Translating newspaper English to Thai

Frank:	Chāi nî rûp kīng châimǎi	ชาย นี่รูปคิงใช่ไหม	Chai, is this the picture of the King?
Chai:	châi pēn phâp tōn phrá-ōng sàdèt klāp Thāi khráng thîisǒng	ใช่ เป็นภาพตอนพระองค์เสด็จ กลับไทยครั้งที่สอง	Yes, it was taken when he returned to Thailand the second time.
Frank:	ô tōn nán phrá-ōng pràthâp thînǎi	อ้อ ตอนนั้นพระองค์ประทับ ที่ไหน	Ah, where was he staying at that time?
Chai:	pràthâp thî Sàwîtsōelāen	ประทับที่สวิตเซอร์แลนด์	In Switzerland.
Frank:	phrá-ōng sōng pràsūt thînân rǒe	พระองค์ทรงประสูติที่นั่นเหรอ	Was he born there?
Chai:	mâichâi phrá-ōng sōng pràsūt thî Mâtsāchūsèt Sàhàrât-àmērícā	ไม่ใช่ พระองค์ทรงประสูติที่ แมสซาจูเซตส์ สหรัฐอเมริกา	No, he was born in Massachusetts, in the United States of America.
Frank:	chīng rǒe	จริงเหรอ	Really!
Chai:	tàe sàdèt pāi sùeksā tò thî Sàwîtsōelāen lǎi pī	แต่เสด็จไปศึกษาต่อที่ สวิตเซอร์แลนด์หลายปี	But he went to study in Switzerland for many years.
Frank:	nāi phâp ní phrá-ōng pēn kīng láeo yāng	ในภาพนี้พระองค์เป็นคิงแล้วยัง	In this picture, had he already become king?
Chai:	pēn láeo sōng khôen khrōngrât mûea phráchêtthǎ sàwǎnkhôt	เป็นแล้ว ทรงขึ้นครองราชย์เมื่อ พระเชษฐาสวรรคต	Yes, he became king after his elder brother died.
Frank:	ô yāng sōng khǎenthûk yù châimǎi	อ้อ ยังทรงแขนทุกข์อยู่ใช่ไหม	Ah…, he’s still wearing a mourning band, right?
Chai:	châi râtjákān thî pàet sàwǒnkhôt mûea phráchōnmāyú yîsìp phānsǎ	ใช่ รัชกาลที่ 8 สวรรคตเมื่อ พระชนมายุ 20 พรรษา	Right. King Rama VIII died at the age of 20.
Frank:	sâo chāng yāng sōng phrá-yāo yù lōei	เศร้าจัง ยังทรงพระเยาว์อยู่เลย	So sad! He was so young!
Chai:	châi sôo mâk mâk nāilūang sàdèt khôen khrāngrât mùea phráchōnmāyú sìppàet phānsǎ	ใช่ เศร้ามากๆ ในหลวงเสด็จ ขึ้นครองราชย์เมื่อพระชนมายุ 18 พรรษา	Yes, very sad. The king took the throne when he was 18 years old.
Frank:	ôhō phrá-ōng pēn kīng mā nān láeo sì	โอ้โฮ พระองค์เป็นคิงมานานแล้วสิ	Wow! He’s already been the king for 60 years.
Chai:	hòksìp pī phōdī pī ní	60 ปีพอดีปีนี้	Exactly 60 years this year.

Royal Vocabulary watch:

These are common words and phrases when talking about a member of the royal family:

1.      phrá-ōng = 3^rd personal pronoun

2.      sàdèt = to go, to proceed

3.      pràthâp = to stay

4.      sōng = a prefix added to a verb

5.      khôen khrōngrât = to become king, to reign

6.      phráchêtthǎ = an elder brother

7.      sàwǎnkhôt = to pass away

8.      phráchōnmāyú = the age of

9.      phānsǎ = year(s) old

10. phrá-yāo = to be young

11. nāilūang = the third person pronoun referring only to His Majesty the King

This lesson was prepared by Acharn Sunee Siidao, Educational Specialist.

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Read our other phuut phaasaa Thai columns here.

Welcome back to a new adaptation of Phût Phāsǎ Thāi after our transitional Songkran break. As per the valued suggestions of our readers, the transliterations now follow the Royal Institute's system (http://www.royin.go.th/th/profile/index.php), which includes tone markers. In terms of content, the column will continue to provide you with everyday language on specific topics.

๒๓ phruetsaphakhom ๒๕๔๙ ( 23 May 2006)

Phût phāsǎ Thai

phrá-rât-chá-prà-wàt 1

Editor's note:
The bonus word for today is auspicious, which is often used regarding the king and one that you will see often during the present celebrations. It means marked by success, prosperity and good fortune. For details on the proper usage of the word, see http://tinyurl.com/
kq8yf .

Phût Phāsǎ Thāi would like to take the next six weeks and
join the whole nation in the grand celebrations honouring the 60th Anniversary of His Majesty the King's Accession to the Throne. The royal ceremonies for this most auspicious occasion will take place between June 8 and 13. Beginning January 1, 2006 for two years Thailand will celebrate across the country in every province under the renowned yellow flags that display the Royal Ceremonial Emblem.
For the first of the series, we'll look at His Majesty the King's childhood. The lesson revolves around the words and phrases used when talking about the King and members of the royal family in natural Thai.