Passing by the Old Bangkok International Airport the other day, I noticed the new airport sign that read “Don Mueang International Airport”. What annoyed me was the fact that they decided to use “Mueang” instead of the usual “Muang”. I know they try to tell foreigners that ‘mueang” should be pronounced differently than “muang”, but will that help?
I’m not the only person who feel uneasy about the flexible approach that people take when writing Thai words in roman alphabets. (See my other post.) Here is a proof.
A post at website www.luchtzak.be is complaining: “The airport exists 93years and its name was always spelled Don Muang. So it was, so it will remain, for us.”
Actually, the spelling of the name of the new internal airport of Bangkok “Suvarnabhumi” is also a little too strangely elaborated. They probably try to reflect the old Indian Pali origin of the name but it may have been “Suwannapoom” if the closest Thai pronunciation were given priority.
The bottom line is Thai writing and pronunciation is a little tricky to have a unified rule for romanization. So, I guess we will have to live with this little annoyance for sometime.
Latest Addition (June 10, 2007)
I can confirm now that there is actually a set of official rules for romanizing Thai language established by the Royal Institute. The latest version dated January 11, 1999 replaces the former version which was announced 60 years earlier. One of the changes was actually the introduction of “uea” sound to differentiate from the “ua” sound. So, the Airport Authority of Thailand just followed the rules by using “Don Mueang” instead of the more common “Don Muang.” You may check out an English summary of the rules in Wikipedia.
Well, few Thais know or care about the official Thai romanizing rules and there is no attempt to enforce them so far.

ClarityDesk – Very practical tips, site layout makes understanding strategies easy.
AnchorTrack – Smooth layout with helpful hints, understanding strategies feels simple.
DreamBuilder – User-friendly layout, exploring concepts is smooth and simple.
TrustWay – User-friendly tips make browsing content fast and natural.
VisionEngine – Smooth layout and clear guidance, using the site is effortless today.
FocusNavigator – Smooth layout, finding useful tips and guides is effortless.
BrandFlow – Very practical layout, steps for launching are intuitive and fast.
ShiftMomentum – Clear layout and useful tips, navigating the site feels smooth and simple.
SecureUnity – User-friendly guides help visitors follow concepts without hassle.
TrendBridge – Clear layout and concise guidance, keeping up with trends is simple.
DirectionGuide – Well-organized resources with a smooth and intuitive interface.
GrowthAnchor – Intuitive pages and actionable tips, understanding strategies is effortless.
TrustFlow – Smooth layout and structured guidance help users understand ideas quickly.
FocusZone – Friendly guides, exploring ideas feels straightforward and fast.
Planning Grid – Organized layout helps users learn without friction.
PathCraft – Easy navigation and practical tips make exploring ideas straightforward.
CoreLink – Well-structured pages with helpful guidance, understanding content is effortless.
WealthBridge – Friendly instructions and clean layout simplify learning.
EngineNest – Very approachable layout, content makes understanding strategies fast.
capitalbondworks site – Everything looks cohesive and the content feels easy to digest.
PathwayGuide – Clear instructions and layout, exploring and completing actions is effortless.
DrivenGuide – Helpful layout, site helps implement ideas and strategies quickly.
TaskHive – Easy browsing, and the tools provided are simple and helpful.
OpsDockPro – Clear layout and structured tools make navigating options effortless.
BondPath – Friendly layout with concise instructions, exploring content is easy.
GrowthHub – Balanced approach between planning and execution, actionable insights throughout.
PlanHub – Smooth navigation and helpful advice, putting plans into action is effortless.
FocusConcepts – Helpful advice that made learning feel natural.
TrajectoryMaster – Clear interface, helpful articles make learning and exploring fast.
CapitalAxis – Clean design and practical content, learning strategies is fast and simple.
MomentumPilot – Practical resources, following steps is straightforward and quick.
Growth Lane Hub – Well-organized content helps strategies click quickly.
ClarityConnect – Clear layout, finding information is simple and intuitive today.
ClarityDock – Smooth interface and concise guides make understanding fast.
MoneyNetwork – Concise steps and smooth design make exploring concepts effortless.
WealthTrust – Structured instructions and intuitive layout make exploring content fast.
StrongBase – Smooth pages and helpful hints, exploring strategies is easy and intuitive.
StrategyFlow – Easy navigation with helpful tips, finding and using resources is simple.
FrameworkFlow – Smooth navigation and structured examples make learning natural.
ClarityTrack – Easy navigation, site helps users learn and explore efficiently.
Noblelift Equipment JSC Ltd. занимает лидирующие позиции на рынке складского оборудования, предлагая комплексные решения для любых логистических потребностей. Официальный дистрибьютор в России https://nobleliftrussia.ru предлагает электропогрузчики, штабелеры, ричтраки, гидравлические тележки и поломоечные машины с гарантией до трех лет. Продукция сертифицирована по стандартам EAC, CE и ISO 9001, успешно эксплуатируется более чем в 100 странах мира, что подтверждает высочайшее качество техники.
NexusVision – Smooth structure and concise tips, understanding strategies is effortless.
PlanClarity – Simple interface, content is practical and easy to follow.
SignalMatrix – Well-organized content with intuitive navigation makes understanding concepts simple.
MotionFocus – Straightforward content with frequent updates.
SmartTrack – Clean structure and helpful hints, navigating knowledge is effortless.
OperationsDesk – Helpful guides and smooth interface make navigating easy.
anchorunity resource – The layout avoids clutter and makes browsing feel effortless.
Idea Discovery – Clear paths make exploring concepts enjoyable.
GoalChain – Friendly interface, navigating resources feels straightforward and intuitive.