Language Revitalization: Insights from Thailand

This volume reports on programs to revitalize and maintain languages of Thailand, with a particular focus on small enclave languages and school-based revitalization programs. Issues of language status, cultural heritage and identity are explored. The approximately 70 languages of Thailand belong to five language families: Tai (24), Austroasiatic (23), Austronesian (3), Sino-Tibetan (18) and Hmong-Mien (2). Currently, fifteen of these languages are classified as seriously endangered. This volume discusses language revitalization efforts involving six Mon-Khmer groups (Maniq, Chong, Nyah Kur, So, Mlabri, Lavue); four Thai-related groups (Phetburi western central Thai, Phutai, Lao, Nyaw); two Austronesian groups (Moklen, Patani Malay); and one Tibeto-Burman group (Bisu). The book provides a framework and model for future developments in revitalizing Thailand’s indigenous languages.

Suwilai Premsrirat is Professor of Linguistics and founding director of the Resource Center for Documentation, Revitalization and Maintenance of Endangered Languages and Cultures at Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia, Mahidol University, Thailand.

David Hirsh is Associate Professor of TESOL at the University of Sydney, and co-editor of the University of Sydney Papers in TESOL.