Page 194 - The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand Vol.XIII-2021

The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand
Volume XIII – 2021

Explanation and notification:

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1. A Live syllable has all 5 tones ( , , , , ) while a Dead syllable’s tones
1 2 3
( , , ) will duplicate that of the Live syllable in any case.

2. Live syllable

a. without tone mark

4
Only the High Class letters will have a high tone ( ), all the other
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consonants will have the mid-tone ( ).
b. with tone mark

The Mid Class and the High Class, when using the 1 tone mark (-่), will
st
1
have a low tone ( ). When using the 2 tone mark (-้) it will have a
nd
2
falling tone ( )
Only a Low Class letter when using the 1 tone mark (-่) has a falling
st
2
3
tone ( ) and when using the 2 tone mark (-้) has a High tone ( )
nd
3. Dead syllables
1
A Mid Class and the High Class letter have a low tone ( ). For the Low
Class letter. It must be considered whether it has a short or long vowel. If
3
it is a short vowel, it will be a high tone ( ). If it is long vowel, it will have
2
a falling tone ( ).

In fact, we can write 5 words with different tone marks without even have to
write any tone mark as follows:

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คา ขาด คาด คัด ขา

The subject of tone marks still has many other exceptions in detail
which will not be discussed in this article.

184 The Thai Writing System: Reasons behind Its System