Has anybody here attempted any Thai? We have tried out a few phrases and got mixed reactions to them. On one occasion husband tried out a much practiced phrase and was met with puzzlement- he tried again and then gave up and said it in English(this was in a restaurant). When we got back to our hotel he asked the receptionist to listen to what he said and it was perfect. Have since been told that many Thais in the hospitality industry find it a bit insulting if you try to speak their language as it is their job to learn ours. Is this really the case?
Have to say that the Thai language would be some challenge to learn!
This is the site that you need . . . . LearningThai .com
One of the problems is that the language is tonal so if you use an incorrect tone then a word has an entirely different meaning. I'd say that a receptionist in a good hotel has more experience of listening to visitors attempt Thai than a waiter and so they would be better at deciphering what was said.
I'm pretty bad at Thai - I only got a 'C' in French 'O' level years ago, so I was never much of a linguist, but I still have problems if I speak to someone who isn't used to hearing foreigners attempt Thai. Most Thais are happy when you try to speak their language and they'll go out of their way to give you a few bits of vocabulary etc.
It'd be rare if they thought that a visitor attempting to sepak their language was an insult. But I guess if they are working in a busy restaurant they'd rther get your order written and be away than give a language class.
One of the problems is that the language is tonal so if you use an incorrect tone then a word has an entirely different meaning. I'd say that a receptionist in a good hotel has more experience of listening to visitors attempt Thai than a waiter and so they would be better at deciphering what was said.
I'm pretty bad at Thai - I only got a 'C' in French 'O' level years ago, so I was never much of a linguist, but I still have problems if I speak to someone who isn't used to hearing foreigners attempt Thai. Most Thais are happy when you try to speak their language and they'll go out of their way to give you a few bits of vocabulary etc.
It'd be rare if they thought that a visitor attempting to sepak their language was an insult. But I guess if they are working in a busy restaurant they'd rther get your order written and be away than give a language class.
thanks for the website - have saved it to favourites. I did know about the tones and that must make it so difficult to learn the language. Re the incident in the restaurant- it was actually almost empty as there had been a huge downpour and the roads were rivers. Maybe she was just having a bad day! It was then that we had been told that Thais in the service industry expect you to speak in your own language.
Hi
You should always learn the basics when you are travelling abroad in any language. I get embarressed when I see fellow brits talking to everyone in english and expecting a response.
The Thai people are very friendly indeed and all of them without exception will be so appreciative of any attempt to speak their language.
The best tip that I have which I found out when I was in Thailand was to learn to count in Thai. You have to haggle in the markets and if you can haggle in the Thai language then you will get the goods at a fraction of the price compared to if you haggle in english. It is a difficult language to learn but the benefits of learning just a little will justify your efforts.
You should always learn the basics when you are travelling abroad in any language. I get embarressed when I see fellow brits talking to everyone in english and expecting a response.
The Thai people are very friendly indeed and all of them without exception will be so appreciative of any attempt to speak their language.
The best tip that I have which I found out when I was in Thailand was to learn to count in Thai. You have to haggle in the markets and if you can haggle in the Thai language then you will get the goods at a fraction of the price compared to if you haggle in english. It is a difficult language to learn but the benefits of learning just a little will justify your efforts.
bwiiian
Welcome to HT! Thanks for that- I do actually remind myself of numbers and a few basic phrases. (very basic!!)
Welcome to HT! Thanks for that- I do actually remind myself of numbers and a few basic phrases. (very basic!!)
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