I read with interest and sympathy John de Laurent's letter. I sometimes think the same way. Here in Chiang Rai is "Amphoe Thoen". My first approximation sounded like "ampo thrown" or "ampho throne" but without the "r", if you can imagine that. The Thai pronunciation is more like "Amphur Ting" but with the sound represented by my "i" as an umlaut.

Well, English hasn't got umlauts. Yet the spelling seems to have adopted the German practice of following an umlauted vowel with an "e", when there is no diaresis for the umlaut on the typewriter at hand. The "Th" in "Thoen" is there to let us know which of the Thai "t" sounds is used in the spelling and thus gives a clue to the word's tone. It is not actually aspirated. At least not to my poor, stone ear.

This approach to transliteration of the written word is wholly consistent throughout the Thai language, which adopts loan words with enthusiasm. Thai-Sanskrit words, and Thai-English words as well, are first transliterated using Thai characters, letter by letter. Then the consonants and/or syllables that are not pronounced are marked as silent. This seems to me to be the Thai method of keeping track of the etymology of loan words. As always a much more direct method than we foreigners are used to. We hide our etymologies away in our dictionaries.

At least that seems to be the way it works to me. I stand ready to be corrected by someone who really understands what's going on.

In our ignorance we look at the mistakes that we make in trying to pronounce the Thai words and blame the language for them. The fault is not in the stars, I tell myself.

John Francis Lee

Chiang Rai

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Name is rooted in history - and mispronunciation

Re: "Spelling of the airport's name causes confusion", Letters, December 23.

John de Laurent may be astonished to be told that "Suvarnabhumi" is not in fact English but Sanskrit transliterated into the Roman alphabet. English does not have an alphabet of its own.

When Thai first borrowed words from Sanskrit they were a fair imitation of the original. Time has changed Thai pronunciation, changing the value of many letters, and dragged the loan words along with it. Hence the discrepancy. The same has happened in English. Julius Caesar would have a job getting his tongue round "Heathrow" if he were invading Britain these days.

Simon Johnstone

Bangkok

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No problems at the airport for this visitor

It is traditional for British subjects to criticise their own governments of whatever political hue and to constantly denigrate the efforts of foreigners. Having heard stories of the new airport's arrangements, I approached my first arrival with some trepidation. True, there was a queue at Immigration, but I have seen far worse at Don Muang, and the authorities were constantly opening up new desks to accommodate the heavy inflow. I walked over to the carousel, collected my baggage without any wait, took directions from a most helpful member of the customs service to reach a different exit where my wife and I had arranged to meet, and passed into the kingdom with a minimum of fuss and bother. Even the road journey home was easier than that previously prevailing, although longer and anticipated to be more prone to delay.

K S Castell

Bangkok

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Courts should convict suspects in their absence

Re: "Politicians may avoid prosecution if they remain overseas", News, December 21.

I read with amazement the above headline from Praphan Sabsaeng. What's wrong with bringing all court documents, including warrants, to the address where this person is last registered, as is done with anyone else in Thailand? If this is not accepted by him or his family, it normally is stapled on the front door of that address and a response is expected in 30 days. If that person chooses not to respond, that is his prerogative, but it should not stop the wheels of justice turning. Being declared guilty in absentia is also standard procedure. Come on, no more excuses, it is time to see justice done.

Andre M

Banglamung

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TRT remnants must break silence on corruption issues

I have great respect for TRT acting leader Chaturon Chaisaeng, for when the rats left the sinking ship, he stood fast and rallied the troops. That takes guts.

But when he says "since TRT never welcomed or expressed any support for the military coup, [TRT] can be trusted as the one that stands for democracy", I must take exception. If, say, Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat opposed a military coup designed to throw him out of power, that hardly makes him a supporter of democracy.

Chaturon, a democracy seeks to promote informed voters. When your ex-boss repeatedly declined to debate the issues of the day with other parties, did TRT object? His Shin Corp, bought out our only independent TV station, iTV. Did your party vociferously object?

Chaturon, a democracy values the common man, and his rights. Why doesn't TRT push for the generals responsible for Tak Bai to be court marshalled for manslaughter, or for the abductors of the lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit to be brought to justice - even though these tragedies happened on your watch? If you hold that accountability applies also to TRT, why so silent?

Sir, please stay true to the activist ideals you once had. Though you ran with the wolves, I trust that you haven't learned to howl.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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Kofi Annan has inspired billions in times of woe

Kofi Annan inspired me throughout his 10 years as the UN secretary-general. His patience, his magnanimity, his eloquence, his sincerity, his intelligence, and his true concern for the well-being of his fellow human beings has proved a source of peace of mind in the midst of the madness of megalomaniacs and their rapacity.

The alleged corruption within the UN is regrettable, but reflects the character of human beings, not that of the institution, nor of Kofi Annan. To the best of my knowledge, no culpability has been proven against his son in the Iraq oil-for-aid controversy, for instance. The conduct of UN peacekeeping troops reflects on the individuals and their countries, not on the UN and not on Kofi Annan.

What one needs to keep in mind when viewing the UN secretariat, the UN agencies, and the UN secretary-general is that they work for the members. UN members must approve policies and programmes and provide oversight. With more than 190 members ranging in population size from just thousands to over a billion, imagine mediating the hugely disparate perspectives represented? Imagine the incredible challenge of achieving equity? Imagine the constant, incessant pressures on the Secretariat and the secretary-general to hear and respond to the demands?

The UN's importance grows with each passing day, yet the United States under the Bush administration views the UN as a competitor for world domination. The UN has no such pretensions, nor do the vast majority of Americans for America. It is just a small clique of fabulously greedy, grossly ignorant, and shockingly evil American Republicans who can't see how critically important the mission of the UN is and how much more important peace and well-being are than murder, mayhem and profits.

I see the UN as having two primary missions: promoting peace and improving the quality of life for human beings in all places. The problem is these missions are not as profitable as war, depredation and political insecurity, thus the American Republicans stick a bilious Bolton to snarl and bite, hoping thereby to undermine the efforts of the UN in achieving these two basic missions. Kofi Annan went as far as he could in opposing the madness of the Bush regime in such cases as the invasion of Iraq, a war undertaken just to generate wealth for the already wealthy war and oil companies, while diverting attention away from the criminal conduct of Israel. By definition, he needs to maintain neutrality as much as possible and let the members of the UN make their own decisions, which he, then, is responsible for executing.

Kofi Annan has earned my admiration and respect and my gratitude for serving the world community so well and so honourably, rather than coming under the sway of the world's bully. I wish him a peaceful retirement and hope that his successor can approximate his value to the world.

An American in Thailand

Bangkok

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Please don't make a mockery of our Santa

With all due respect, I could not comprehend why a reputable newspaper like The Nation, posted a picture on your first page featuring our respected Santa as an animal? Do you think it is proper to show such a picture? You are responsible and we as Christians demand your apology. Chonburi Zoo may not know anything, dressing their pig in Santa's outfit. Santa is one of our symbols of Christmas. He comes every year to give gifts to children. That zoo featured Santa as an animal and let visitors, especially kids, have the impression that Santa is a kind of animal.

Thais like to copy, but before you copy things make sure that no damage will be done as result. Please relay this message to Chonburi Zoo and remove that Santa's outfit from their animals. If they want to feature Santa, let them do what Santa does ... give gifts to children.

Santa has been loved and respected by us since we were children. We wait for him every year. At least, that is what I teach my children. Please respect us. Imagine your national outfit being worn by an animal. What would you feel? Please don't make fun of Santa Claus.

Liza Castaneda

Bangkok