Quote Originally Posted by Immigrunt View Post
Quote Originally Posted by taxexile View Post
i have no idea.

maybe before, ones status in society resulted in either complete subservience and bowing and scraping was the norm when dealing with superiors, whilst those of high status had no need to be polite to inferiors and just hurled abuse and contempt.

the adding of kha and khrap might have been an attempt at evening out the playing field a little and bringing a smidgin of equality into social intercourse.
I'd say it had the exact opposite effect, and introduced a social caste system of grovelling into the language, with those who wish to demonstrate their superiority or contempt avoiding its use.
I agree with immigrunt. All the Thais I know who dislike using the polite particles dislike them because it forces them into a position of subservience when talking with certain people.

I believe the usage of these particles was promulgated in Plaek's Cultural Mandates, "advisories" published in the Royal Gazette which were, in reality, compulsory.