VENUS' VISION
Don't stifle the language; let it live and breathe
By Veena Thoopkrajae
13-11-2010
Deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwankhiri has recently discovered a new phrase, "chi-mi", widely used among Thai teenagers, and it did not take him long to make the slang expression and himself a hot topic in the social media.
A few hours after giving an interview on "chi-mi" and expressing his concern about the Thai language, Trairong became the target of criticism for his disapproval of the expression
"Chi-mi" (equivalent to a question tag or "Is that right?") might have been on Trairong's mind for quite some time, but the public debate started when he chaired a culture minister's meeting on Thai-Chinese cultural cooperation on Wednesday. During the meeting he expressed concern about the word.
He says he is worried about the deterioration of Thai culture, especially the language, and he would like the National Film Board to look into language usage in Thai soap operas and movies. During the meeting, the title of a gay-themed comedy, "Hor Taew Taek Haek Chi-mi", was raised as an example of improper language usage. (Sorry, the translation of this movie title is beyond me.) To nobody's surprise, the ministry has already disapproved of the title. "Sometimes we don't even know if the word is Thai or English," noted Trairong, who also extended his concern on the threat to the Thai language to music.
Don't he know that teens have been using the expression for quite some time on their MSN chat sites and other media? It is their way of injecting fun into the spoken language, and is widely used. Like other expressions from the past such as "ma jang", "jeng" or "jaab" - meaning "very hip", "stylish", or "cool", "chi mi" is a fad. It will fade, die or evolve eventually.
Certainly, the deputy prime minister has good intentions, but his approach is rather primitive and reflects a lack of understanding of culture. If he believes that to preserve the national language is to ban particular words, music or movies and keep the language stagnant, then he will have many serious problems.
Language is not a top-down means of control, it is a tool for freedom of expression - to the extent that it doesn't harm others. Language is also a vital artistic tool, allowing people to exercise creativity. It is a pencil for a drawing, a brush for a painting and lyrics for a song. Imagine what would happen if you dictated the movement of a person's brush when he painted, or forced a pencil in a hand that is drawing.
Likewise, governments cannot command and force people when it comes to language. The language keeps evolving, popular words replacing unpopular words. Some words become extinct not because the government bans them but because they simply die a natural death. This is the reason why few people have ever heard of the words "kum-foi", once proposed as a replacement for "mai kwad" (broom); "mak-teen", for football; "mool-lapan", for software; and "wilaan", proposed as a replacement word for "maew" (cat). The list could go on, and it is part of the long history of language evolution.
Trairong and Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat should look at these words and ask themselves: Why did they disappear from everyday usage?
The language is alive because of its evolution and people who use it in so many different ways. We need no academic study to prove that. But we can learn a great deal from the works of the late Rong Wongsawan, one of the great Thai authors of the last century. He was among the first to use the so-called "flower-generation" hippie language of the 1960s, and his unconventional usage was stylish and inspiring to his fans.
The government should celebrate the language evolution created by the young generation rather than feel threatened by it. Culture Minister Nipit has said: "We must preserve our national language. If nobody sees its importance, then we're doomed."
He's probably missing the point that young people use it in their own way because it is still very important to them.
Dear Khun Nipit and Khun Trairong, with due respect, to love and preserve doesn't necessarily mean you have to control, suppress and stop things from evolving. The Thai language is alive because it keeps evolving and is enjoyed by Thais of all generations. We are exploring and putting creative new ideas into words and expressions, and you should not interpret it as "neglecting, threatening or destroying" the language.
The Thai-language is evolving because it is still very much alive and kicking. Chi mi?
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