Isan, Issan or Isaan?

[PeteC]

Three distinct spellings seen in publications this morning, and almost everyday. Which one is correct, and the correct pronunciation?

To me:

1) Isan would be pronounced short I, SAN.

2) Issan, I as long E, (why I don't know, could be short I sound as well) drawn out double S sound, then AN.

3) Isaan, IS as 'is', drawn out double A, then N.

Pete

[Big Boy]

TIT - Does it matter?

I've seen a family of 3's Thai passports, each with the surname spelt differently. Surely, as long as the Thai spelling is correct, that's what really matters.

[Bamboo Grove]

English language knows no difference between short and long vowels and this is were the problem starts. I would go for option 3 as the "a" is a long vowel like in the English word "can't" pronounced in English accent.

[caller]

Esarn?

[Big Boy]

[PeteC]

Believe it or not, the printed Bangkok Post arrives this morning and on the front page is yet a fourth spelling. "Amazing I-san Fair 2011" Pete

EDIT: If an uninitiated looking at that, I would think he would pronounce it 'eye-san'.

[caller]

Pete, I wasn't kidding with Esarn, though I guess its to reflect the pronounciation? Possibly the oldest established and best(?) Thai restaurant in London - most are crap - is Esarn Kheaw.

http://www.esarnkheaw.com/ab_esarn.html
http://sticky-rice.com/esarn_people_of_ ... iland.html
http://www.ratedesi.com/video/tag/esarn

[PeteC]

Here's what we have according to Google:

Isan ภาคอีสาน
Issan อีสาน
Isaan อีสาน
Esarn อีสาน

[BaaBaa.]

Always thought Isaan myself.

[STEVE G]

I think on the sign it says "Welcome to Issan" but I'll have a look to see if I have a photo of it.
I've also seen it written as É-san as well.

[nanyang]

English language knows no difference between short and long vowels and this is were the problem starts. I would go for option 3 as the "a" is a long vowel like in the English word "can't" pronounced in English accent.

The a in can't is a short vowel sound.

The difference in a short vowel and a long vowel sound:-

can cane

That's enough for today, lesson over

[Roel]

"Official" spelling would be ISAN.
Personally I would prefer Isaan to show the 'a' is a long vowel.

See here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Thai ... nscription

Important quotes from the above: "the closest thing to a standard of transcription" and "its use by even the government is inconsistent".

[HAPPYGOLFER]

san (Isan/Thai: อีสาน [ʔiːsǎːn]; also written as Isaan, Isarn, Issan, or Esarn;[1]) is the northeast region of Thailand. It is located on the Khorat Plateau, bordered by the Mekong River (along the border with Laos) to the north and east, by Cambodia to the southeast and the Prachinburi mountains south of Nakhon Ratchasima. To the west it is separated from Northern and Central Thailand by the Phetchabun mountain range.
From the beginning of the 20th century this region in northeastern Thailand was officially named as Isan, a term adopted from Sanskrit Ishan that means “north east direction.” The term "Isan" was originally derived from Isanapura, capital of the Chenla kingdom. The Lao-speaking people from this region, who comprise a majority of the population, distinguish themselves not only from the Lao of Laos but in addition also the central Thai by calling themselves later as Khon Isan, or Thai Isan. The Khmer and Kuy (Suai) who live in the southern part of the northeast region of Thailand communicated in languages and follow customs that are more similar to Cambodia than to the tradition of either the Thai people or the Lao people.[2]

[hhfarang]

As in any non English alphabet language, the spelling of any term is the spelling of what the phonetic is perceived to be in the speaker's/speller's language and I don't believe there is an official English spelling. We've always used Issan.

[charlesh]

Should be spelt - The land time Forgot!