“By using the parentheses, this punctuation mark emphasizes the importance of the name in front of the parentheses,” said Santi Phakidkham, the deputy secretary general of the Office of the Royal Society. The Royal Society’s ruling was subtle, rendering the formal name for international purposes as “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok),” rather than what it had been: “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Bangkok.” In February, the Office of the Royal Society, the official guardian of the Thai language, issued a decision that appeared to underscore its position that the capital should be known everywhere as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, rather than Bangkok. It is drawn from the holy Pali and Sanskrit languages used in Buddhist and Hindu texts. The full moniker means City of Angels, Grand City of Immortals, Magnificent City of Nine Jewels (and so on and so on). None of those 168 Thai letters, it should be noted, spells out “Bangkok.” The formal name of the capital of Thailand runs 168 letters, so long that it has entered the Guinness World Records: Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.

“If I were the government, I would first take care of my people and fix the economy instead of making a fuss over a name for political reasons,” she said.

Bangkok garden kor tor mor