The person who put Thai font into computers in Nghe An
(Baonghean.vn)- Mr. Sam Van Binh - an "Excellent Artisan" who was honored at the end of 2015 for his research and teaching of Thai script in Yen Luom village, Chau Quang commune is one of the typical examples of studying and following Uncle Ho in Quy Hop district.
Graduated from the Maritime University in 1987, he returned to his hometown to live in a village and came into contact with many ancient Thai texts but could not read or write, while he was fluent in English and knew a little German. He always wondered why his own ethnic language and writing could not be read or written, and that the Thai script was now almost forgotten and no one paid attention to it. These things inspired him to collect and learn about the customs and practices of his people.
After 10 years of hard work collecting and researching, Mr. Binh was able to read and write the basic Thai script of Lai Tay. In 2006, in the mountainous commune of Chau Cuong, the Thai script club was spontaneously established. Mr. Sam Van Binh was invited to join and became the "soul" of this club.
Activities at the club helped him compile almost the complete set of books "Guide to learning Thai language of Lai Tay", including 2 volumes from 2006 - April 2010.
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| Mr. Sam Van Binh (far left) discusses ways to teach Thai characters with local people. |
Volume 1 is 108 pages thick, with 21 lessons that are systematically arranged from simple to complex. Volume 2 has 20 advanced lessons, ensuring that students can not only read and write fluently, but also remember them for a long time, and can teach them to others. In parallel with and following these two books considered as textbooks, Mr. Sam Van Binh also completed 5 other books, with many suggestions and rich original materials for Thai language researchers in the region and in the whole country such as: "Lai script - Muong Ham region"; "Lai script - Thanh Hoa region"; "Lai script - Muong Mun region"; "Lai script - Muong Muoi region"; "Lai Pao script"; "History of formation and development of Muong Ham".
In particular, he has successfully researched 5 Thai fonts to install on computers that have been widely used in Thai groups in Nghe An and the "Preserving ancient capital" column of Nghe An Weekend newspaper for many years. Up to now, Mr. Sam Van Binh has opened more than 10 classes in the district with more than 400 participants and more than 200 people can read and write fluently and can teach Thai to others.
From 2011 to present, Mr. Binh has successfully defended his provincial-level scientific research topic entitled "Research, compilation of documents and organization of teaching and learning of Lai Tay Thai script in Nghe An".
Currently, Mr. Sam Van Binh not only teaches Thai in Quy Hop district, but is also invited to teach Thai classes in Quy Chau, Que Phong, Con Cuong districts... In addition, he is also invited by associations to participate in seminars on Thai and Thai culture in many places in and outside the country such as: Hanoi, Dien Bien, Son La, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Laos and Thailand...
Mr. Sam Van Binh received many Certificates of Merit from the Central and the province such as: Promoting the role of a prestigious person among ethnic minorities; 15 years of implementing Resolution 5 of the Central Committee (VIII term) on building and developing an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity; Certificate of Honor from the Vietnamese Thai Studies Program in March 2015; And especially, being honored as an Excellent Artisan by the President on November 13, 2015. These are worthy rewards for a Thai ethnic person who always seeks and preserves ancient traditions. |
Thu Huong
Kwai Hop Station
.jpg "Chữ Thái ở Nghệ An, lễ đón tiếng sấm của người Ơ Đu và nghệ thuật trống tế Yên Thành được công nhận di sản văn hóa phi vật thể quốc gia")
