Learn about different transcription systems used to represent the sounds and pronunciation of Thai. Transcription represents sounds phonetically, unlike transliteration which converts text from one script to another.
Available Transcription Systems
IPA
International Phonetic Alphabet
Phonetic
The International Phonetic Alphabet is the most widely used system for phonetic transcription.
Standard: IPA
Common Use: Linguistics, language learning, dictionaries worldwide
A popular Thai romanization system designed for learners. Uses hyphens to separate syllables.
Example:
สวัสดี
→ sa-wat-dee
Common Use: Thai language learning, textbooks
AUA
American University Alumni System
Romanization
A Thai romanization system developed by the AUA language center. Designed for English speakers learning Thai.
Example:
สวัสดี
→ sa-wat-dee
Common Use: Thai language learning, AUA language center
RTGS
Royal Thai General System
Romanization
The official Thai romanization system used by the Royal Institute of Thailand.
Example:
สวัสดี
→ sawatdee
Common Use: Official Thai documents, place names
IPA Notation Guide for Thai
Structure
.(Dot) Indicates a syllable break within a word.
(Space) Indicates a word break.
Vowels & Tones
ː(Triangular Colon) Indicates a long vowel.
˨˩(Tone Bars) Indicate the pitch contour of the tone.
Example Breakdown: สวัสดี (Hello)
sa˨˩.wat˨˩.diː˧
.Syllable break between 'sa', 'wat', and 'di'˨˩Low tone on 'sa' and 'wat'ːLong vowel 'i' in 'di'˧Mid tone on 'di'
Thai Tones in IPA
Tone
Thai Name (Romanized)
IPA Symbol
Pitch Description
Mid
สามัญ (Saman)
˧
Flat, steady pitch at a medium level. (e.g., kaː˧)
Low
เอก (Ẹ̀ek)
˨˩
Starts low and falls slightly.
Falling
โท (Thôo)
˥˩
Starts high and quickly drops to a low pitch.
High
ตรี (Trîi)
˦˥
Starts high and rises slightly higher.
Rising
จัตวา (Jàt-tà-wāa)
˩˩˦
Starts mid/low, dips, and then rises sharply to a high pitch.
Types of Transcription Systems
Phonetic
Represents actual sounds using standardized phonetic symbols (e.g., IPA). Captures pronunciation accurately, including allophonic variations and dialectal differences.
Romanization
Converts text to the Latin alphabet with pronunciation guidance. Often language-specific (e.g., Pinyin for Chinese, Paiboon for Thai). More accessible than phonetic systems.
Reading Aid
Provides pronunciation hints in the native script (e.g., Furigana in Japanese). Helps learners read complex writing systems without changing the script.
Additional Resources
Comparison of Three Transcription Schemes
A detailed comparison of Haas, AUA, and Paiboon transcription systems, focusing on their differences in initial consonants, final consonants, vowels, and tones.
A comprehensive guide to various Thai pronunciation systems including Paiboon+, TLC, Tiger, Haas, IPA, and more. Discusses the pros and cons of "intuitive" vs. "accurate" systems.