Chong Language Revitalization Project

Suwilai Premsrirat
Institute of Language and Culture for Rural Development
Mahidol University, Thailand<lcspm@mahidol.ac.th>Multilingual Situation in Thailand 70 ethnolinguistic groups in Thailand Standard Thai, the only official language:

medium of instruction for education andlanguage of mass media
 Minority languages declining at variousrates
 14 small languages imminently endangered

Language death

the irreplaceable loss of a unique
way of viewing the world“The language contains everything—our values
and wisdom, our outlook on the world”(Dorothy Still Smoking, Blackfoot Indianeducator, USA. 2003)

Language Revitalization“Language revitalization…is the attempt to add
new linguistic forms or social functions to anembattled minority language with the aim ofincreasing its uses or users” (King, 2001, p. 23)

Mahidol University
Institute of Language and Culture for Rural Development

Chong Language
Revitalization ProjectChong Language Situation
 Indigenous language, Chantaburi Province,

about 2,000-4,000 speakers
 Austroasiatic language family
 Famous for four registers
 Rapid decrease in speakers last 20 years Stage 7 of Fishman’s GIDSCLRP beginnings
 Small cooperation between Chong elders & Mahidollinguists
 Community motivation & commitment
 Financial support from TRF; community-basedresearch Technical support from academic institution, ILCRDMahidol University

CLRP Components
 Orthography development
 Literature production
 Curriculum development Teaching Chong as a subject in school
 Chong Community Learning Center

Chong Orthography Based on linguistic research Based on Thai writing system
 Tested to make sure it is readable andacceptable Tool for recording Chong language and local
knowledge, for teaching younger generation
 Symbol of ethnic identity

Developing Chong writing system

- The advantages of using Thai (national) script
for writing a Chong (local lg).
- most potential users had basic knowledge of
the Thai writing system.
- This knowledge of the Thai writing system istransferable to Chong literacy.
- Convenient in terms of pedagogy and proliferation :Thai script can be easily reproduced on personal
computer.
- It is not a threat for the security agencies.

Principle of Chong orthography development
0. The most widely used dialect that most people understand is selected.
1. one sound – one symbol- A single symbol would stand for a distinct sound in the phonology.
- There are many symbols for one sound in Thai, but only
one symbol is selected for a sound in Chong. So only
a portion of Thai symbols are used in Chong system.
2. The three way grouping of consonants acc. to the inherent tones, middle,low, and high groups in the Thai system is not followed in Chongorthography. Only consonant symbols from the middle and low groups in
the Thai system are used.
3. Consistency in writing.

After completing a tentative orthography- The writing system was tested to see how it is readable andacceptable to the community.
- The alphabet chart with keywords and pictures was produced.
- Chong people were very proud of their work.
- The orthography represents their Chong identity asa members of a unique ethnic community who are citizensof Thailand.
- The people are encourage to practice writing their language.
using the Thai-based Chong writing system.

Thai alphabet chart

Chong alphabet chart

Chong Orthography Testing• Conducting the test• The informants selected represent- both genders.
- different age groups.
- different educational backgrounds.
- different home villages.

• The test was limited for those who speak Chongand are able to read Thai.
• The purpose of the test was clearly explained.
• Explain differences between Chong and Thaialphabets, particularly the letters and diacritics
representing different values in each system.

The test occurred at three levels
1. reading at the word level- informants used word and picture card to match cards
sharing the same thing.
- use all words representing the whole sound system of
the language.

2. reading (and writing) at the sentence- ten sentences of various stages of difficulties.
- wrote 4 sentences.

3. reading at the story level- read a short story and answered comprehension questions.

• The researchers took notes of problems, difficulties,
other reactions about the writing system.