Generally speaking, spoken grammar is simple. Each Thai word is complete inasmuch as there are no Thai suffixes, genders, articles, declensions or plurals. Because Thai's pronominal structure illustrates rank and intimacy, there are, in effect, four different langrages - a royal language, an ecclesiastic language, a polite everyday vernacular and an earthy, pungent slang. Illustrative of this wide range of variations is the verb to ' eat '. Even father down are several vulgarisms which are offensive except when used between ma le intimates in informal situations.
Royalty uses special words for common actions and for parts of the body.
This special, formal language is a mixture of words of Khmer, Pali and Sanskrit origin c omplemented by specially-coined Thai words. The Khmer-derived words are the same as those commonly begin spoken throughout Cambodia today. Rachasap is usually reserved for formal and state occasions, most royalty making use of standard Thai, slightly modified, for everyday conversation among themselves. In conventional spoken Thai, two or more words are often combined to form literal descriptions of common objects. Although satisfactory for common objects, this system is inadequate for coining new Thai words that can accurately convey Western concepts or recent scientific terms.