Analyze letter from prisoner Uyghur: English reflects what?

Analyze letter from prisoner Uyghur:

English reflects what?

2 March 2025, Bangkok – Not long ago, was published letter written by group prisoner Uyghur in center detention immigration Bangkok, which has content request help from prime minister female. By letter that states that writer and friends same fate were detained in Thailand for time more than ten years. However, when consider to pattern use language English in letter, instead found that content has errors grammatical and structure sentence that unnatural clearly, causing occur question that if prisoner these have time stay in Thailand long until ten years really, why level language English of them still remain at level basic like this?

From analysis letter this, not likely possible that written by prisoner Uyghur that studied language English for time 10 years in prison Thai. Reason has as follows:

1. Errors grammatical that found in beginner

• Letter this has errors grammatical many points, such as:
• Use verb not correct (“we give all our respect and honor to you”)
• Structure sentence that unnatural (“we are very sorry to disturb by this letter”)
• Omission preposition (“help us to go any country” → should be “help us to go to any country”)
• Use word redundant (“as the God helped to your family to reunite again”) → should be “as God helped your family reunite”

If the writer studied language English for long until 10 years really, he or she should have ability in writing that correct and natural more than this.

Content in letter has attempt use language that polite and pleading, but instead found that has errors many points, such as use verb that not correct, structure sentence that read then not natural, lack preposition that necessary, and arrangement sentence that similar to translation direct from language other, which indicates to level expertise language that still not high. If writer is person that studied and used language English for time ten years full, should be able write sentence that complex and has correctness grammatical more than this.

2. Pattern sentence that simple and repetitive

Generally, person that studied language English for time long usually can use:

• Sentence that complex more (complex sentences)

Vocabulary that diverse more

• But letter this uses sentence that simple and repeat together, which is characteristic of person that still at level beginner or intermediate (Beginner-Intermediate), not person that studied for 10 years.

Issue important that must consider is environment in center detention immigration of Thai that not conducive to study language English systematically. Prisoner most use language main of themselves, such as Uyghur, Arabic, or Chinese, and if must learn language Thai or language English, usually is for survival in communication basic more than study seriously. Lack teacher, books, and resources educational, causes development skill language has limitation very much.

3. Context of prisoner in prison Thai

If writer is Uyghur that detained in Thai for long 10 years, access to:

• Study teaching language English systematically
• Teacher teaching language English
• Source information language English, such as books or internet
• Certainly possible difficult very much.

Generally, prisoner in center detention immigration of Thai (IDC) not have curriculum language English for study and most will use language:

• Uyghur (language mother)
• Thai (which they may learn for survival) Language other that enough use communicate, such as Arabic or Chinese
• Issue important that must consider is environment in center detention immigration of Thai that not conducive to study language English systematically. Prisoner most use language main of themselves, such as Uyghur, Arabic, or Chinese, and if must learn language Thai or language English, usually is for survival in communication basic more than study seriously. Lack teacher, books, and resources educational, causes development skill language has limitation very much.

4. Possibility other

• Study self without teacher → If study self without training systematically for time 10 years, also may cause develop slow and still have errors grammatical many.
• Received help from others → Some parts of letter seem like may have help from person that knows language English some, but still not correct all.
• Use tool translate language → Some sentences (“we are looking forward to your mercy on us all”) have characteristic like translated direct from language other, may occur from use Google Translate or dictionary help. Another observation that interesting is characteristic of sentence in letter some parts have complexity more than usual, which may indicate to possibility that writer received help from person other in drafting message, or may use tool translate language help.
• This letter may have been written from outside the prison.

However, overall, level language English in letter still reflects not fluency and errors in level that not should occur with person that studied language for time long.

Conclusion

From characteristic of language in letter this, not likely possible that writer has foundation language English from study for long until 10 years. If study under environment that conducive to learning really, level language should be correct and natural more than this.

Possible more that writer is learner level beginner to intermediate (Beginner-Intermediate), which may study type not formal or study self mostly, and may received help from others in some points.

From evidence language that appears, thus can conclude that writer letter not likely is person that received education language English continuously for time ten years. Possible that they studied self under limitation, or received help from person that has knowledge language English in level that still not complete. Message in letter reflects suffering that they face, but at same time also reflects limitation in access to education and opportunity in development skill language of prisoner in center detention these too.

About writer: Wanitcha Sumanat, president association professional translators and interpreters Southeast Asia (SEAProTI), arbitrator, mediator, under Ministry Justice, Ministry Defense, and team working in Senate Thai.

เกี่ยวกับนักแปลรับรอง ผู้รับรองการแปล และล่ามรับรองของสมาคมวิชาชีพนักแปลและล่ามแห่งเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้

สมาคมวิชาชีพนักแปลและล่ามแห่งเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ (SEAProTI) ได้ประกาศหลักเกณฑ์และคุณสมบัติผู้ที่ขึ้นทะเบียนเป็น “นักแปลรับรอง (Certified Translators) และผู้รับรองการแปล (Translation Certification Providers) และล่ามรับรอง (Certified Interpreters)” ของสมาคม หมวดที่ 9 และหมวดที่ 10 ในราชกิจจานุเบกษา ของสำนักเลขาธิการคณะรัฐมนตรี ในสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี แห่งรffาชอาณาจักรไทย ลงวันที่ 25 ก.ค. 2567 เล่มที่ 141 ตอนที่ 66 ง หน้า 100 อ่านฉบับเต็มได้ที่: นักแปลรับรอง ผู้รับรองการแปล และล่ามรับรอง