Thai names

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Thai names are structured in the same way as western names: An individual name is followed by a family name . The first name is seen as more important than the family name. Also, Thai people have a nickname that is often used in everyday life instead of the official name.

Official names

Family names did not become known until 1913, during the reign of King Rama VI. (Vajiravudhs), introduced mandatory. They never achieved the importance they have in western countries. Even people who are not well known or friends, older and higher-ranking people are always addressed by their first name. The family name is never used without the first name, even in formal situations. Lists of names - such as telephone books - are also sorted alphabetically by first name. However, salutations, titles and ranks play a major role. The correct form of address for people without a special title or rank is Khun ( Thai คุณ, can stand for "Herr", "Frau" or "Fräulein"), followed by the first name. If the person has an academic or nobility title or military rank, this must be placed before the first name.

In contrast to the German-speaking countries, for example, family names did not develop over a long period of time, but were introduced by law in 1913. For some high-ranking families, King Rama VI sought. Choose a name themselves, the others could choose their own name. During registration, care was taken to ensure that no family took a name that was already taken. The family names are therefore unique, there are no particularly common family names. People with the same last name are most likely actually related. Even if a person or family wants to adopt a new surname today, they must prove that it is not already in use.

Both first and last names are usually not taken from the actual Thai , but from the ancient Indian languages Sanskrit or Pali , which function as religious, ceremonial and scholarly languages in the Buddhist countries of Southeast Asia. They usually have a eulogical meaning , that is, blessing, positive properties or auspicious properties. In many cases, parents will have a Buddhist monk suggest a suitable name (taking into account factors such as date and time of birth, moon phase, signs of the zodiac). Some also make sure that the first letter has a nice sound or a positive meaning. As a result, a significant number of Thais also have a unique first name. It is mandatory that a family name in its Thai spelling is no more than ten letters long (only the consonants count, not the vowels or tones). Assigning longer names is the king's prerogative when he wishes to distinguish a person or family.

If a family name is given the addition na ( ณ ) followed by a place name, this means, similar to the German “von”, that the family is of noble descent ( see also: Thai nobility titles ). So wear z. B. removed descendants of the royal family the addition na Ayutthaya .

Up until 2004, women had to take their husbands s family name upon marriage. Since then, they have been able to decide whether to do so or keep their maiden name. Since many Thai couples only get married in a family and religious ceremony, but do not have this officially registered, there have been many women who were considered married by society, but were not officially married and therefore continued to carry their maiden names. Children usually get their father's surname, unless the parents choose the mother's surname or the mother is single.

Nicknames

In addition to the longer (often three-, sometimes four-syllable) given name, all Thais have a shorter nickname ( ชึ่ อ เล่นchue len , literally translated as "game name"). This is used very often in everyday life. In the family or among friends, only the nickname is usually used; if necessary, the name of the relationship (father, mother, uncle, grandma, older / younger sibling) is placed in front of the nickname. These kinship terms are often transferred to people with whom one is not blood related. Many Thais introduce themselves with their nickname in addition to their official name at the first meeting and invite the new acquaintance to address them by their nickname.

Most of the nicknames have no relation to the official first name. They are often common words from the Thai language, such as animals, flowers, colors, toys or physical characteristics (for example Nu หนู , “mouse”; Mali มะลิ , “jasmine”; Daeng แดง , “red”; ball บอล ; Lek เล็ก , "Small"). Multi-syllable nicknames can be shortened again (e.g. Tukkata ตุ๊กตา , "doll" to Tuk ตุ๊ก ). Sometimes an abbreviation of the official first name is also used (e.g. Chai ชัย for Phonchai พร ชัย ). More recently, English words or names have also become common nicknames (e.g. James , Golf , Mint ), but their pronunciation has been adapted to Thai (compare Tinglish ). Some nicknames are retained throughout life, but a person can acquire new nicknames as they grow. Some Thais have several nicknames that they use in different situations, for example one in the family, another with friends or colleagues.

Even older or higher-ranking people can invite younger acquaintances or subordinates to address them by their nickname, then the social title or rank is placed before the nickname. Celebrity actors, pop singers, and other figures in the show and entertainment business are commonly referred to in the media by their nickname and official first name to distinguish them from others with the same nickname. In tabloids, even politicians or high-ranking military officials are sometimes referred to by their title and nickname (e.g. Nayok Pu 'นายก ฯ ปู' , "Premier Cancer" for Yingluck Shinawatra or Big Tu 'บิ๊ ก ตู่' for General Prayut Chan-o -cha ).

special cases

The large group of Chinese-born Thais initially retained their Chinese family names. In the context of the Thaiization policy of 1938 ff., However, they had to adopt “Thai” (i.e. actually Indian) names. They often tried to translate their ancestral names or to create new names that included their Chinese family name. Due to the requirement that every family must have a unique name, they often adopted long names.

Members of the royal family have special names that do not follow the rules for commoners, see Thai nobility titles . Up until the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932, higher civil servants and the military also received non-hereditary feudal honorary titles and names from the king as a sign of their social status and in recognition of their services. In 1942 these titles of honor ( Khun, Luang, Phra, Phraya, Chao Phraya ) were finally abolished. Many politicians, senior civil servants and the military then made their previous honorary name their family name. So was z. B. from Luang Phibunsongkhram (civil Plaek Khittasangkha) Plaek Phibunsongkhram or from Luang Wichitwathakan (civil Kimliang Watthanaparuda) Wichit Wichitwathakan .

Curiosities

Thai Airways made a passenger pay extra in 2018 because he had an extremely long last name.

literature

  • Frank J. Moore: Thailand: Its people, its society, its culture . Cornell University, HRAF Press, New Haven 1974, ISBN 0-87536-929-4 .
  • Karnchana Nacaskul: The Phonology of Thai Pet Names. In: Lai Sü Thai. Essays in honor of EHS Simmonds. School of Oriental and African Studies, London 1987, ISBN 0-7286-0142-7 , pp. 29-36.

Remarks

  1. ↑ In Thai written and pronounced differently than the usual form of address: ขุน [kʰǔn] (with a rising tone) was a title of merit, คุณ [kʰūn] (with a neutral tone) is a polite form of address for everyone.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Shoichi Iwasaki, Preeya Ingkaphirom: A Reference Grammar of Thai. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2005, p. 56.
  2. ^ Ulrich Leifeld: But they don't know my view. Intercultural communication conflicts between Thai and German flight attendants at work. Lit Verlag, Münster u. a. 2002, pp. 172-173.
  3. ^ A b Fiona Swee-Lin Price: Success with Asian Names. Nicholas Brealey, London / Boston MA 2007, p. 119.
  4. ^ A b Price: Success with Asian Names. 2007, pp. 116-117.
  5. ↑ Shoichi Iwasaki, Preeya Ingkaphirom: A Reference Grammar of Thai. 2005, p. 57.
  6. ↑ Leifeld: But they don't know my view. 2002, p. 171.
  7. ^ Price: Success with Asian Names. 2007, p. 123.
  8. ↑ Gen Prayuth bids farewell to troops , Thai PBS, 1 October 2014
  9. ^ Jiemin Bao: Marital Acts. Gender, Sexuality, and Identity Among the Chinese Thai Diaspora. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu 2005, p. 5.
  10. ^ Judith A. Stowe: Siam Becomes Thailand. A story of intrigue. C. Hurst & Co., London 1991, ISBN 0-8248-1393-6 , p. 235.
  11. ↑ Thamsook Numnonda: Thailand and the Japanese Presence 1941-1945. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore 1977, p. 35.
  12. ↑ Name too long - passenger has to pay an additional fee of 79 euros , rp-online.de, May 5, 2018