want "NO LIE MAN"

[Gaybutton]

Come on, GB, you surely are very familiar with their English language skills.

Yes, I am. I'm not saying they can understand English any better than the average farang can understand Thai. What I'm trying to say is it is the responsibility of both parties to make sure they have been understood. I don't understand why you seem to think it is only the responsibility of the farang.

 

Now GB you've been around long enough to know a Thai would lose an enormous amount of face by admitting 'I don't understand'!

Sorry, I don't agree. Not only do I disagree they would lose an enormous amount of face, I don't even agree they would lose any face. I have never encountered a Thai who has ever had a problem telling me he doesn't understand.

[Bob]

I have never encountered a Thai who has ever had a problem telling me he doesn't understand.

 

I've experienced hundreds (if not thousands) of situtations where there are misunderstandings between myself and Thais due to them not understanding what I said in English and/or due to my not understanding what they said in English. It almost has to be a daily occurrence. Rarely do they ever actually say they don't understand to me but, when I see the puzzlement in their eyes or faces, I usually pursue it further to clear up the misunderstanding (which usually is rather minor). You need to get out more.

 

I should note that almost all of these experiences do not involve bar boys.

 

P.S. Although rather minor in nature, I don't recall indicating it was my view that it was all the falang's responsibility (but mostly the falang's responsibility for the reasons stated).

[Gaybutton]

P.S. Although rather minor in nature, I don't recall indicating it was my view that it was all the falang's responsibility (but mostly the falang's responsibility for the reasons stated).

That was the impression I got. I agree it is a minor issue. Besides, I'm enjoying the debate. I wonder if people are noticing we are actually capable of debating an issue without the bitch contests that usually appear on certain other boards.

 

I also just realized what may end up being the next debate: farang or falang.

 

You need to get out more.

Ok. While I'm out, can I come to your place?

[Bob]

While I'm out, can I come to your place?

 

 

Lol. Sure. But first we'll have to carefully schedule the time and date so there are no misunderstandings, kao jai krab?

 

Yep, rather nice to be able to disagree on a internet message board without the usual associated personal slams, etc. Your wrong and stubborn as hell (almost as stubborn as me) but I'd never say that here.

[Gaybutton]

kao jai krab?

Mai kao jai.

 

When I argue, here's the way I really like:

 

[MrBill]

Their educational system hardly encourages any analytical thinking...

 

after all, it is English we're attempting to communicate with and many/most of them are hardly proficient with that language.

I've begun to wonder if the different contexts of the two languages plays any role here. My understanding is that Thai language has only present tense, and I have encountered several boys on line who seem to have trouble grasping future actions when they are not finalized. Example:

 

BOY: I want meet you.

ME: I would like to meet you also, but I'm not in Thailand now.

BOY: OK, what day you come Thai?

ME: I can't say what day I will come because I have to request holiday time from my work and look for good airfares. I hope I can come in October or November.

BOY: OK. What day you come?

ME: As I said, I don't know what day it will be yet, I am still planning.

BOY: Why you lie me? You say you come Thai then you say you not come!

 

Maybe it's my imagination, but the boys who have less facility in English seem to have trouble with the concept of future uncertainty

[MrBill]

I wonder if people are noticing we are actually capable of debating an issue without the bitch contests that usually appear on certain other boards.

Does that rule out the possibility of any bitch slapping taking place? If not,can you post pictures of the play-by-play?

[ChristianPFC]

I have to watch out more for signs that boys don't understand what I'm saying. I have sometimes problems with their pronunciation, but with time I get used to it. I occasionally ask questions like "Do you like ice-cream or cake?" and get a "Yes" as answer. (Thinking of it, I only once got "No" as answer in all my chats and talks with Thai boys.)

 

Sometimes I have to reword what a boy says to get him to confirm that this is what he wants to say. This reminds me of my time at the army. We had some training and the instructor told us what to do better next time and we had to repeat what he told us. Sounds silly, but it works.

 

As far as I know, there are some Farang that speak Thai well. Do they have the same problems? Or do all these problems disappear when you have a decent command of Thai and talk with the boys in Thai?

[Bob]

Maybe it's my imagination, but the boys who have less facility in English seem to have trouble with the concept of future uncertainty

 

Actually, I personally think it's how they are taught English....and often it's somewhat poor. I've had repeated discussion with the bf (he's taken English at the primary school level, high school level, and university level) and others about how to say something in English and too often I'm told I'm wrong because what their teacher taught them was right. I always get a kick out of that one.

 

It's true they don't use tenses (past and future) all that often as, in Thai, it's often understood from the context of the discussion. But they do have and use the tenses. For clear past tense, they never change the verb (like we do: go to went) but add the word "laew" which essentially means "already." So, "pom bpai rahn internet" means "I go to the internet shop" whereas "pom bpai rahn internet laew" essentially means "I previously went to the internet store" or, literally, "I go to the internet store already." But, if they added "yesterday" (mua-wan-nee) to the sentence or you're already talking about a past time period, they often skip the "laew" as you're supposed to figure it out from the context (yea, sometimes strange but it is logical).

For clear future tense, they add the word "ja" which, in many contexts, means "will." So, "pom ja bpai rahn internet" means "I will go to the internet shop." But, like past tense, if they specifically mention next week or the context is about a future time in the first place, they can skip it.

 

And maybe part of it is they really don't care to contemplate what it is you can do for them next week. They, like a lot younger people, live in present and are more interested in what you can do for them NOW!

 

[As noted in "rahn internet", the modifier (adjective in most cases) always follows the noun in Thai. So, literally, they will say "car red" instead of "red car." For example, I'm sure you've often heard "friend you" and what they mean is "your friend." Or, if they say "you friend me", they're trying to say "you're my friend."

[Gaybutton]

Does that rule out the possibility of any bitch slapping taking place? If not,can you post pictures of the play-by-play?

You'll have to translate that into English. I have no idea what you're talking about.

[Bob]

I occasionally ask questions like "Do you like ice-cream or cake?" and get a "Yes" as answer. (Thinking of it, I only once got "No" as answer in all my chats and talks with Thai boys.)

 

I took a couple of Thai language courses at Chiangmai University and, although a bit difficult (mainly due to the inability to retain very well at my age), what was often invaluable were the cultural nuances. For example only, if you ask a Thai if he is hungry, he'll say "a little" if he's not (as it's impolite to say "no, I'm not hungry").

My guess is that if they aren't very clear that they like something or say they only like it a little, they're trying to politely tell you they don't really like it at all.

[Guest buckeroo2]

 

[As noted in "rahn internet", the modifier (adjective in most cases) always follows the noun in Thai. So, literally, they will say "car red" instead of "red car." For example, I'm sure you've often heard "friend you" and what they mean is "your friend." Or, if they say "you friend me", they're trying to say "you're my friend."

 

Now I understand why I see so many "bar beer" signs on drinking establishments.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

When I was in the US I started taking Thai language lessons. The instructor said, "Thai is like English in that both read from left to right. That's where the similarity ends."

[Bob]

When I was in the US I started taking Thai language lessons. The instructor said, "Thai is like English in that both read from left to right. That's where the similarity ends."

 

I actually think Thai is probably easier to learn than English; however, one thing that still drives me nuts is there are no spaces between Thai words. I'd give an example but I can't seem to write with Thai font here.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

The tones are a problem for me, also there are different forms to use depend on who you are speaking to. (incorrect English grammar, I know)

[Guest fountainhall]

one thing that still drives me nuts is there are no spaces between Thai words

I watch the subtitles on TV and wonder how anyone can possibly figure the lines of letters out quickly!

 

Bob, your explanation about tenses is masterly. Any chance you'll come to Bangkok and teach Thai? There's at least one student here for you!

 

The tones are a problem for me

Just be glad you are not living in Hong Kong or south China. Cantonese has 9 different tones. Actually it's just three levels - low, middle and high - with the others being basically upward or downward inflections between them. The word 'gow' for example, always sounds rather like '9' in Thailand, and can indeed mean 9 depending on how you pronounce it. But it can also mean 'dog' or 'part of the male anatomy'. So, many foreigners make pretty embarrassing mistakes.