Re: Back to basics - or musings of an old bore

[Zandbergen@xxxxxxxxxxx (Rene Zandbergen)]

bfarnell@xxxxxxx wrote:

> I don't know much about Thai, but I do remember a speaking to someone
> studying it when I was at the language institute.  I remember it having
> a huge number of characters in it's alphabet.  Can someone refresh me on
> the number of characters in the VMS (I know there is quite a bit of
> uncertainty).

There are 40-odd consonants in the Thai alphabet, but this number is
so high since each one of them is present roughly three times, in 
different tones (although this doesn't actually indicate the tone
to be used for the syllable, if I understand correctly).
There's a relatively high number of vowels and diphthongs as well.

Cheers, Rene