Language

The Thai language is liberally sprinkled with words from Pali and Sanskrit (the classical languages, respectively, of Theravada Buddhism and Indian Hinduism). Written Thai employs an alphabet of 44 consonants and 32 vowels that combine to form syllabic sounds. The sounds are combined with five different tones to fashion a melodious, complex language. There are 17 ways of saying "l" and 19 ways of saying "You". Because the Thai pronominal structure illustrates rank and intimacy, and different nouns and verbs are used by different classes (royalty, ecclesiastics and laynien), there are in effect four different languages a royal language, an ecclesiastic language,a polite everyday vernacular, and a pithy, expressive slang.