The spread of Thai language - Thai script

(Baonghean) -Ranked second in the province in terms of population (about 10%, after the Kinh ethnic group), the Thai ethnic group in Nghe An still preserves many traditional beauties with strong identity values, including language and writing. Recently, the preservation and promotion of the Thai ethnic language has been favorable when receiving attention from all levels and sectors. Especially the policy of popularizing and teaching the language and writing of ethnic minorities...

During the summer, we went to the Con Cuong District Continuing Education Center, where two classes were being held to teach Thai Lai Pao with a total of 84 students, taught by Mr. Vi Kham Mun (Tuong Duong). The main subjects of the classes were local officials and teachers. Despite the hot weather, the students still listened attentively to the lectures, absorbed in each stroke of the letters, and were excited when having conversations. During the break, we talked to Ms. Kha Thi Tim (Chairwoman of the District Women's Union). Ms. Tim shared: “I am Thai, I have only known my mother tongue since I was young, but I have never known how to write. For a long time, I heard that my ethnic group has its own writing, I have long wanted to learn it but have not had the opportunity. Now, the district has opened a class, I have registered to attend at night and on weekends. Learning Thai helps me grasp the sophistication and talent of my ancestors, helps me understand more deeply the customs, habits as well as the cultural life of my ethnic group.”

It is worth mentioning that the class not only has Thai staff and teachers participating but also attracts many Kinh students. They are the ones who regularly interact with the local people, so learning Thai language and script is really useful for their work. Teacher Tran Thi Ngan (Luc Da Primary School) said: “I have been teaching here for quite a long time and realized that if I am fluent in Thai language and writing, it will be very convenient for my work. Therefore, I have learned a lot of Thai on my own. On this occasion, the district opened a Thai language class, I registered to participate to understand more about Thai culture and to do my job better”. Similarly, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy (officer of Con Cuong Cultural Department) confided: “In Con Cuong, Thai people are the majority, so knowing their language and writing is very necessary for my work. That helps me understand more deeply the unique features of Thai culture and grasp the thoughts and aspirations of the people”.

Lai Pao Thai writing class in Con Cuong.

After the class, we had a conversation with Mr. Vi Kham Mun about the issue of Thai script in particular and Thai ethnic culture in general. About 6 years ago, Mr. Lo Van Thoai (Tuong Duong) opened the first class to teach Thai Lai Pao script. At that time, Mr. Mun was one of the outstanding students. He was really fascinated by the writing of his ancestors, so he studied and practiced diligently day and night. In the following course, Mr. Vi Kham Mun became a lecturer. Up to now, he has taught 8 classes of Thai Lai Pao script with a total of more than 300 students. The teaching audience is quite diverse, from cadres, teachers, students to farmers. As a retired teacher, now 70 years old, Mr. Mun is still passionate about Thai Lai Pao script and always aims to collect and restore ancient stories and proverbs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes of the Thai people.

Mr. Mun shared: “The Thai people have a fairly developed culture, including customs, culture - arts, and spiritual life. In particular, language and writing play an important role, in addition to the function of communication, they also have the effect of preserving the knowledge of the community. Therefore, preserving, teaching and popularizing the Thai language and Thai script is a very meaningful task not only for the Thai community but also contributes to affirming that Vietnamese culture has unity in diversity”. It should be added that in addition to participating in teaching Thai Lai Pao script, Mr. Vi Kham Mun also spends time collecting and gathering folk literature works (fairy tales, folk songs, proverbs, etc.) of the Thai people into large works. These folk literature works are recorded by him in both the national language and Thai Lai Pao script. To date, he has completed nearly 10 works and has won 3 awards from the Vietnam Folk Literature Association.

According to some documents, there are currently 8 sets of ancient Thai scripts in existence in Vietnam. In Nghe An province alone, there are 2 sets of ancient Thai scripts. In addition to the Lai Pao Thai script in the old Phu Tuong area, there is also the Lai Tay Thai script in the old Phu Quy area. About 6 years ago, the Lai Tay Thai script began to show signs of revival when Mr. Lo Khanh Xuyen (Que Phong) opened a class to teach the children in the village and the staff and teachers of Muong Noc commune. At the same time, the Thai script club of Chau Cuong commune (Quy Hop) was established on the basis of gathering people who are passionate about Thai culture. The goal of the club members is to collect, gather and preserve cultural values ​​that are the identity of the Thai people, including teaching the Lai Tay Thai script. Up to now, the club has organized 5 Thai script classes with a total of nearly 150 students of different ages.

Speaking of the Lai Tay Thai script, we must mention the contributions of Mr. Sam Van Binh (Quy Hop). Mr. Binh is the "soul" of the Thai script club in Chau Cuong commune. Also stemming from his passion and dedication to the ancestral script, he has tried hard to collect, research and self-study how to write Thai script. From there, he realized the character, soul and spiritual cultural life in each ancient script, so he decided to teach and widely disseminate it to everyone. It can be said that Sam Van Binh is an expert in Lai Tay Thai script. Through each class, his lesson plans are increasingly supplemented and perfected. And on that basis, the book series "Guide to learning Lai Tay Thai script" (2 volumes) was born to serve teaching and learning. Recently, Sam Van Binh has succeeded in computerizing the Lai Tay Thai script, creating more favorable conditions for teaching, dissemination, storage and printing.

The Thai ethnic group accounts for about 70% of the ethnic minorities in Nghe An, mainly residing in mountainous and highland districts. Moreover, the Thai ethnic group is currently preserving rich cultural values ​​and strong identity. Therefore, the dissemination of Thai script not only has the meaning of preserving and promoting the national cultural identity but also helps cadres at all levels and sectors to perform well their political and professional tasks.

Aware of this issue, some sectors have developed programs and plans to teach and popularize Thai language and Thai script. Mr. Vi My Son - Head of Policy Department (Ethnic Minorities Committee) said: "From the beginning of 2013 until now, we have coordinated to organize 14 classes to teach Thai language and Thai script for cadres, teachers, students and those who love it. This is a meaningful work in implementing Decision 84 on preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ethnic minorities" issued by the Provincial People's Committee in 2006". In addition, the Department of Science and Technology has coordinated with the Ethnic Minorities Committee to accept the scientific topic "Research, compile documents and organize teaching of Lai Tay Thai script in Quy Hop district, Nghe An" chaired by Quy Hop district People's Committee, Mr. Sam Van Binh as the head.

The project has been highly appreciated through seminars and practice. Recently, we had a working trip to My Ly Border Guard Station (Ky Son), Captain Vi Van Trong - Deputy Station Chief said: "My Ly area has a majority of Thai people, so in the immediate future, we focus on popularizing Thai language for officers and soldiers to facilitate their work. We have developed a plan, assigned some officers in the unit who are Thai people to prepare the content and program to be deployed in September this year. At the same time, coordinate with local authorities and people to receive professional support". Along with that, departments and branches such as Mass Mobilization, Education, Home Affairs, and Public Security all have their own programs and plans for teaching and popularizing Thai language and Thai script...

At the district level, some localities have included the content of preserving and developing the Thai ethnic language and writing in the project of Preserving Cultural Identity in association with tourism development. Typical examples include Quy Hop, Tuong Duong, Con Cuong, and Quy Chau districts. During traditional festivals, the Organizing Committee often includes a Thai writing contest in the program and attracts a large number of participants. These are areas with a large population of Thai people, so attention should be paid to directing the goal of Thai people being able to speak Thai and write Thai. Doing this will contribute to arousing the pride of the people, creating conditions for good implementation of the work of preserving the national cultural identity.

Discussing the issue of popularizing Thai language and Thai script, Mr. Vi Kham Mun affirmed: “In recent years, our province has opened many Thai script classes but they have not been widely popularized. I think we need to have a consensus on lesson plans and curricula to soon bring Thai language and Thai script into schools. Because, since 2010, the Government has issued Decree 82/2010/ND-CP, regulating the teaching and learning of spoken and written languages ​​of ethnic minorities in general education institutions and continuing education centers”.

Article and photos: CONG KIEN