Editing Northern Thai people (section)

=== Contemporary history ===
Despite the Thaification policies, the Tai Yuan have retained their own cultural identity even if that is now mostly referred to as Northern Thai) The Tai Yuan have their own dance tradition, and a [[Thai cuisine#Northern shared dishes|cuisine]] very different from that of central Thailand. Even if almost all residents of northern Thailand understand and can speak the standard Thai language, which is compulsory in schools, most of them still speak the Northern Thai language at home. However, since 1985 the use of the language has declined. Since then, the younger generations have used the Northern Thai language less and less and so the language was to be expected to disappear in the medium term.<ref>Thanet Charoenmuang: ''When the Young Cannot Speak their Own Mother Tongue. Explaining a Legacy of Cultural Domination of Cultural Domination in Lan Na.'' In: ''Regions and National Integration in Thailand 1892–1992.'' 1995, S. 82 ff.</ref>

On the other hand, there has been a renaissance of Lanna culture since the mid-1990s. Especially around the 700th anniversary of Chiang Mai in 1996, a great pride in its own history and tradition could be established. At [[Chiang Mai University]] in particular, a number of scholars are dedicated to researching traditions and cultivating cultural heritage. Since then, some Northern Thai women, mainly the middle and upper classes, have been wearing the classic dresses of the north again on special occasions, made of hand-made cotton. In many public institutions and government agencies it is customary to wear clothes made of traditional textiles on Fridays. There are regular performances of Lan Na music and dance, as well as demonstrations of traditional handicrafts. As an expression of the own regional character, signs with lettering in Lanna script are again being set up in some places.<ref>Charles F. Keyes: ''Cultural Diversity and National Identity in Thailand'' In: ''Government policies and ethnic relations in Asia and the Pacific.'' MIT Press, 1997, S. 215f.</ref><ref>Pinkaew Laungaramsri: ''Ethnicity and the politics of ethnic classification in Thailand.'' In: ''Ethnicity in Asia.'' RoutledgeCurzon, London/ New York 2003, S. 163.</ref><ref>Rebecca Sue Hall: ''Of Merit and Ancestors. Buddhist Banners of Northern Thailand and Laos.'' Dissertation, University of California, Los Angeles 2008, S. 69–71.</ref>