Thai-language scholar seeks overhaul of Royal Institute dictionary to correct gonzo computer vocabulary
To discourage the widespread gonzo computer vocabulary popular among teenagers, a Thai-language scholar yesterday called for an overhaul of the Royal Institute dictionary to correct the mistakes.
Prof Kanjana Narksakul also expressed worry about the "weird" use of other English words in addition to the computer vocabulary, and said the Royal Institute would never define new English words in Thai using vulgar or lewd translation.
She says a new dictionary is needed along with a campaign to correct the mistakes, otherwise teenagers will get confused over which words to use and which to avoid.
Citing examples of gonzo words, Kanjana says Microsoft is termed "small and floppy" in Thai, with micro defined as "small and soft and floppy". Joystick is termed the "stick of fun", Windows Phahu Ban-chaorn [multiple windows] in Pali and Visual Basic Pathom Phis [primary sight] in Pali.
Stop it!
Kanjana has also called on those who post gonzo words on websites citing the Royal Institute reference as a source of information to stop doing it, because the Internet is widely used by teenagers who have a tendency to make jokes of those words and spread them to fellow netizens.
'Use English'
In the wake of Thai Language National Day tomorrow, Culture Ministry permanent secretary Weera Rojpojanarat has called for immediate solutions to end the use of gonzo in Thai.
Sak Waewwiriya, a Thai-language teacher at a renowned school in Nonthaburi, feels computer vocabulary should be used in English to solve the problem. He has called on the Royal Institute to hold a public referendum to determine whether new Thai words should be created for compu-ter vocabulary or whether English words should be used.
Warin Suksuchom, an eleventh grader who attended yesterday's session entitled "Language Doctors," said computer vocabulary was easier to use in English. She also blamed politicians who use casual words such as "hey" in public interviews, saying that adults should be role models to youths before giving lectures.
Thai-language lecturer Assoc Prof Akkhara Bunthip from Srinakharinwirot University says a campaign for the correct use of Thai should be held continuously all year and not just on Thai Language National Day.
She has called on newscasters and celebrities to be extra careful about what they say, because they have influence on young people.