While learning Thai I came across something I never knew from other languages:
The titles Khun (คุณ) and Than (ท่าน) while Than is said in down tone ('):
- Thai people would most often refer nonformally to a foreign (Thai or not) with
Khun first_name - Thai people would most often refer formally to a venerated official (usually a government official) with
Than first_name - It is generally avoided to name a person by his alleged last name
- These titles are generally omitted if the referred person is a close fried or family member.
It is important for me to emphasize that both Khun and Than have nothing to do with gender sensation or gender identity.
Does genderless referral to a person as existent in Thai language existent in other langues as well and if so, in which?
