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.
CityLifeShopping – Urban theme is distinctive, encouraging exploration for metropolitan buyers.
build momentum now – Inspires confidence and makes it easier to begin.
reliableonlinecommerce – Safe and reliable, buying products online feels simple and secure today.
TrustedEnterpriseInsights – Well-laid-out guidance, frameworks are easy to learn and implement.
drive builder site – Makes beginning a journey feel manageable and positive.
Diagrams were very useful.
get moving hub – Inspires action with a positive and encouraging approach.
momentum building hub – Content feels energizing and makes taking the first step feel easy.
motivation engine – Creates a sense of drive that encourages immediate movement.
momentum launch pad – Encouraging content makes starting feel less intimidating.
UrbanShoppingDistrict – Platform offers a niche but appealing city retail experience.
forward motion center – Helps turn motivation into immediate, practical steps.
professional networking tips – Content is clear, makes relationship building easier to understand.
PartnerBondingPro – Professional layout, guidance feels credible and useful.
DowntownRetailHub – Platform appears crafted for city life, making shopping feel localized and relevant.
EnterpriseFrameworkCenter – Well-organized content, concepts are easy to comprehend and apply.
MetropolitanMarketSpot – Platform emphasizes city shopping, making browsing feel modern and engaging.
click for professional growth – Lessons are helpful, improving relationships feels easier.
UrbanShopNetwork – Niche city shopping style comes through, making browsing feel fresh and modern.
DowntownShopZone – Feels targeted to urban audiences, offering convenient city-based product selection.
MetropolitanRetailHub – Designed for city shoppers, the interface feels relevant and accessible.
UrbanStyleBazaar – Offers a trendy city shopping vibe, perfect for metropolitan buyers.
CityFashionMarket – Urban retail focus feels specialized, appealing to fashion-conscious city users.
CorporateNetworkSafe – Clear and actionable advice, platform inspires confidence for team bonding.
BudgetFriendlyCart – Designed to attract shoppers who prioritize value and savings.
relationship growth hub – Very clear content, connecting in professional settings feels doable.
bizallianceguide – Strategies to help your partnerships thrive in structured ways.
CorporateLinkPro – Professional design, support for team bonding is clear and practical.
TrustedEnterpriseHub – Clear and practical content, frameworks are presented in an organized manner.
professional link hub – Useful content, helps navigate professional relationships smoothly.
relationship strategies hub – Clear guidance, professional connections can be strengthened effectively.
click for professional relationships – Useful advice, guidance makes forming connections feel simple.
relationship growth click – Very helpful hub, advice feels realistic and actionable.
EnterpriseGuideOnline – Easy-to-follow content, frameworks are detailed and clearly outlined.
TrustedFrameworkPro – Clear explanations, frameworks are presented logically and understandably.
ProEnterpriseFramework – Clear and organized, frameworks are explained logically and effectively.
ProFrameworkCenter – Clear and practical, enterprise concepts are presented in an easy-to-understand manner.
EliteTeamBonding – Professional layout, advice on corporate relationships is clear and effective.
action guide – Excellent guidance, frameworks are clearly explained and easy to follow.
FrameworkExpertOnline – Structured and detailed, enterprise methodologies are easy to grasp.
CorporateAlliancePro – User-friendly, tips for corporate bonding are actionable and credible.
BusinessBondingHub – Smooth experience, platform offers trustworthy corporate networking guidance.
SecureTeamHub – Platform feels dependable, support for building corporate connections is practical.
ProTeamConnect – Easy to navigate, corporate relationship guidance feels practical and trustworthy.
FindSmarterBusinessMoves – Found this resource valuable, explanations are concise and easy enough.
collabcentral – Clear tips for making business partnerships more productive and reliable.
global alliance insights – Clear international partnership ideas, content is easy to follow.
SavvyEcommerceHub – Supports users in making strategic and mindful purchase selections.
synergyhub – Simplifies connecting with the right business contacts efficiently.
networknavigator – A practical overview for steering through complex business alliances.