Thread: Thai numbers - will they die out?

Originally Posted by aging one

this has to be one of the silliest threads ever started on ajarn.

Thanks; I'm sorry you feel that way. Perhaps you'd like to post a set of rules for starting threads that you deem to be serious enough.

Certain posters (a minority I agree) have expressed thier interest in the question and given my 'premise' credibility. That's enough for me, sunshine, so (unless you have something cogent to post) maybe you should cease the puerile name calling; one man's meat is anothers poison: nothing to me could be more comically moronic than American hard rock bands of the 70s but I can accept that others built their identities around them so I'd leave them in peace.

Since I've posted the thread more and more anecdotal evidence has accumulated to suggest that the numbers really aren't used that much in society at large (even now). it really seems to be the education system that's keeping them alive. I've no doubt it will continue to in the short-term. The medium and long-term, who knows?

Originally Posted by LeedsLeedsLeeds

Together with every government office and National Park in the country.

QED. At the level of personal choice (as opposed to top-down injunction) they're less favoured.

The Government is naturally obliged to keep the flame (of Thai uniqueness) burning brightly. But people vote with their feet (or their fingers in this case).

Actually I learnt the numbers by heart during the elections in '88. No Arabic numbers were used at all I recall.

Originally Posted by LeedsLeedsLeeds

Well, the votes have been counted and 75% of the voters think that Thai numbers are here to stay. Will you start learning them now?

I more or less know them, from working in Matayom last year. Unlikely to start using them in any significant way though.

As stated before (ad nauseum) on this thread, I have no axe to grind here - though I'm not sure the same can be said of some.

They are squiggles - whether you know them or not.

Originally Posted by Boonmee

Ermm.... Is this a good time to point out that "Thai" numerals are actually just Khmer numerals?

Which were in turn Sanskrit numerals which were influenced by Persian numerals which were the basis of Arabic numerals.

^I like girls.