Andrew: Of course I know where you are coming from (why the masses keep choosing Thaksin and his nominees), and I also know its not simply a case of ‘country bumpkins’ being bought.
My point is that if they keep ignoring the obvious negative aspects of elected politicians such as CORRUPTION and SUBVERSION of the CHECKS AND BALANCES etc, then the MESS will continue.
When I say ‘they’, I mean everyone, but please remember, at the ballot box, it is the masses that have the power.
The chant is always for ‘Democracy’, but IMO, politics in even the most advanced democracies (the ‘west’) leaves a lot to be desired, and has just become a popularity contest based on negatives (playing on peoples fears etc).
In that regard, Thailand is similar to ‘the west’, however, at least in western democracies, corrupt & incompetent politicians become unelectable – I do not believe that is the case in Thailand.
Your championing of the rights of the masses to elect whomever they want is admirable, but IMO, your cause would be better served if you also acknowledged the obvious deficiencies of the politicians they choose.
OK, we can just accept it as ‘democracy’ and say they choose who they like and get what they deserve, but I just happen to think things could be so much better than that.
I don’t mean to minimize Hanson’s linguistic accomplishments, which are certainly far beyond mine, I would point out that in the Kachin context, he wasn’t exceptional. In the area north of Lashio, it isn’t uncommon for individuals to speak at least four different languages: Burmese, Shan, Chinese, and Jinghpaw. There were also a lot of Atsi and Maru in the area, as well as Palaung, so they were routinely speaking five languages. I realize this in a different place and time from Hanson’s, but I suspect it really wasn’t that much different. Tribal societies can be much more cosmopolitan than most people realize, so multilingualism is in many case the norm rather than the exception.
As was pointed out to me years ago, a standard feature of being an ethnic minority is being at least bilingual or bi-dialectical (is that the correct term?). Essentially, if you are a minority, you are have to learn how to talk to your “betters”. This, of course, isn’t limited just to SE Asia. Here in the US of A folks are always complaining about how these illegal immigrants we encouraged to come here to do our dirty work can’t speak English, as if an improved English ability would help them cut lawns better, and the people complaining are resolutely monolingual, but I digress. The point is that the 19th Century Kachins were looked down upon by the Chinese, Burman, Shan, and Assamese as illiterate barbarians. There is story to the effect that Hanson went to the Burmese court to ask for permission to work with the Kachins and to teach how to read and write, and the king told Hanson he would be better off trying to teach the king’s dog reading and writing. The interesting thing then about Hanson is that he, and other missionaries, gave a literary voice to people (or in the Kachin case, a section of the people) who previously considered illiterate barbarians. As Leif Jonsson observed earlier, an effect of missionary effort was to “conjure up new possibilities for ethnicizing social life”. What possibilities were conjured up by turning non-literate societies in to literate ones?
Moe Aung, I don’t think the Karen, with or without soldiers of fortune like Jack Slade, are going to change the direction of events in Burma. This is old history and smacks of the POW/MIA exploits of former US soldiers following the Vietnam war. Rambo will not save Burma, however popular that idea may be in Hollywood and among those who enjoy its productions. Real change will have to come from developments inside Burma and among Burmans, not insurrectionist minority groups, who will never be happy with any government in Rangoon. There are no simple and easy solutions to the problem in Burma, if there are any solutions at all. And unemployed former marines are among the most unlikely of people to advance the process of real poliitcal change, in my view. This makes for nice fiction but a much more sophisiticated approach will be necessary to produce sustainable results.
Personally, I am in the ’song mai ow camp’, and I think we know what camp you and Republican are in.
Exactly! Spot on! Different people. Different opinions. That’s how society works. So when it comes to chosing a government I wonder what the best way of resolving those differences is?
I’d love to read all these tales and hope they’ll be translated into Burmese. Don’t think I’ve heard of Takano’s Burmese translation being available. All the three wartime best sellers of Hino Ashihei were translated by the late Ludu U Hla and wife Daw Amar during the war.
Thanks Don. They have done it before in the struggle for independence under the umbrella organistion, Anti Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL), with the notable exception of the Karen. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if it happens again in a similar fashion. Your sceptism is justified. Jack Slade, discussed in another thread, made the feature article in Asian Tribune today. http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/11920
What is even more shameful is the so-called culture course where all foreign teachers, even if they’ve lived here for decades, are required after paying 11,000 baht, that seems to fail in its objectives completely:
And I would be the first person to find some way to get foreigners to appreciate Thai and Tai culture and language. Most of my published papers are on this topic.
When I was back home in the provinces where most teachers don’t have any work visa at all (and this new course makes it even more unlikely) someone told me the price of the course is 5,000 baht but 2,500 under the table, and you don’t have to take it, in other words the course is meaningless.
There are many good teachers, thank goodness, but most skilled professionals, who work hard, who have any dignity at all, would simply go somewhere else, and that is in fact what happens.
Of course, international schools are entirely different, with lines of qualified teachers from the west waiting for jobs, but can you afford 300,000 to 500,o00 a year to educate your child?
The government can hand out as many subsidies as it likes, to as many special interest groups as it likes, but if Samak does not do something about the exorbitant school fees at the best public schools, like he said he would, the future of poor people is clear, more poverty. Handing large amounts of money out for free doesn’t make the country more productive.
Much more admirable than the self-promoting mercenaries, are the small number of foreigners living in the country, who stick it out, and are humble enough to contribute to local schools over the long period that it takes. There is one Australian, Brad, at Tetsaban #6 in Chiang Rai who is really one of those unsung heroes.
Moe Aung, good luck on promoting unified action. If that can be done most of Burma’s problems could be solved. Unfortunately it has never been done and I am rather skeptical that it will be any time soon.
When I started working in Thailand, I was struck by over-inflated status (and hence salaries) accorded to farangs in the (Thai) company in which I worked. I was on Bt28,000, whereas the Thai staff, who in many cases were working far harder and doing more complicated work than I was, were earning about half that. The company of course made the point that they would not have been able to attract farang workers on lower salaries, but surely I cannot have been the only farang with the sense that my colleagues were being treated grossly unfairly. While I do not doubt for a minute that foreigners may be discrimminated against, I can entirely see why the resentment might build up, and why some Thais might unfortunately see farangs as people to be exploited.
I wonder if a case could be made for determing language complexity not only on vocabulary size, but also on the range of meanings that can be conveyed, which need not correlate with the actual number of words. English, for example, has far more words than Thai, but often requires an unwieldy combination of words to express what Thai can say succinctly in one or two. Depth of nuance is dependent not only on the sheer number of words, but also on the way those words are arranged.
As for now many words of a vocabulary one ‘needs’, I would argue that it entirely depends on whether you want functionality first and foremost, or whether you think of a language partly in terms of aesthetics. I regard my Thai as being reasonably fluent, but I’m stumped by a lot of Thai poetry. I’m sure that my knowledge of the Thai language would be considerably enriched were I to learn more poetic language, just as anyone whose second language is English would be enriched by learning the language of Shakespeare.
Finally, I would dispute the concept of a single ‘English’, and argue instead for ‘Englishes’ in the plural (and I would imagine that to a certain extent – albeit a lesser one, given the global reach of English – this would be the same in most other languages too). Some people would argue that slang, including texting language, diminishes the English language, but I would argue that on the contrary, such usage adds to English’s overall complexity. At the risk of sounding older than my years, I have to admit that I puzzle over texting language and street slang. Even my children come home speaking words I don’t know.
Languages, like the world, are constantly evolving, and to stipulate how much language is ‘enough’ might be to set a language in stone. Which doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for a simple Wikipedia. But it certainly should not take the place of the more complex one.
Finally, I should add that I am not an academic linguist, so forgive me if the above makes little sense.
Jonfernquest, this is shocking and I feel ashamed as a Thai that foriegn teachers, the majority of which have the best intents of their students’ education at heart, get exploited in this way…
One critical measure of government for me (disclosure: being an educator myself) is the investment in education and sincerity in education reform at all levels. Populist policies of “free education” is not enough – but overall quality must be given priority (for instance, once a fourth grade education guaranteed literacy in both language and arithmetics – but not anymore, a worldwide phenomenon though). “Quality” is given lip service by hiring foriegn teachers in the provinces – but this culture of rabid corruption is clearly a major barrier…
On the broadest scale, the 1997 Constitution seemed to have set society on the right track, establishing independent counter corruption agencies with teeth to prosecute politicians and bureaucrats (I don’t know if it includes those in the private sector that pays bribes). These bodies/institutions are, unfortunately, not given the chance to mature – against much more powerful forces… and especially if a sitting prime minister believes that he/his family is entitled to a cut himself – it will be a very, very long time before a culture of transparency trickles down to improve your experiences on the ground, jonfernquest. Unfortunately, many in NM with monarchist fetish – many sitting in the comfort/protection of well-paid Western universities (disclosure: myself included, but as a self-styled ‘critical monarchist’) – will never be able to emphathize with you or Frank G Anderson that lives the everyday Thai spaces…
For that I am deeply thankful for speaking up and for sincerely wanting to make things better in Thailand…
Totila, I agree that Burma is capable of another surprise or shock, and that experts will be wise after the fact as they do.
Don, Burmese cannot afford not to be optimistic. In the long run I am too but it is the how that will determine the when, and people are unlikely to wait too long at this rate. And that’s where the leadership issue arises for preparedness and versatility, for plan A – non-violent action as well as plan B – armed rebellion. Unified action by the majority Burmans and minorities is of paramount importance, unless they have failed to learn their lessons from the protracted civil war, 8888 Uprising and the Saffron Revolution.
I recently read a report, apparently based on a website account (can’t find it now). That report claims that the 2008 government commitment to the royal family/palace is Baht 6,032,097,400. This does not include royal projects and other royal expenditures in the parts of the budget kept closed. There is also some question as to whether the 6 billion total captures everything in the Budget Bureau reports. Does anyone know more about this taxpayer support of the sufficiency royals?
jonfernquest: Before you dole out peanuts find the spectacles you use for reading. Where was the word “democracy” used? I do see the word “election” but even the PADites don’t associate that with “democracy”. Their use of “democracy” in their name apparently refers to a Thai-style democracy (which does have the support of god-like figures). On PAD definitions of democracy see Bangkok Pundit: PAD Advocating Sufficiency Democracy
Posted by Bangkok Pundit | 6/23/2008 10:34:00 PM
“It is certainly no surprise that they are a fan of Thai-style democracy or sufficiency democracy, but it is not often you get details of what they want. Suriyasai Katasila is quoted in Thai Rath as suggesting a new way of “electing” MPs with 30% being elected and 70% being selected/chosen (р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Ир╕▒р╕Фр╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕бр╕╡р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╣Ар╕ер╕╖р╕нр╕Бр╕Хр╕▒р╣Йр╕Зр╕кр╕бр╕▓р╕Кр╕┤р╕Бр╕кр╕ар╕▓р╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╣Бр╕Чр╕Щр╕гр╕▓р╕йр╕Ор╕г (р╕к.р╕к.) 30% р╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕Др╕▒р╕Фр╕кр╕гр╕гр╕Ир╕▓р╕Бр╕ар╕▓р╕Др╕кр╣Ир╕зр╕Щр╕Хр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╣Ж р╕нр╕╡р╕Б 70%). He says this is because the parliament cannot solve political problems.”
Can’t get the Thai Rath story to open via the web to confirm BP’s story, but it certainly sounds like Suriyasai’s general approach (remember he comes from the Confederation for Democracy). Oops, there’s that word again.
Finally, I can’t help but ask: when was the last time you heard a chimp, hairy or otherwise, speaking in a zoo? Saying anything at all, let alone about democracy? Maybe you are hanging around with the wrong crowd if you are hearing chimps speak?
Thank you for that informative article.
Especially the learning Jinghpaw page.
Some people will insist it’s a waste of time learning a tribal language, but as you learn the language you also sort of master the indigenous intellectual world too, which is something completely different from the city slicker’s world. For example, foraging for different mushrooms in the jungle was one vocab exercise in Akha, rich in adjectives to describe these mushrooms, and then there is the oral textual tradition, the Akhazan, a combination of law code and ethno-history. I think a good argument could be made for introducing these languages into the university curriculum in some way or at least annual language programmes like SEASSI in the US.
Additionally if you would like to donate to the “canadian woman” Tom mentioned her website is http://www.quebecbirmanie.com. She is planning to set up job training programs, CPR and first aid classes, as well as english classes, employment opportunities, and even computer classes in the Karen state of Kawthoolie.
My company is assisting her in her goals and logistical needs.
We need all the help we can get if we work together we can accomplish a great many things. Jack
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“Samak’s government has no ability to shape public opinion”
So why not let the electorate decide?
see what I just posted in the ‘Leave the PA(S)D’ alone thread.
People like Samak should be unelectable (especially after his Burma, Tak Bai & 1976 comments).
I know, Samak is not the only one who has a smell around him, but please ask yourself: Is that as good as it gets?
Leave the PA(S)D alone!
Pundit: And my point is that subset (whatever its size) are barracking for Thaksin/TRT/PPP and now Samak (Oh the irony!)
They do exist, they are on one side, and therefore they are fodder for the PAD.
Leave the PA(S)D alone!
Andrew: Of course I know where you are coming from (why the masses keep choosing Thaksin and his nominees), and I also know its not simply a case of ‘country bumpkins’ being bought.
My point is that if they keep ignoring the obvious negative aspects of elected politicians such as CORRUPTION and SUBVERSION of the CHECKS AND BALANCES etc, then the MESS will continue.
When I say ‘they’, I mean everyone, but please remember, at the ballot box, it is the masses that have the power.
The chant is always for ‘Democracy’, but IMO, politics in even the most advanced democracies (the ‘west’) leaves a lot to be desired, and has just become a popularity contest based on negatives (playing on peoples fears etc).
In that regard, Thailand is similar to ‘the west’, however, at least in western democracies, corrupt & incompetent politicians become unelectable – I do not believe that is the case in Thailand.
Your championing of the rights of the masses to elect whomever they want is admirable, but IMO, your cause would be better served if you also acknowledged the obvious deficiencies of the politicians they choose.
OK, we can just accept it as ‘democracy’ and say they choose who they like and get what they deserve, but I just happen to think things could be so much better than that.
Ola Hanson from the archive on vocabulary size
I don’t mean to minimize Hanson’s linguistic accomplishments, which are certainly far beyond mine, I would point out that in the Kachin context, he wasn’t exceptional. In the area north of Lashio, it isn’t uncommon for individuals to speak at least four different languages: Burmese, Shan, Chinese, and Jinghpaw. There were also a lot of Atsi and Maru in the area, as well as Palaung, so they were routinely speaking five languages. I realize this in a different place and time from Hanson’s, but I suspect it really wasn’t that much different. Tribal societies can be much more cosmopolitan than most people realize, so multilingualism is in many case the norm rather than the exception.
As was pointed out to me years ago, a standard feature of being an ethnic minority is being at least bilingual or bi-dialectical (is that the correct term?). Essentially, if you are a minority, you are have to learn how to talk to your “betters”. This, of course, isn’t limited just to SE Asia. Here in the US of A folks are always complaining about how these illegal immigrants we encouraged to come here to do our dirty work can’t speak English, as if an improved English ability would help them cut lawns better, and the people complaining are resolutely monolingual, but I digress. The point is that the 19th Century Kachins were looked down upon by the Chinese, Burman, Shan, and Assamese as illiterate barbarians. There is story to the effect that Hanson went to the Burmese court to ask for permission to work with the Kachins and to teach how to read and write, and the king told Hanson he would be better off trying to teach the king’s dog reading and writing. The interesting thing then about Hanson is that he, and other missionaries, gave a literary voice to people (or in the Kachin case, a section of the people) who previously considered illiterate barbarians. As Leif Jonsson observed earlier, an effect of missionary effort was to “conjure up new possibilities for ethnicizing social life”. What possibilities were conjured up by turning non-literate societies in to literate ones?
JSEAS special issue on Burma is out now
Moe Aung, I don’t think the Karen, with or without soldiers of fortune like Jack Slade, are going to change the direction of events in Burma. This is old history and smacks of the POW/MIA exploits of former US soldiers following the Vietnam war. Rambo will not save Burma, however popular that idea may be in Hollywood and among those who enjoy its productions. Real change will have to come from developments inside Burma and among Burmans, not insurrectionist minority groups, who will never be happy with any government in Rangoon. There are no simple and easy solutions to the problem in Burma, if there are any solutions at all. And unemployed former marines are among the most unlikely of people to advance the process of real poliitcal change, in my view. This makes for nice fiction but a much more sophisiticated approach will be necessary to produce sustainable results.
Leave the PA(S)D alone!
nganadeelek:
Exactly! Spot on! Different people. Different opinions. That’s how society works. So when it comes to chosing a government I wonder what the best way of resolving those differences is?
More Japanese tales
I’d love to read all these tales and hope they’ll be translated into Burmese. Don’t think I’ve heard of Takano’s Burmese translation being available. All the three wartime best sellers of Hino Ashihei were translated by the late Ludu U Hla and wife Daw Amar during the war.
Thai politics quote of the day
Reg: Kapook has the Thai Rath article.
Leave the PA(S)D alone!
nganadeeleg: My point was it is Republican and a few others. If it is a subset it is a very small subset.
JSEAS special issue on Burma is out now
Thanks Don. They have done it before in the struggle for independence under the umbrella organistion, Anti Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL), with the notable exception of the Karen. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if it happens again in a similar fashion. Your sceptism is justified. Jack Slade, discussed in another thread, made the feature article in Asian Tribune today.
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/11920
An interesting coincidence is that the Buddhist monks are also supposed to be looking for weapons and to have started collecting sling shots once again.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/23/AR2008062300974_2.html
Sufficiently out of tune
Sidh and Mr. Skeptical,
What is even more shameful is the so-called culture course where all foreign teachers, even if they’ve lived here for decades, are required after paying 11,000 baht, that seems to fail in its objectives completely:
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/reallifethailand/2008/06/20/entry-1
And I would be the first person to find some way to get foreigners to appreciate Thai and Tai culture and language. Most of my published papers are on this topic.
When I was back home in the provinces where most teachers don’t have any work visa at all (and this new course makes it even more unlikely) someone told me the price of the course is 5,000 baht but 2,500 under the table, and you don’t have to take it, in other words the course is meaningless.
There are many good teachers, thank goodness, but most skilled professionals, who work hard, who have any dignity at all, would simply go somewhere else, and that is in fact what happens.
Of course, international schools are entirely different, with lines of qualified teachers from the west waiting for jobs, but can you afford 300,000 to 500,o00 a year to educate your child?
The government can hand out as many subsidies as it likes, to as many special interest groups as it likes, but if Samak does not do something about the exorbitant school fees at the best public schools, like he said he would, the future of poor people is clear, more poverty. Handing large amounts of money out for free doesn’t make the country more productive.
Much more admirable than the self-promoting mercenaries, are the small number of foreigners living in the country, who stick it out, and are humble enough to contribute to local schools over the long period that it takes. There is one Australian, Brad, at Tetsaban #6 in Chiang Rai who is really one of those unsung heroes.
JSEAS special issue on Burma is out now
Moe Aung, good luck on promoting unified action. If that can be done most of Burma’s problems could be solved. Unfortunately it has never been done and I am rather skeptical that it will be any time soon.
Sufficiently out of tune
When I started working in Thailand, I was struck by over-inflated status (and hence salaries) accorded to farangs in the (Thai) company in which I worked. I was on Bt28,000, whereas the Thai staff, who in many cases were working far harder and doing more complicated work than I was, were earning about half that. The company of course made the point that they would not have been able to attract farang workers on lower salaries, but surely I cannot have been the only farang with the sense that my colleagues were being treated grossly unfairly. While I do not doubt for a minute that foreigners may be discrimminated against, I can entirely see why the resentment might build up, and why some Thais might unfortunately see farangs as people to be exploited.
Ola Hanson from the archive on vocabulary size
I wonder if a case could be made for determing language complexity not only on vocabulary size, but also on the range of meanings that can be conveyed, which need not correlate with the actual number of words. English, for example, has far more words than Thai, but often requires an unwieldy combination of words to express what Thai can say succinctly in one or two. Depth of nuance is dependent not only on the sheer number of words, but also on the way those words are arranged.
As for now many words of a vocabulary one ‘needs’, I would argue that it entirely depends on whether you want functionality first and foremost, or whether you think of a language partly in terms of aesthetics. I regard my Thai as being reasonably fluent, but I’m stumped by a lot of Thai poetry. I’m sure that my knowledge of the Thai language would be considerably enriched were I to learn more poetic language, just as anyone whose second language is English would be enriched by learning the language of Shakespeare.
Finally, I would dispute the concept of a single ‘English’, and argue instead for ‘Englishes’ in the plural (and I would imagine that to a certain extent – albeit a lesser one, given the global reach of English – this would be the same in most other languages too). Some people would argue that slang, including texting language, diminishes the English language, but I would argue that on the contrary, such usage adds to English’s overall complexity. At the risk of sounding older than my years, I have to admit that I puzzle over texting language and street slang. Even my children come home speaking words I don’t know.
Languages, like the world, are constantly evolving, and to stipulate how much language is ‘enough’ might be to set a language in stone. Which doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for a simple Wikipedia. But it certainly should not take the place of the more complex one.
Finally, I should add that I am not an academic linguist, so forgive me if the above makes little sense.
Sufficiently out of tune
Jonfernquest, this is shocking and I feel ashamed as a Thai that foriegn teachers, the majority of which have the best intents of their students’ education at heart, get exploited in this way…
One critical measure of government for me (disclosure: being an educator myself) is the investment in education and sincerity in education reform at all levels. Populist policies of “free education” is not enough – but overall quality must be given priority (for instance, once a fourth grade education guaranteed literacy in both language and arithmetics – but not anymore, a worldwide phenomenon though). “Quality” is given lip service by hiring foriegn teachers in the provinces – but this culture of rabid corruption is clearly a major barrier…
On the broadest scale, the 1997 Constitution seemed to have set society on the right track, establishing independent counter corruption agencies with teeth to prosecute politicians and bureaucrats (I don’t know if it includes those in the private sector that pays bribes). These bodies/institutions are, unfortunately, not given the chance to mature – against much more powerful forces… and especially if a sitting prime minister believes that he/his family is entitled to a cut himself – it will be a very, very long time before a culture of transparency trickles down to improve your experiences on the ground, jonfernquest. Unfortunately, many in NM with monarchist fetish – many sitting in the comfort/protection of well-paid Western universities (disclosure: myself included, but as a self-styled ‘critical monarchist’) – will never be able to emphathize with you or Frank G Anderson that lives the everyday Thai spaces…
For that I am deeply thankful for speaking up and for sincerely wanting to make things better in Thailand…
JSEAS special issue on Burma is out now
Totila, I agree that Burma is capable of another surprise or shock, and that experts will be wise after the fact as they do.
Don, Burmese cannot afford not to be optimistic. In the long run I am too but it is the how that will determine the when, and people are unlikely to wait too long at this rate. And that’s where the leadership issue arises for preparedness and versatility, for plan A – non-violent action as well as plan B – armed rebellion. Unified action by the majority Burmans and minorities is of paramount importance, unless they have failed to learn their lessons from the protracted civil war, 8888 Uprising and the Saffron Revolution.
Royalist propaganda and policy nonsense
I recently read a report, apparently based on a website account (can’t find it now). That report claims that the 2008 government commitment to the royal family/palace is Baht 6,032,097,400. This does not include royal projects and other royal expenditures in the parts of the budget kept closed. There is also some question as to whether the 6 billion total captures everything in the Budget Bureau reports. Does anyone know more about this taxpayer support of the sufficiency royals?
Thai politics quote of the day
jonfernquest: Before you dole out peanuts find the spectacles you use for reading. Where was the word “democracy” used? I do see the word “election” but even the PADites don’t associate that with “democracy”. Their use of “democracy” in their name apparently refers to a Thai-style democracy (which does have the support of god-like figures). On PAD definitions of democracy see Bangkok Pundit: PAD Advocating Sufficiency Democracy
Posted by Bangkok Pundit | 6/23/2008 10:34:00 PM
“It is certainly no surprise that they are a fan of Thai-style democracy or sufficiency democracy, but it is not often you get details of what they want. Suriyasai Katasila is quoted in Thai Rath as suggesting a new way of “electing” MPs with 30% being elected and 70% being selected/chosen (р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Ир╕▒р╕Фр╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕бр╕╡р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╣Ар╕ер╕╖р╕нр╕Бр╕Хр╕▒р╣Йр╕Зр╕кр╕бр╕▓р╕Кр╕┤р╕Бр╕кр╕ар╕▓р╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╣Бр╕Чр╕Щр╕гр╕▓р╕йр╕Ор╕г (р╕к.р╕к.) 30% р╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕Др╕▒р╕Фр╕кр╕гр╕гр╕Ир╕▓р╕Бр╕ар╕▓р╕Др╕кр╣Ир╕зр╕Щр╕Хр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╣Ж р╕нр╕╡р╕Б 70%). He says this is because the parliament cannot solve political problems.”
Can’t get the Thai Rath story to open via the web to confirm BP’s story, but it certainly sounds like Suriyasai’s general approach (remember he comes from the Confederation for Democracy). Oops, there’s that word again.
Finally, I can’t help but ask: when was the last time you heard a chimp, hairy or otherwise, speaking in a zoo? Saying anything at all, let alone about democracy? Maybe you are hanging around with the wrong crowd if you are hearing chimps speak?
Ola Hanson from the archive on vocabulary size
Thank you for that informative article.
Especially the learning Jinghpaw page.
Some people will insist it’s a waste of time learning a tribal language, but as you learn the language you also sort of master the indigenous intellectual world too, which is something completely different from the city slicker’s world. For example, foraging for different mushrooms in the jungle was one vocab exercise in Akha, rich in adjectives to describe these mushrooms, and then there is the oral textual tradition, the Akhazan, a combination of law code and ethno-history. I think a good argument could be made for introducing these languages into the university curriculum in some way or at least annual language programmes like SEASSI in the US.
Volunteering to fight in Burma
Additionally if you would like to donate to the “canadian woman” Tom mentioned her website is http://www.quebecbirmanie.com. She is planning to set up job training programs, CPR and first aid classes, as well as english classes, employment opportunities, and even computer classes in the Karen state of Kawthoolie.
My company is assisting her in her goals and logistical needs.
We need all the help we can get if we work together we can accomplish a great many things. Jack