Dialect endangerment; The case of Nonthaburi Malay

Abstract

[...]war hardships caused the cessation of oral literary activities in the Malay community (see below), which restricted language use and contributed to a change in speakers' attitudes towards their language. The government agreed, as long as waqf (mosque-owned) land was used. [...]public schools were built on mosque grounds in the Malay villages, modelled after the public schools located in Buddhist temples. Improved transportation conditions, which brought highways to within walking distance and motorboats right into the villages, also decreased the Malays' isolation. [...]the proportion of elementary school graduates among Malay villagers was rapidly increasing. [...]I.I. grew up bilingual, and his proficiency in Thai was reinforced when he entered elementary school.I.I. was the oldest speaker interviewed for this study who reported having spoken Thai with his parents.