Study the Ancient Thai Scripts with Acharn Term Meetem, Honorary Member of the Siam Society
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On April 2007, Acharn Term Meetem introduced members and friends of the Siam Society to some of the ancient Thai scripts and regional systems of writing. We know that many of you who wished to attend could not do so at that time.
Therefore, the Society is delighted to announce that Acharn Term has agreed to lead another series of workshops over weekends in October (30th, 31th) and in November (6th, 7th). You will learn about the Siamese system of writing and its origins, about the Khom script used in Ayutthaya, and the Tham alphabet used throughout Lan Na (Northern Thailand) and Lan Xang (Laos). Soon you will be able to identify the different Thai scripts, to start to decipher them, and to write some words in these remarkable, unordinary characters. If your patience begins to match that of your Workshop leader, then at the end of the course you should be able to take home your name and perhaps an ancient proverb written by your own hand in one of these remarkable scripts.
Acharn Term Meetem, on his election as an Honorary Member of the Siam Society in 1996, was described as a "treasure" of the Siam Society and of the Kingdom, because he is one of very few people who can read and write the ancient Thai scripts and who understands the various regional systems of writing. For nearly a decade, after completing his regular weekday work at the National Library, Acharn Term has spent most of his Saturdays at the Siam Society, transcribing and transliterating items from the Society's important bai lan (palm leaf manuscript) collection. A gifted and natural teacher, he has during this period generously shared part of his vast knowledge with Saturday visitors to the Siam Society, ranging from international scholars to Bangkok schoolchildren.
Acharn Term's Workshop on Thai Paleography will be conducted in Thai, so you should have a good understanding of the spoken language. Some familiarity with reading and writing Thai characters will make your learning and understanding easier.
The registration donation is 1,500 baht. Please register as soon as possible.
Date: 30, 31 October and 6, 7 November 2010
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Place: The Siam Society, 131 Asoke Montri Rd, Sukhumvit 21
If interested, please contact Khun Supharat (ext. 201) or Khun Pinthip (ext. 202)
The Siam Society Tel. 0-2661-6470-7 Fax 0-2258-3491,
or e-mail: supharat@siam-society.org or pinthip@siam-society.org