|
Thai Historical Data - Mongkut's Edicts
|
| The King's Thai |
|
Linguistic Edicts of King Mongkut (Rama IV)
|
|
Introduction King Mongkut, Siam's 'Scholar King,' held the throne from 1851 through 1868. During his reign, Monkut wrote and published more than 400 decrees (available as [Mongkut]), of which about thirty dealt with the proper use of Thai. The linguistic edicts range from prohibitions against using certain terms in the King's presence or correspondence, to prescriptions for the correct choice of prepositions, classifiers, and phrases. |
| This site contains: |
| the Edicts, a summary and discussion of the linguistic edicts (also indexed below). |
|
a short paper (unfinished draft,
for discussion only) that discusses Mongkut's interest in linguistics.
[Mongkut] Collected Edicts of the Fourth Reign, published in four volumes by the Teacher's Organization, Bangkok, various dates. In Thai Edict 11 discussion text Subject Prohibits using the phrases ªÍºà¹ÖéÍ à¨ÃÔ㨠/cʰɔ̂ɔp nʉ́a jaˑrəən jay/ and µÔ´à¹×é͵éͧ㨠/tìt náa tɔ̂ŋ jay/ in addressing high-ranking royalty. Edict 14 discussion text Subject ¡Ð»Ô /kaˑpì/ and ¹éÓ»ÅÒ /nám plaa/ must be called àÂ×èÍà¤Â /yʉ̂a kʰəəy/ and ¹éÓà¤Â /náam kʰəəy/. Edict 15 discussion text Subject About the words ¡Ð»Ô /kaˑpì/, ¹éÓ»ÅÒ, /nám plaa/, àÂ×èÍà¤Â /yʉ̂a kʰəəy/ ¹éÓà¤Â, and /náam kʰəəy/. (See also edicts 14 and 315.) Edict 20 discussion text Subject Warning those who use letters incorrectly. Edict 35 discussion text Subject Calls for using the word ©È¡ /cʰaˑsòk/ instead of ©éÍÈ¡ /cʰɔ̂ɔˑsòk/ Edict 36 discussion text Subject Proclamation on pronouns for ªéÒË /cʰáaŋ/ 'elephant' and ÁéÒ /máa/ 'horse.' Edict 43 discussion text Subject Characteristics of words to be used in documents for the King. Edict 59 discussion text Subject Specifies the phrase used for the year of the Rabbit. Edict 62 discussion text Subject Requires that the number of the year of Mongkut's reign be added above the ordinary year name. Edict 69 discussion text Subject Similar to 62. Edict 71 discussion text Subject Edict about royal names and terms of address. Edict 80 discussion text Subject Regarding the names ·éͧʹÒÁËÅǧ /saˑnǎam lǔaŋ/ and ·éͧʹÒÁäªÂ /saˑnǎam cʰay/. Edict 102 discussion text Subject Prohibition against using certain words in addressing the King. Edict 131 discussion text Subject The words àÊÃç¨, ÊÓàÃç¨, ÊÑÁÄ·¸Ô, and ÊÑÁà÷¸. Edict 168 discussion text Subject A warning about the pronunciation of certain royal titles. Edict 169 discussion text Subject A warning about the word used to refer to a corpse. Edict 170 discussion text Subject A warning about »Ô´µÃÒ /pìt traa/ 'to stamp or seal'. Edict 171 discussion text Subject About the term ·á¡ÅéÇ ·ËÒà tʰaˑklɛ̂ɛw tʰaˑhǎan 'brave soldier'. Edict 172 discussion text Subject About the words 㺠ºÍ¡ /bay bɔ̀ɔk/ and ·éͧµÃÒ /tʰɔ́ɔŋ traa/ (circulars or public notices) Edict 179 discussion text Subject How to use the words ¡Ñº /kap/ 'with,' á¡è /kɛ̀ɛ/ 'to, for,' á´è /dɛ̀ɛ/ 'to, toward,' áµè /tɛ̀ɛ/ 'from, since,' µèÍ /tɔ̀ɔ/ 'to, toward,' ã¹ /nay/ 'in, at, on' and Âѧ /yaŋ/ 'to' properly. Edict 205 discussion text Subject How to refer to people. Edict 215 discussion text Subject Order against using the words Íéǹ /ûan/ fat, ¼ÍÁ /pʰɔ̌ɔm/ thin, ¢ÒÇ /kʰǎaw/ white, and ´Ó /dam/ black in referring to the King. Edict 216 discussion text Subject Punishment for using the words Íéǹ /ûan/ fat or ¼ÍÁ /pʰɔ̌ɔm/ thin in greetings. Edict 255 discussion text Subject Prohibits referring to monratchawong and momluang as royalty, since their only privilege is not having to be tattooed. Edict 311 discussion text Subject On using the words µèÍ /tɔ̀ɔ/ 'to, toward,' and µÒ /taay/ 'die, death' (covers other prepositions and synonyms of 'die' as well). Edict 312 discussion text Subject About the terms ÀÙÉÒÁÒÅÒ /pʰǔuˑsǎa maaˑlaa/ and ÇÑ´¾¹ÑàªÔ§ /wát pʰaˑnan cʰəəŋ/ Edict 314 discussion text Subject How to use the word ãÊè /sày/ 'put in, insert; put on, wear; contain, hold; to, toward, at' appropriately. Edict 315 discussion text Subject On referring to §Ò»Ô /ŋaaˑpì/ 'fish paste' as àÂ×èÍà¤Â /yʉ̂a kʰəəy/ 'shrimp paste' when addressing royalty. (See also edicts 14 and 15.) Edict 316 discussion text Subject has to do with the proper name of a park. Edict 317 discussion text Subject On using the words µé¹ á¼è¹´Ô¹ /tôn pʰɛ̀ɛnˑdin/ 'start of the reign,' ¡ÅÒ§ á¼è¹´Ô¹ /klaaŋ pʰɛ̀ɛnˑdin/ 'middle of the reign,' and »ÅÒ á¼è¹´Ô¹ /plaay pʰɛ̀ɛnˑdin/ 'end of the reign.' Edict 318 discussion text Subject On referring to the King's temporary seat (·Õè»ÃзѺ /tʰîi praˑtʰáp/) in Sanam Luang as a ¾ÅѺ¾ÅÒ /pʰlápˑpʰlaa/ 'pavilion.' |