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Scripts & Magical Alphabets

Thai

Brahmic Script Family

The script of the Thai language, which also writes Sanskrit, Pali and a number of minority languages spoken in Thailand. It is an abugida: 44 basic consonants each carry an inherent vowel, and eighteen further vowels and six diphthongs appear as marks placed before, above, below or after the consonant they modify. Eight of the consonant letters are used only for writing words of Pali and Sanskrit origin. It runs left to right in horizontal lines, leaves no spaces between words and uses a space to mark the end of a clause or sentence. It is thought to have been based on the Old Khmer alphabet, and the oldest known inscriptions in Thai appeared in about 1292; according to tradition King Ramkhamhaeng created it.

Facts
Identity
Script Type
Abugida 1
Script type (class)
Abugida 1
Connections

Attributed To

Ramkhamhaeng, Historical Figures
Source Omniglot: Thai language page

Belongs to Tradition

Buddhism, Religions
Source Pali Text Society: Non-PTS editions of Pali texts

Originates in Language

Thai, Languages
Source Omniglot: Thai language page

Script Of

Thai, Languages
Source Omniglot: Thai language page
Sources
1. Omniglot: Thai language page
  • Notable features
    Type of writing system : Abugida / Syllabic Alphabet consisting of 44 basic consonants, each with an inherent vowel: [o] in medial position and [a] in final position.
  • Thai alphabet section
    The Thai alphabet is used to write Thai, Sanskrit , Pali, and a number of minority languages spoken in Thailand.
  • Script Of: Thai, Thai at a glance
    The Thai alphabet is used to write Thai, Sanskrit , Pali, and a number of minority languages spoken in Thailand.
View the Source
Pali Text Society: Non-PTS editions of Pali texts
Pali Text SocietyBelongs to Tradition: Buddhism, Thai script editions of the Pali Canon
Quote, Belongs to Tradition: Buddhism, Thai script editions of the Pali Canon
The King Chulalongkorn edition, also referred to as the Rama V edition, was published in Bangkok in 1893 in Thai script.
View the Source
Omniglot: Khmer language, alphabet and pronunciation
OmniglotIn Group: Brahmic Script Family (Scripts and Alphabets), Khmer alphabet section
Quote, In Group: Brahmic Script Family (Scripts and Alphabets), Khmer alphabet section
The Khmer alphabet closely resembles the Thai and Lao alphabets, which developed from it.
View the Source

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