Sawadee Krap This is a module to give you an idea of the Thai Culture and Mannerism

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISMTHAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

Sawadee Krap

This is a module to give you an idea of the Thai Culture and Mannerism.

This knowledge may help when you are visiting Thailand.

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AboutThailand

FESTIVITIES CULTURE MANNERISM

The King

The Head

The Legs

The Clothes

PhysicalContact

Gifts

Songkran

Loy Krathong

King’sBirthday

The Wai

Language

Nicknames

AddressingPeople

Monkhood


LEARNING OBJECTIVESLEARNING OBJECTIVES

To be able: To be able:

To explain the 5 aspects of Thai CultureTo explain the 5 aspects of Thai Culture

To explain the 6 aspects of Thai MannerismTo explain the 6 aspects of Thai Mannerism


LAND AREA : 513, 000 Sq Km

POPULATION : 65 Million

RELIGION : Buddhism (94%) Muslim (4%)

CLIMATE : Tropical

LANGUAGE : Thai / English

CURRENCY : Baht

TIME ZONE : UTC + 7

MAIN SOURCE OF REVENUE : Exports

ABOUT THAILAND…..ABOUT THAILAND…..


Thai New Year

Also known as Water Festival

13 to 15 Apr each year

People return to Provinces

THAI FESTIVITIES – SONGKRANTHAI FESTIVITIES – SONGKRAN


Paying Respect to Water Spirit

Full Month of 12th Month of Thai Year

Made of Styrofoam, Banana Leaves, Flowers and Candles

THAI FESTIVITIES – LOY KRATHONGTHAI FESTIVITIES – LOY KRATHONG


5 Dec 1927

Parade to Commemorate

World Dignitaries Invited

Country beautifully decorated

Most Business Closed

THAI FESTIVITIES – KING’S BIRTHDAYTHAI FESTIVITIES – KING’S BIRTHDAY


THAI CULTURETHAI CULTURE


THAILAND…..THAILAND…..

… … also known asalso known as LAND OF SMILESLAND OF SMILES


Traditional Thai Greeting

Form of Respect

Hands Pressed together, head lowered

Normal - Chest Level Dignitary - Nose Level Royalty - Forehead Level

Offered by Junior to Senior

Wai not returned to Children, Hotel Staff, Taxi Drivers, Waiters

THE WAITHE WAI


Sentence usually ends with :

“Krap” for Man “Ka” for Woman

Form of Politeness

5 tones

44 Consonants, 32 Vowels

Careful with pronounciation, may change meaning if pronounced wrongly

THE LANGUAGETHE LANGUAGE


Reflection of “Sabai-Sabai” (Relaxed) Culture

One Syllable

Name of Animals, Colour, Size etc e.g. Goong - Prawn Daeng - Red Lek - Small Used more by Woman

More commonly used than Formal Name

NICKNAMESNICKNAMES


Khun followed by Name or Nickname e.g. Khun Andrew, Khun Nattiphol

“Pii” – For Older or Senior Person

“Nong” – For Younger or Junior Person

ADDRESSING PEOPLEADDRESSING PEOPLE


Common for Men to serve as Monks for 3 months

Age 20

Serve before becoming soldiers

Important Act

Must be free from debt

MONKHOODMONKHOOD


THAI MANNERISMTHAI MANNERISM


Reign since 1946

Revered by Thais

Do not criticise the King

Do not intentionally step on Thai Coins and notes

THE KINGTHE KING


Regarded as Most Sacred part of body

Head deemed to be source of Intelligence

Avoid touching

Do not use foot to point to the head

Considered Disrespectful

THE HEADTHE HEAD


Regarded as Unclean

Do not use feet to point at things, especially people’s head

Remove shoes when visiting homes & temples

Sit with feet tucked at the side or cross-legged

THE LEGSTHE LEGS


Dress Conservatively

Wrong Impression

Considered Unfriendly

Clothing from lower part of body, not to be left in high places

THE CLOTHESTHE CLOTHES


Avoid Intimacy in Public

Against Thai Etiquette

Ladies should not touch Monks

PHYSICAL CONTACTPHYSICAL CONTACT


Avoid sharp objects

When receive sharp objects, return coin to giver

Flowers – Avoid Marigold & Carnation

Avoid Green, Black & Blue Colour Wrapper

GIFTSGIFTS


IN SUMMARY……IN SUMMARY……

Thai FestivitiesThai Festivities- Songkran, Loy Krathong,Songkran, Loy Krathong,

King’s BirthdayKing’s Birthday

Thai CultureThai Culture- The Wai, Language, Nickname,The Wai, Language, Nickname,

Addressing PeopleAddressing People

Thai MannerismsThai Mannerisms

- The King, Head, Leg, Physical Contact, Clothes and Gifts- The King, Head, Leg, Physical Contact, Clothes and Gifts

Documents

Sawadee Krap This is a module to give you an idea of the Thai Culture and Mannerism