The Thai script – lesson 11

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For those who regularly stay in Thailand or have Thai family, it is useful to have the Thai language to make it your own. With enough motivation, practically anyone of any age can learn the language. I really don't have a language talent myself, but after about a year I can still speak basic Thai. In the following lessons a short introduction with the commonly used characters, words and sounds. Lesson 11 today.

The Thai script – lesson 11

Lesson 11 today

Consonants

We will repeat the material from the past lessons so that you can fully absorb the Thai sounds and writing. Let's start with the consonants, do you recognize most of the consonants in this video from ThaiPod101?

In Thai, some sounds are identical or very similar. Hence, each letter has a word associated with it. A bit like we know the 'H of fence'. When spelling letter by letter, the Thai will therefore say the 'initial sound + oh + word'. For example: 'koh-kài' , 'tjoh-tjaang', 'ngoh-ngoe:', 'soh-sôo', 'joh-jǐng' and so on.

The most important consonants in a row (below is not the entire alphabet):

Vowels

Of course we can't forget the vowels:

When naming (spelling) vowels, for example the vowel -ะ you say: สระ-ะ (sàrà -a). Literally: 'the vowel a'. An exception is the vowel ั, which has the same short 'a' sound as the -ะ. To distinguish them, the latter is spelled ไม้หันอากาศ (máai hăn-aa-kàat).

A more extensive overview of the alphabet and the Dutch pronunciation can be found at:

http://slapsystems.nl/Boek-De-Thaise-Taal/voorbeeld-pagina-s/

With practice and repetition you should be able to remember the above characters. Try to recognize Thai sounds and texts in word and scripture in daily life. If you are in Thailand, take a look at the number plates of cars, or texts on billboards, signs and signposts. Try to get the meaning from the context, little by little you will recognize more and more. You will also unconsciously pick up some grammar.

Hopefully, this passive knowledge of Thai (reading, listening) will also make you excited for the more difficult part of a language: the active knowledge (talking, writing). Of course there is more grammar involved. Not exactly the nicest of a language but you can't get around it. So you will also have to work on your pronunciation by talking to someone who speaks Thai well or fluently. This in connection with the corrections to the tones and length of vowels and so on. Hopefully there are still a few readers left who have not lost heart. In the next lesson, we're going to look at a little grammar.

Hey don't run away!!

Recommended materials:

1. The book 'the Thai language' and downloadable materials by Ronald Schütte. See: http://slapsystems.nl

2. The textbook 'Thai for beginners' by Benjawan Poomsan Becker.

3. www.thai-language.com