Question of the week: Should we learn Thai?
Recently I made the simple analysis: The world population consists of 7 billion people and there are 70 million who speak the Thai language, or 1% of the world population (I do not take into account the illiteracy of the Thai population).
Normally we come to a country and see ourselves as a guest and try to learn the language of the country. This is how I learned my first words of German, French, Spanish and Italian 45 years ago. Later in high school to learn English, French and German, which I now speak quite fluently.
In Thailand I also try to speak a few words in Thai, but because of the different pitches and tones it does not always come across and that is not my fault because the Thai themselves misinterpret the English words or misinterpret the tone themselves.
Recently I was in a restaurant and ordered a Mai Tai, a yellow curry and kow (rice) to which the waitress asks “white kow”, yes Mrs. white kow. You already understand, I got a Mai Tai, yellow curry, white rice (Kow) and white wine (white kow).
I was served white wine which I didn't actually order, but the total was delicious, but my pitch and length had not been right or is this a commercial thought on the part of the waitress?
On my world travels I always came across people who mastered the English language (also in China).
My comment on this: Isn't it easier to teach English to the 10 million Thai people who work in the tourist areas than to teach all the annual tourists and expats (about 26 million) to speak Thai? Bad English is almost understandable. From “Leel good loom” you immediately understand that they mean Real good room.
On this globe, approximately 1 billion people speak Mandarin (Chinese), about 8 billion speak the English language. It seems self-evident to me to focus on these 2,8 languages, which the better schools in Thailand are doing now, but unfortunately not in the entire country.
Fortunately, Google Translate helps me translate Dutch into Thai when I want to explain something simple.
Finally an anecdote:
They work at the Food & Drug Administration, but none of them speak a word of English. The word for farewell that's come through reasonably well is "Bye Bye," so they'll get there.
Submitted by Ruud.
You can expect the Thai in tourist areas to master a language that tourists also understand.
Chinese for example.
You can expect expats to at least study the language of their new country of residence sufficiently to be able to have simple conversations.
That's up to the Thai people! The last thing I want from a Thai is for him to speak English just because I'm in his own country. I am the one who has to adapt. Not them!
I even think it's haughty to say this. In fact, I know plenty of foreigners who can't even speak English yet, but only their native language. For example, sometimes I help someone with 3BB because she does not understand what is being said. That's too crazy to let loose.
Dear Jack,
Something like that has to grow, my parents spoke no English at all, I speak reasonable English and my children speak English very well, I think that their children will be brought up with the English language (TV and games) and will also speak English very well. Then we are in a developed country, already 4 generations further, that will also happen in Thailand, just a bit slower I think.
If you see on TV, how many get a bachelor's degree, (ok, ok, comparable to NL college)
they will (I hope) still be able to speak reasonable English.
Greetings Nico
It never really bothers me when other people don't speak English as well.
What strikes me is that 'we Dutch' always think we speak English so terribly well, while 'terribly well' is often disappointing in practice.
My native language is Dutch (dialect even) and not English. I can get by, but everyone immediately hears that I'm not a native speaker. Dutch and English are related, so English is relatively easy for us to learn.
That is of course very different for people who grow up with another language family as their native language.
Don't get annoyed, just marvel and enjoy life.
Hello Samee,
I also noticed that there are an awful lot of Dutch people who don't speak English.
Now we don't speak Thai.
Ever started in the Netherlands with a DVD (antique huh?) and copying.
Do you think you say it right and the Thai will tell you how to do it.
Well, I really don't understand the difference. (could it be the thai? 🙂
Fortunately I speak fluent English in word and writing, but noticed when you speak English to a Thai as usual your Dutch, people do not understand it.
Well if you speak like "me Tarzan you Jane"
This also produces humorous scenes.
If 2 Thais get a giggle, the "swan sticks to" principle starts and you have about the entire market around you, for example.
Have now bought the book that Gringo recommended, translated by an Englishman by a Dutchman, because I want to get the hell out of it a bit, but very difficult.
Yes, as one gets older……………
LOUISE
It is simply impossible to ever learn all the finer points of a language at a later age. If you don't learn to tell the difference between the different sounds you need for speech or not in your first year of life, forget it.
Because we do not have to deal with pitches in our first year of life, it becomes extremely difficult (if not impossible) to master this later in life. For example, a Thai will always have trouble with our g and rolling r.
And then you are only talking about the pronunciation, the feeling that you put into your language, you also have to be spoon-fed.
It is always useful if you can speak Thai, but standard Thai, and it is also sometimes useful if you do not speak Thai at all, not even English, but just the dialect from your country of origin.
I've been coming to Thailand for 25 years and, almost, never have a problem when I need something. In Thailand they speak Thai, get used to it. With good will on both sides, it will really work.
Whatever country you live in, try to learn the language and customs there. Even if it is just the basics (400/500 words), the rest will follow naturally. People like to teach others something, especially their own language.
Most learned it at high school or university, but people refuse to speak English. Same as the French on the Riviera. Thailand prides itself on their own language. Even the government is making no effort to improve English. The Prime Minister wants to see more Thai lessons in schools. The Thai language is very difficult. If you study 4 hours every day you will learn it within 1 year. But it remains unbelievable how few people speak English. Not even in BKK and Pukhet and other touristy cities. Not on banks, etc., etc.
We Dutch adapt to the foreigner. But foreigners don't do that in the Netherlands. So English is a world language that every graduate should master. Many foreigners live in Thailand
And very few packagings in supermarkets have English on them. I totally disagree with the statement that we should learn Thai. are Dutch
Willing to teach foreigners Dutch but not a Thai. They just say learn it yourself
You can expect from a Thai who has to do with tourists that they can at least understand this tourist. For a Thai who earns his daily bread from tourists, I actually see it as a duty, and also as a useful advantage that they speak at least basic English.
I shouldn't expect this from someone who has nothing to do with tourists, and can at best be grateful that they make an effort. I can only advise a Farang who lives somewhere in the country, where very little English is spoken, to learn Thai himself. Someone who settles for an interlocutor, who only speaks a few words of English, quickly pushes his own boundaries. Every conversation is very superficial, and it is not long before one begins to feel very lonely. I myself see many Farangs who live in a village, who can only greet in Thai, and who try to cure their loneliness with the excessive use of alcohol. In addition, we expect a Thai who will live in Europe to at least learn the language of the country.
Why should you expect that?
If he/she does not want to speak English, you can choose to buy/rent your souvenirs, pad thai or hotel room from another Thai. Then he will eventually notice that learning a little English might not be such a bad idea.
And if all Thai refuse to learn English, you can choose to go to another country to enjoy your holiday. No one is forcing you to go to Thailand.
the wise of the land, the honor of the land. Something like that.
Stubborn people that Thai.
“If you don't understand us, if you don't like it, why don't you go on holiday or live somewhere else”.
Do all Spaniards in the tourist areas now speak English so well?
Are we going to replace all “Zimmer Frei” in Scheveningen with “Room for rent”?
There are other issues in Thailand that should be addressed in the field of education. Even before they start improving English.
When we receive Chinese, Thai or Japanese tourists in Belgium or the Netherlands, do we expect them to speak Dutch? If we immigrate to a certain country, in this case Thailand, it is desirable that we learn and understand the basics of the language. , but not if you go on holiday there for a few weeks once or every year!
The Thais who want to make money from tourists and work in tourist places should MANDATORY learn English, simply because almost every tourist speaks English and it is a world language.
Many Thais speak Russian very well, not for pleasure, but to make money from those people.
Just look at the neighboring countries to see how many people are committed to learning English, while those countries have far fewer tourists than Thailand, but we know the Thai, a TV, party and mai pen rai, they prefer to hire Filipinos and then just do a tukske, easier, no, right?
I don't think you can OBLIGATE a Thai to speak English in his own country.
That will be really nice.
It is true that the chance of a job increases if he masters a foreign language.
NOT necessarily English.
Russian, Japanese, Chinese or French is also good.
Dear Ruud,
I think you misread what Patrick meant.
If a Thai wants to work with tourists, you can at least require him to speak English.
Moreover, if this Thai has even more knowledge of other languages, this can have an extra advantage for him. Moreover, the Thai assumes that every Westerner speaks English, and
is therefore, if he wants to work in the tourism sector, MANDATORY to learn English.
If you want to work in a hotel, the question is regularly asked all over the world, Do you speak
English”, any other language that you can speak extra, is of great advantage, but is certainly not the first question of a Western tourist. English is still the world language and is still seen as an obligation in every hotel when dealing with tourists. Also in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe you can oblige hotel staff to learn English, because otherwise they cannot actually function in this sector.
Of course, this cannot be expected from people who have nothing to do with tourists.
Let's be honest. What do you think, for example Marroks and other new Dutch people should speak Dutch? If not, okay then let's speak English in the Netherlands too. If you think this group should speak Dutch, why don't you learn Thai if you live in Thailand?
If you are alone on holiday, it will be English or hand and foot work. But isn't it great if you can order your coffee in Thai and/or your food in Thai, for example?
You are a guest in this country. I have always tried to speak these simple words be it in Spain, Portugal or Hungary.
Yes… We have to learn Thai when we live here. We Europeans know all too well how things should not go as with the so many new Europeans. I myself have been living here for almost a year, of which I have two hours of Thai lessons every weekend, privately since 4 months. It seems difficult at first, but now that I can explain something alone in a shop or at the market, this sparks my interest to learn even more Thai. It is an integration process that I and so many others have heard about in the Belgian and Dutch media and now find myself in the shoes of a migrant.
The Thais really like that you can speak to them…although it takes a lot of practice to understand them in their different versions “Thai”
And for 225 baht per hour professional private lesson…. Surely we're not going to die.
My answer to the question: “should we learn Thai?” Is: we don't have to do anything!
Just as you cannot force the Thai population to learn English. There are of course situations in which it is useful if both conversation partners know the same language, whether this is Thai, Dutch, English or something else.
In the example that the questioner gives, the confusion seems to me to arise mainly because two different languages are used interchangeably and then also in an incorrect manner and with probably incorrect pronunciation. This causes confusion on both sides. In an establishment where you can get mai tai and wine, they will also have a multilingual menu. I'd say take advantage of that.
If you come to Thailand as a tourist, it may not be worth it, but for me personally, learning the Thai language has a lot of added value in everyday life.
Small tip: if you want white rice, order ' khâaw suaí' (literally: beautiful rice) or ' steamed rice' (steamed rice)
Success.
from questioner: Recently I was in a restaurant and ordered a Mai Tai, a yellow curry and kow (rice) to which the waitress asks “white kow”, yes Mrs. white kow. You already understand, I got a Mai Tai, yellow curry, white rice (Kow) and white wine (white kow).
Yes, I understand that you got the wrong things because if you ask for something in a totally incorrect way, you can hardly expect to get the right thing : "kow" is not rice and a color is preceded in Thai by the indication that it a color goes through the word "sie".
lung addie
Counting and other basic words are not that difficult. In fact, it is wise to learn as much as possible.
An example: this afternoon I was approached by a beautiful woman. "Pai mai?" = Are you coming?
We didn't need many words and it was a pleasant afternoon. If you don't immerse yourself in the language, you will miss a lot. A tip. Watch YouTube and learn something every day. It makes life more beautiful.
What I run into is that despite my "Thai" language, the people who speak a dialect do not
understand.Many dialects in Thailand.
More and more people from neighboring countries are working in restaurants and hotels
so that my Thai language is no use to me again. English is usually the solution.
Sometimes I have pictures with me to show what I need, eg of a door closer.
If you really live in Thailand, I think you should learn at least a few words,
so that you get to know the people and customs better.
Sincerely,
Lodewijk
There are undoubtedly many dialects in Thailand.
However, Thai is generally taught in schools.
Except for the older people, almost everyone can speak Thai.
It is possible that this is even different in remote areas, due to a lack of good Thai-speaking teachers there.
Dear Louis,
High Thai is normally taught in all Thai schools, and later understood by the majority of the population. Also on Thai TV and radio, high Thai is spoken and understood throughout Thailand. If this so-called high Thai would cause so many difficulties in understanding as you describe it, then most Thais could sell their TV and radio, moreover, communication between the Thais would hardly be possible anymore, and just like you with photos walk through the different provinces to make themselves clear. Sorry to ask you this question, but maybe it's because of your way of speaking Thai.
Dear John,
I don't doubt that for a second, but I'm doing my best!
Sometimes a bit tricky if you ask for directions.
Greetings,
Lodewijk
If everyone speaks their own language and English, then there is no problem anywhere in the world.
I'm Belgian so I also had to learn English, not that difficult.
There must be a world language and that may well be English for me! (It already is, by the way)
For the people of Thailand this is a bit more difficult than for us but if you want to attract tourists who only stay here for a few weeks you can't expect them to learn Thai can you?
Greetings
Self
i totally agree with you.. 1 world language. .English. And this should be started as soon as possible
because everything that is written here is not always true. in the Netherlands people no longer have to learn Dutch. abolished for the foreigner. And can all Moroccans do that? We Dutch speak many languages. but many foreigners do not. And it is also not true that high-quality Thai is spoken in Thailand because on TV, Thai is spoken in Bangkok that differs slightly from the real Thai. that is said by many Thais. And everywhere in Thailand there are dialects. the same as in the Netherlands. It's just that all Dutch people adapt everywhere. in the Netherlands to the foreigners and in Thailand to the Thai people.
Dear Monte,
We don't have to start with 1 world language English, this has long been a reality.
Your opinion that you should not learn Dutch is also incorrect, because nowadays every Immigrant is expected to learn Dutch. Furthermore, high Thai is understood to mean that language that is taught in every Thai school, perhaps with a small accent, but understandable throughout the country. Just as in the Netherlands, high Dutch is taught at every school, with small accents, whether you are in Groningen or Limburg, for example, this language is also understood everywhere in the country, and is written the same. The fact that you can even hear on TV whether someone is from Bangkok or Chiangmai is nothing different in Thailand than anywhere else in this world. My wife can make herself understood throughout Thailand with her school of Thai, which is understood under (HIGH THAI), and of course speaks dialect in the village where she comes from.
It is not unusual that dialects are spoken in every country, but the common language taught in the schools is the colloquial speech, or as you call it the real language, which everyone is expected to understand.
As a Belgian I come from a country where no fewer than three different languages are spoken. I speak all three, Dutch and French fluently and in German I know quite well because of a then compulsory military service in Germany. I also speak English fluently due to the fact that the language used in aviation communication is English.
I live in Thailand and do my best to speak Thai as much as possible with the people here. I live here very rural and the people here only speak Thai, something I can't or shouldn't blame them at all. These people are at home here and have no need to speak English or anything. I am the one who needs to speak THEIR language because after all I need them more than they need me. At the market we always have fun and more fun because they like it when a Farang tries to speak Thai, they help me with that and every day I learn something new. My intention is not to enter into a conversation about Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde with them because that is of no use to anyone.
Lung addie