[Neitteloxesia]

Hello folks,

I came across this quote today:

Thailand - You think your family’s complicated? Try being a member of the royal family of Thailand. Deeply revered by the Thai people, the royal family speak a private and ancient language known only to themselves and a privileged few. Is this true? I've never heard of anything like this! Could someone give us more info?

Thanks!
Steven

[Nothatspecial]

Another interesting thing I've been told by a person who has a relative in a fairly high government position, is that His Majesty The King has 2 or more computers on his desk and is very Internet savvy!

[adverwork]

There is the Royal Thai Language which is different to Standard Thai, though I don't know that it is secret.

If you read this previous thread http://www.thailandqa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7949 it mentions that primary school children are taught it.

David

[Neitteloxesia]

Wow... fascinating stuff! Thank you

[Trissinas]

I once spoke on a related subject to this with the husband of a Thai Airways flight attendant whose primary job is to serve members of the royal family (She trains other flights attendants on serving royailty onboard too). She's pretty old.

He told me that when royals speak to each other (onboard anyway) they use just the same kind of Central Thai language as most people. No real difference.

[gennnniiikk]

The Royal language ÃÒªÒÈѾ·ì is used to address members of the Royal Family or to discuss them, and is not, for instance, used by the King in giving a speech. If newspapers put quote marks around words in the King's speech, they don't need to use the Royal language, but if they are describing his words or actions then they must use it.

I would guess that the Royal Family members do not use these words when addressing or talking about each other, but I am not sure about that.

[Nothatspecial]

The language you refer to is called Raachaasap ÃÒªÒÈѾ·ì and is a special vocabulary used when talking to members of the Royal Family, although it can't in any way be called a secret language.

[avaissema]

The Royal language ÃÒªÒÈѾ·ì is used to address members of the Royal Family or to discuss them, and is not, for instance, used by the King in giving a speech. If newspapers put quote marks around words in the King's speech, they don't need to use the Royal language, but if they are describing his words or actions then they must use it.

I would guess that the Royal Family members do not use these words when addressing or talking about each other, but I am not sure about that.

Yes, this is correct. It's what non-royal need to know Rachasup to speak with the Royal.