Thai Citizenship and Language Preservation Quiz

9 Questions

What is the main goal of Mandate 2 discussed in the text?

To prevent revealing information to foreigners that may harm national interest

According to Mandate 3, how should Thai people be referred to?

As 'the Thais' without regional or subgroup distinctions

What is discouraged by Mandate 3 regarding the naming of Thai people?

Referring to different regions within Thailand

Before Mandate 4, what was the primary focus of the mandates?

Promoting 'Thainess' and national unity

What is the central theme of the concept of 'Thainess' according to the text?

Promoting unity by avoiding regional distinctions

Which term best describes groups that were considered 'un-Thai' or 'anti-Thai' according to the text?

'Islamic Thais'

What was one common theme among all cultural mandates discussed in the text?

'Thainess' construction and national unity

What was the impact of Mandate 3 on the use of local terms for Thai people?

Discouraging the use of terms like northern Thais or southern Thais

'Localities / localness' was discouraged under which mandate?

Mandate 4

Study Notes

Thai People's Duties and Cultural Mandates

Thai people were expected to conduct themselves as good citizens and adhere to cultural mandates.

Impact of Mandate 9

A large majority of people in Thailand had a main language other than Central Thai, but its usage was discouraged.
The discouragement of local languages (northern, northeastern, and southern) has led to their eradication or reduction, along with local ethnic differences.
Central Thai language, particularly in its written form, has been prominent in defining and promoting a national culture.

Other Mandates

Mandate 10: To build national growth and unity through hard work and traditional dress.
Mandate 12: To nurture the protection and care of the young, the old, and the infirm.

From Traditional Siam to Modern Thailand

Two royal decrees were issued in 1940 and 1941 related to the Cultural Mandate.
The second decree, "Prescribing Customs for the Thai People," instructed people to wear "properly" and not in traditional attire.

Cultural Mandates

Thai people were required to honor the national flag, military flag, and Boy Scout flag according to regulation or custom.
When the national anthem or royal anthem is heard, participants or attendees must honor the anthem according to regulation or custom.
Those not paying proper respect were to be admonished.

Impact of Mandates 4, 6, and 8

These mandates were designed to channel loyalties towards national symbols such as the flag, national anthem, and royal anthem.
However, they may have contributed to creating divisions against Chinese or ethnic minorities, or rural areas.

Mandate 5

Issued on November 1, 1939, this mandate instructed Thai people to make an effort to consume only food made from Thai products and wear only clothes made from Thai products.