Re: pa.tipatti

Hi, Amara:
With respect to Thai orthography, I've heard that nowdays
many Thai words which originte in Sanskrit and Pali do not retain
their original spellings but they are splled as they sound
(e.g ratha-yan"ta" (vehicle), where the whole final syable with a cancelation
marker has ceased to be written). How do you feel about the latest/modern
Thai orthgraphy? Do you think that Thai words have to written as they
sound or their spelling should reflect their etymology.
I am quirious to have your opinion.

(Occationaly, I use McFarland' Thai dic. to understand the etyplogy
of words I am interested in. His dic. and the Thai-Thai dic./Royal
Edition are best sources for an etymological study.)

Here is another question. Do you know that many Thai words and Khmer
words are exactly the same (e.g. number terms). What is your idea:
do you think that Thai borrowed these words from Khmer or vise versa
(or the borrowing was a bi-directional)? tadao