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Published on July 21, 2007

"Songs with incorrect pronunciation should be barred from going on air," he said.

Chinnakorn believes the government should play a role in ensuring songs were sung clearly and correctly, otherwise damage would be done to an integral part of the culture.

Due to rising concern about current language use, a national seminar will be held at Government House next Thursday. Privy Council president and statesman Prem Tinsulanonda will chair the event.

The government is preparing a national master plan on the language. Culture Minister Khunying Khaisri Sri-aroon said it would campaign for the promotion of proper language use.

"Teachers should advise students on what is right," she added.

According to Association of Thai-Language Teachers president and Royal Institute member Kanchana Naksakul, speaking Thai with a foreign accent is a fashion. Known as ab baew, or abnormal and cute, such behaviour weighs heavily on Kancha-na's mind. "Language usage is linked to mental and intellectual development," she said.

Kanchana is concerned that with the ab baew phenomenon, some children will embrace Western values so much that they ignore Thai culture.

She added that some bilingual courses now put too much emphasis on English and students did not care much about Thai.

"English competence is good. But for a bilingual course here, children should be taught to be fluent in both Thai and English," Kanchana said.