greet each other with the salutation "kin lao reu yang".

[thaimeme]

Here's another Thai trivia....

Until the early 1940's, when the nationalist regime of Plaek Pibunsongkhram promoted use of the greeting "swasdee krap/kra", Thai's used to greet each other with the salutation "kin lao reu yang".

Yep....
Many probably aren't aware of this change social/familial greeting.

[cyrille]

Perhaps you could put up some interesting trivia yourself, Jeff.

With your vast knowledge of the country you must know lots of interesting stuff. Surely that would be better than rather childishly posting 'I knew that but I bet lots of other people here don't'

The first 9 posts of this thread were very interesting though. More please.

[Hans Mann]

Just to clarify, those that weren't completely pissed, or had an oral spellchecker installed in their gobs, usually greeted each other with "kin kao reu yang"....

[DJ Pat]

My mums surname was quite simple, no long complicated bizarre combinations of odd letters

Short, two syllable names are generally indicative of "normal" traditional Thai families. Longer (3 or more syllables) indicate either a royally bestowed name - OR- a Chinese immigrant family name.

(it is changing a bit, as some families with the old short names change them for longer more "auspicious" names")

Aransoot

[Begbie]

Chinese immigrant names are long because all the short names were taken.

[Begbie]

Here's another Thai trivia....

Until the early 1940's, when the nationalist regime of Plaek Pibunsongkhram promoted use of the greeting "swasdee krap/kra", Thai's used to greet each other with the salutation "kin lao reu yang".

Yep....
Many probably aren't aware of this change social/familial greeting.

I prefer this one. "Have you drunk whisky yet?" Jeff was spot on there. Definately in line with the asian centric theme.

[Chittychangchang]

King Ramkamhaeng created in 1283 the first Thai alphabet so that it was a symbol of the nation's independence. Although his original script has undergone some changes, it is still in use now. It consists of 44 consonants, 32 vowels, and 5 tones of sound.

[nidhogg]

Perhaps you could put up some interesting trivia yourself, Jeff.

With your vast knowledge of the country you must know lots of interesting stuff. Surely that would be better than rather childishly posting 'I knew that but I bet lots of other people here don't'

The first 9 posts of this thread were very interesting though. More please.

He is such a plank.

Ok. Most of the times a Chinese family picked a new Thai surname, they retained some link to the old Chinese surname, such as the first character or tone.

[Hans Mann]

Of Thailands' 7 olympic gold medals since 1952, Thai women have won 3 - all in weightlifting, while Thai men have won 4 - all in boxing.

[Headworx]

It's against the law to leave your home without wearing underwear.

Freeballers, be warned. Ladies, ignore this nonsense

[thaimeme]

King Ramkamhaeng created in 1283 the first Thai alphabet so that it was a symbol of the nation's independence. Although his original script has undergone some changes, it is still in use now. It consists of 44 consonants, 32 vowels, and 5 tones of sound.

What of the "Thai" languages that existed already within the much older civilisations of Phisanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Lopburi, and other regional locales...??

[Kurgen]

Thai women can get pregnant just by looking at a wallet.

[DJ Pat]

Thai women have the ability to make the sun shine from a fat blokes arse

[Hans Mann]

Buddhism is Thailands' main religion - not practised by 90% of its population.

[Chittychangchang]

^ Similar to Christianity then. 90% opting for bed on a Sunday morning instead off church.

King Ramkamhaeng created in 1283 the first Thai alphabet so that it was a symbol of the nation's independence. Although his original script has undergone some changes, it is still in use now. It consists of 44 consonants, 32 vowels, and 5 tones of sound.

What of the "Thai" languages that existed already within the much older civilisations of Phisanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Lopburi, and other regional locales...??

Not sure, feel free to post up some Trivia from pre 1283

[Dragonfly94]

Luktung was not called so until it was called that on a TV program in 1964

Ramwong was put together by Pibunsongkhram and his mrs, it was never an original dance style, the music style followed.

The rabbit label was Thailand's most popular recording company (out of hundreds) until the end of the 60's.