Yawi

Encyclopedia : Y : YA : YAW : Yawi

Yawi is the transcription of the Thai word ยาวี, which Thai people understand to be the Patani Malay language (or Bahasa Melayu Patani in Malay). The name of the language might more accurately be transcribed to Jawi as that is how it is rendered using the Arabic alphabet. However, as the Thai letter ย is normally transcribed as 'y', the romanized "Yawi" is not entirely in error.

Yawi is widely spoken in the southern Thailand provinces of Narathiwat, Yala, Pattani, and some areas in Songkhla. It is estimated that there are three million Yawi (Patani Malay) speakers [link].

Patani Malay is a dialect of Malay and utilizes Jawi in writing. Hence, it is unintelligible to most Thais. Malay and possibly Patani Malay once had influence as far north as Isthmus of Kra, Phuket (originated from the Malay word bukit or "hill") and Surat Thani during the times of Srivijaya. In fact, a large number place names in southern Thailand are of Malay origin.

The Patani Malay dialect is similar to that of Kelantanese Malay.

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