The Thai language is one of the oldest and most complex languages in the world, with 44 consonants, 15 vowel symbols, and four tone marks. It has a rich history and a unique writing system that reflects its cultural and religious influences. But did you know that the Thai language was also shaped by a typewriter?
The first Thai typewriter was developed by Edwin Hunter McFarland, an American missionary and linguist, in 1891. He based his design on a Smith Premier model with a double keyboard, which allowed him to fit most of the Thai characters. However, he had to leave out two consonants, ฃ kho khuat and ฅ kho khon, due to space limitations. These two letters were rarely used in modern Thai, and their omission from the typewriter led to their becoming obsolete.
The typewriter was a very important tool for modernising the Thai language. It helped to standardise spelling and grammar, and also introduced new words and concepts from foreign languages. “The typewriter was a very important tool for modernising the Thai language. It helped to standardise spelling and grammar, and also introduced new words and concepts from foreign languages.” said Dr. Pattaratorn Chirapravati, a professor of Southeast Asian studies at California State University.
The typewriter also had an impact on the aesthetics of Thai writing. It created a more uniform and angular style, which contrasted with the more curved and ornate style of handwritten Thai. “The typewriter also had an impact on the aesthetics of Thai writing. It created a more uniform and angular style, which contrasted with the more curved and ornate style of handwritten Thai.” said Dr. Chirapravati.
The typewriter also influenced the development of different keyboard layouts for Thai. Later, shift-based layouts were introduced by George B. McFarland, Edwin’s brother, who also worked as a missionary and linguist in Thailand. He designed two layouts, one called Kedmanee and one called Pattachote. The Kedmanee layout followed the order of the Thai alphabet, and grouped similar letters together. The Pattachote layout placed the most frequently used letters in the home row, and reduced finger movement and fatigue.
The Kedmanee layout became the standard layout for Thai typewriters, and later for computers. It was more familiar and intuitive for Thai people who learned to write with a pen or a brush. “The Kedmanee layout was more familiar and intuitive for Thai people who learned to write with a pen or a brush. It followed the order of the Thai alphabet, and grouped similar letters together.” said Edwin Hunter McFarland, the inventor of the Kedmanee layout.
The Pattachote layout, on the other hand, failed to gain traction among Thai users. It was seen as too foreign and complicated, and required more training and practice. “The Pattachote layout was designed to be more ergonomic and efficient than the Kedmanee layout. It placed the most frequently used letters in the home row, and reduced finger movement and fatigue.” said George B. McFarland, the inventor of the Pattachote layout.
The use of typewriters declined with the advent of personal computers, which offered more flexibility and functionality for Thai users. However, the legacy of the typewriter still remains in the Thai language and culture. The typewriter not only changed how Thai people wrote, but also how they thought and expressed themselves. It was a device that revolutionised the Thai language and culture.
Relevant articles:
– Thai typewriter – Wikipedia, Wikipedia, last edited on 16 August 2023
– How the Thai typewriter shaped the modern Thai language, BBC News, 23 August 2023
– The disappearing letters of the Thai alphabet, The Conversation, 25 August 2023
– The legacy of Edwin McFarland, the father of the Thai typewriter, Bangkok Post, 27 August 2023