Thailand - Understand & Survival (Chapter)

THE PEOPLE & CULTURE

THE THAI CHARACTER

negative topics in conversation, doesn’t express fi rm convictions or opin-
ions, and doesn’t claim to have an expertise. Agreement and harmony
are considered to be the most important social graces.
While Westerners might think a heated discussion OK, Thais avoid such
confrontations and regard any instance where voices are raised as rude
and potentially volatile. Losing your temper causes a loss of face for those
present and Thais who have been crossed may react in extreme ways.
Minor embarrassments, such as tripping or falling, might elicit gig-
gles from a crowd of Thais. In this case they aren’t taking delight in your
mishap, but helping you save face by laughing it off.

Status & Obligation
All relationships in traditional Thai society – and those in the modern
Thai milieu as well – are governed by social rank defi ned by age, wealth,
status and personal or political position. The elder position is called pôo
yàii (literally the ‘big person’) and is used to describe parents, bosses,
village heads, public offi cials etc. The junior position is called pôo nóy
(little person) and describes anyone who is subservient to thepôo yài.
Although this tendency towards social ranking is to some degree shared
by many societies around the world, the Thai twist lies in the set of
mutual obligations linking the elder to the junior.
Pôo nóyy are supposed to show obedience and respect (together these
concepts are covered by the single Thai term greng jai) towards the elder.
Those with junior status are not supposed to question or criticise those
with elder status be it in the offi ce, the home or the government. In the
workplace, this means younger staff members are not encouraged to
speak during meetings and are expected to do their bosses’ bidding.
In return pôo yàiiare obligated to care for or ‘sponsor’ the pôo nóy. It is
a paternalistic relationship in which pôo nóyy can ask for favours involv-
ing money or job access. Pôo yàii reaffi rm their rank by granting requests
when possible; to refuse would be to risk a loss of face and status.
The protocol defi ned by the social hierarchy governs almost every
aspect of Thai behaviour within family units, business organisations,
schools and the government. Elected or appointed offi cials occupy one
of the highest rungs on the social ladder and often regard themselves as
caretakers of the people, a stark contrast to the democratic ideal of being
the voice of the people. The complicated personal hierarchy in Thailand
often prevents collaboration, especially between those with competing
status. This is why Bangkok has several modern-art museums with some-
what anaemic collections rather than one consolidated powerhouse.
Most foreign visitors will interact with a simplifi ed version of this elder-
junior relationship in the form of pêee (elder sibling) and nórngg (younger
sibling). All Thais refer to each other using familial names. Even people
unrelated by blood quickly establish who’spêee and who’snórnggg. This is why
one of the fi rst questions Thais ask new acquaintances is ‘How old are you?’.

The famous Thai

smile comes in

part from their

desire to enjoy

themselves and

lighten the load

of daily life.

The Thai equiva-

lent of giving

someone the

middle finger is

to show them the

bottom of the

foot.

Thais are

fastidious in their

personal appear-

ance, often bath-

ing twice a day,

and are confused

that seemingly

wealthy for-

eigners are so

unkempt.

THE NICKNAME GAME

At birth Thai babies are given auspicious fi rst names, often bestowed by the family pa-

triarch or matriarch. These poetic names are then relegated to bureaucratic forms and

name cards, while the child is introduced to everyone else by a one-syllable nickname.

Thai nicknames are usually playful and can be inspired by the child’s appearance (Moo,

meaning ‘pig’, if he/she is chubby) or a favourite pastime (Toon, short for ‘cartoon’ for

avid TV-watchers). Girls will typically be named Lek or Noi (both of which means ‘small’).

Some parents even go so far as imprinting their interests on their children’s names: Golf

(as in the sport) and Benz (as in the car).