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For readers of Thai, there is an excellent collection of essays and articles by ÊبԵµì ǧÉìà·È (Sujit Wongtes) called ¤¹ä·ÂÁÒ¨Ò¡ä˹ (Where do the Thais Come From?).

He shows how modern Thailand, Thai culture and language have developed over literally thousands of years of migration and intermingling of different peoples, particularly along the trade routes and waterways. There are many points of interest, particularly how the language that developed into modern Thai was adopted in the area as a common language of commerce; and how the 'Siem Kuk' depicted on the wall murals of Angkor Wat (the first reference made to people of Siam) were probably from an area centering on Vientiane.

An engrossing read.