Why doesn't the Thai language use spaces between words?

The Thai script traditionally does not use spaces between words, and there are historical and linguistic reasons for this characteristic:

1. Abugida Script:

   • Thai is written in an abugida script, where consonants are written with inherent vowel sounds. The script is syllabic, and each character represents a combination of a consonant and a vowel. In traditional Thai script, spaces were not used to separate words because the script structure inherently conveys the combination of consonant and vowel sounds in each syllable.

2. Syllabic Nature:

   • The Thai script is designed to represent complete syllables, and a syllable in Thai typically consists of a consonant and a vowel sound. The absence of spaces is related to the inherent syllabic nature of the script.

3. Word Segmentation Challenges:

   • Unlike some alphabetic scripts where words are typically separated by spaces, determining word boundaries in Thai can be more complex. Thai words can vary in length, and syllables may be combined in ways that make it less straightforward to segment text into individual words.

4. Orthographic Tradition:

   • The lack of spaces between words in Thai is deeply rooted in the orthographic tradition of the language. This tradition has been maintained over centuries, and there hasn't been a widespread historical push to adopt spaces between words.

5. Modern Conventions:

   • While traditional Thai script doesn't use spaces between words, modern writing, especially in printed materials and digital media, may sometimes include spaces for clarity and ease of reading. However, this usage of spaces is more of a modern convention and is not strictly adhered to in all contexts.

6. Scripts for Spaces:

   • In some cases, spaces between words are indicated by using a special symbol called "kor hai" (ๆ), which serves as a word divider. However, its use is not as prevalent as spaces in alphabetic scripts.

It's important to note that the absence of spaces between words is a characteristic of the script rather than the language itself. While traditional Thai script lacks spaces, written Thai can still be understood through contextual clues, grammar, and familiarity with the language. In modern times, especially in digital communication and print media, spaces are sometimes used to facilitate readability, but the traditional script without spaces remains common in various contexts.