Wai

*THE WAI*
The 'wai' is not just a way of saying hello without using words,it is an action of Respect.As such,its use conforms to all that we will have to say about Thai values and attitudes.It's the most significant of the many socail actions that reinforce Thai social structure.It does so through puclic literal demonstration of what we shall call the'height rule'.This basic rule is simple and clear:in any social encounter the social inferior takes on a physically inferior position and the socail superior assumes a posture of physical superiority.Height is right.
By Robert and Nanthapa Cooper