A couple of Thai girls in the UK who I know have said I can speak and write Thai very well, but have told me that Thai girls dont like the Westerners * who can speak the language becuse as they said " they too clever".
We assume that Thai's apreciate even the most basic attempt at the language, but is this true? Are we seen as being of higher status if we can speak Thai or is this just a myth?
I suppose it would be harder for your average bar girl to scam a Westerner * who speaks the language, but what do the avarage Thai citizens, Taxi drivers, shop assistants waiters think of us?
* Hate the word fa**ng
What Do Thais think of Westerners who speak Thai?
Good question. I have also had the "khun pood pasah thai chut mahk" comments since I have made the effort to learn to read and write it. Overall I think Thai's are impressed with foreigners that have made the effort to learn their language. I have no shortage of people that want to talk to me when they know I speak Thai.
With regards to your other aspect you really must consider the motives of the girl that says "farangs who speak Thai roo mahk". They do not have your best interests at heart which is why they don't want you learning their language. With you in the dark they can "nintah" (gossip) till their hearts content, scam away baby!
With regards to your other aspect you really must consider the motives of the girl that says "farangs who speak Thai roo mahk". They do not have your best interests at heart which is why they don't want you learning their language. With you in the dark they can "nintah" (gossip) till their hearts content, scam away baby!
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Larry
All in your posted are good questions and are good points, K-should we work this out? I am Thai person, and
I also like to ask many foreigners as well, why don’t they (some of foreigners) like a Thai person who knows too much of English? And I am sure this question is exactly the same foreigners asking Thais.
***A couple of Thai girls in the UK who I know have said I can speak and write Thai very well, but have told me that Thai girls dont like the Westerners * who can speak the language because as they said " they too clever***
Right! Too clever doesn’t means bad, but I am try to work this out so I think what they means is: they don’t like the foreigners who they can speak loads of Thai words but they have used the wrong times of the words and to the wrong person to talk to sometimes, many of foreigners in hua hin I have met-most of them talking very good Thai, but also lot of times I heard they using very bad words to the Thai person as they might don’t know its not good words at all, or they just like to showing off that they can also speaking Thai, especially when they drinks too much-but I understand that as I been drinks much and talk much too included SWEARING.
I am not talking sounds not good to foreigners ok, but I also like to tell your all about Thais, many times I heard many of them try to speak like foreigners-especially English language- and many off them using the wrong words at the wrongs place and wrong time too, many of Thais like to showing off as well, I knows it!
Example: how many of Thai girls got foreigners boyfriend and they like to showing off with them wallet and GOLD!!! Etc. That’s never be real !!!!
I love to tell you some thing, some thing you should know- don’t care what they think, they don’t like it- it is up to them, just be cool as you can write Thai and even can read, listening included can speak, the main thing is: will be so great if you be able to understands what they are talking about, and just pretend that’s you got know clue what they talking about, but if they turns to bad talking about you…. Just go on! Talk Thai to them make sure they knows you also can understands them!!! Just to make them not going bad talk to other tourists, Im sounds a bit angry am i? cos many foreigners says bad stuff about me I heard many times so I got to sort them out-then I just turns to them and speak English to them, I never let anyone let me down!!!
Other things: Thai citizens, Taxi drivers, shop assistants waiters - they should learn some more of English!! As I know many of them are not good enough to work which jobs are service to tourists, but they got it as they’re got a certificate…good stuff!!! ….or they just pay someone whos in charge to get them the papers- im not sure…..
Im now talking a lot about this thing… don’t I… sorry, but because I do knows both sides and I think I have learns enough to understand already as I living here many years now. So I am just try to make it fair to anyone!!! Including myself,
Remember one thing, if your talk bad to some one that’s some one will talk bad to you too,
Want some one to smile to you- smile to them first….thats what I always believes.
Cheers
Oe huahin classic scooters girl
All in your posted are good questions and are good points, K-should we work this out? I am Thai person, and
I also like to ask many foreigners as well, why don’t they (some of foreigners) like a Thai person who knows too much of English? And I am sure this question is exactly the same foreigners asking Thais.
***A couple of Thai girls in the UK who I know have said I can speak and write Thai very well, but have told me that Thai girls dont like the Westerners * who can speak the language because as they said " they too clever***
Right! Too clever doesn’t means bad, but I am try to work this out so I think what they means is: they don’t like the foreigners who they can speak loads of Thai words but they have used the wrong times of the words and to the wrong person to talk to sometimes, many of foreigners in hua hin I have met-most of them talking very good Thai, but also lot of times I heard they using very bad words to the Thai person as they might don’t know its not good words at all, or they just like to showing off that they can also speaking Thai, especially when they drinks too much-but I understand that as I been drinks much and talk much too included SWEARING.
I am not talking sounds not good to foreigners ok, but I also like to tell your all about Thais, many times I heard many of them try to speak like foreigners-especially English language- and many off them using the wrong words at the wrongs place and wrong time too, many of Thais like to showing off as well, I knows it!
Example: how many of Thai girls got foreigners boyfriend and they like to showing off with them wallet and GOLD!!! Etc. That’s never be real !!!!
I love to tell you some thing, some thing you should know- don’t care what they think, they don’t like it- it is up to them, just be cool as you can write Thai and even can read, listening included can speak, the main thing is: will be so great if you be able to understands what they are talking about, and just pretend that’s you got know clue what they talking about, but if they turns to bad talking about you…. Just go on! Talk Thai to them make sure they knows you also can understands them!!! Just to make them not going bad talk to other tourists, Im sounds a bit angry am i? cos many foreigners says bad stuff about me I heard many times so I got to sort them out-then I just turns to them and speak English to them, I never let anyone let me down!!!
Other things: Thai citizens, Taxi drivers, shop assistants waiters - they should learn some more of English!! As I know many of them are not good enough to work which jobs are service to tourists, but they got it as they’re got a certificate…good stuff!!! ….or they just pay someone whos in charge to get them the papers- im not sure…..
Im now talking a lot about this thing… don’t I… sorry, but because I do knows both sides and I think I have learns enough to understand already as I living here many years now. So I am just try to make it fair to anyone!!! Including myself,
Remember one thing, if your talk bad to some one that’s some one will talk bad to you too,
Want some one to smile to you- smile to them first….thats what I always believes.
Cheers
Oe huahin classic scooters girl
Oe, thanks for the long and detailed reply.
As for swearing. Hand on my heart, I dont know of any swear words in Thai. At the Thai class in England that I used to attend, one student was kicked out for using Thai swear words. It was bad enough using these words in front of a teacher, but worse, the class was in a Thai temple.
I sometimes have to ask Thai ladies why they use English swear words when they talk. They say "we get them from Falang". They understand the meaning of the words, but not the strength.
Could you give us any examples, in Thai script, of when foreigners have done this, and I dont mean teaching us swear words. I can think of one time when I said " pra ha kon" for 5 monks and was corrected and was told it was " pra ha om" the word "om" refering to the holy status of the monks. (sorry , no Thai font on my computer). I can imagine that this was quite offensive to the listener. Also the difference between "tan" and "gin" for eating.they have used the wrong times of the words and to the wrong person to talk to sometimes, many of foreigners in hua hin I have met-most of them talking very good Thai,
As for swearing. Hand on my heart, I dont know of any swear words in Thai. At the Thai class in England that I used to attend, one student was kicked out for using Thai swear words. It was bad enough using these words in front of a teacher, but worse, the class was in a Thai temple.
I sometimes have to ask Thai ladies why they use English swear words when they talk. They say "we get them from Falang". They understand the meaning of the words, but not the strength.
Try the Thai Temple at Wimbledon. They may be able to put you right.
or logon to http://www.learningthai.com and buy the books in the shop. I learn't more from these than in the class.
or logon to http://www.learningthai.com and buy the books in the shop. I learn't more from these than in the class.
An example. A few years ago, I walked into a bar with a friend who speaks really good Thai. There happened to be a new intake of girls. I spoke to two of them and introduced my friend as someone who'd lived in HH for a while and could speak the lingo.
He was quite put out as he reckoned it had ruined his chances with any of them.
He was quite put out as he reckoned it had ruined his chances with any of them.
I speak Thai. Well enough. I can also read and write, but get lazy. Many good points have been raised, here's my take on it.
I did a basic Thai language course before I came permanently. It covered reading and writing as well, and got me to where I could read a primary two Thai textook.
This was sixteen years ago. You'll find that helps a little, but you pick up your vocabulary as you go along. The type of vocabulary also tends to typify the company you keep. 
Usage of the language does, at least in my case, depend on situation. My Thai co-workers, after the initial jaw-drop, just accept it and continue as before. In fact, they've forgotten just how unusual it is until some delivery fellow makes a wide-eyed comment, and they just say, 'Oh, that's Vincent'.
I use it with dealings with suppliers, product engineers, just to make sure everyone understands fully and the head-nodding is not for show.
It's also fun with the taxi drivers, you get involved in some very interesting conversations. In a bit of a reversal of roles, a Thai guy at work moonlights as a part-time taxi driver, and ended up translating for his farang and Thai girlfriend passengers.
In a restaurant, see what language they address you in, and answer back in the same language. If they look uncomfortable, then offer to speak Thai.
I adopt the same practice in the watering-holes, but give myself a few minutes to assess the situation first. No one likes surprises.
Know the bad language and avoid using it. It's called etiqette.
Being able to read takes the mystery out of the road signs.
If you're going to be here for a while, you might as well pick up the local language. Everybody benefits.
I did a basic Thai language course before I came permanently. It covered reading and writing as well, and got me to where I could read a primary two Thai textook.
This was sixteen years ago. You'll find that helps a little, but you pick up your vocabulary as you go along. The type of vocabulary also tends to typify the company you keep. Usage of the language does, at least in my case, depend on situation. My Thai co-workers, after the initial jaw-drop, just accept it and continue as before. In fact, they've forgotten just how unusual it is until some delivery fellow makes a wide-eyed comment, and they just say, 'Oh, that's Vincent'.
I use it with dealings with suppliers, product engineers, just to make sure everyone understands fully and the head-nodding is not for show.
It's also fun with the taxi drivers, you get involved in some very interesting conversations. In a bit of a reversal of roles, a Thai guy at work moonlights as a part-time taxi driver, and ended up translating for his farang and Thai girlfriend passengers.
In a restaurant, see what language they address you in, and answer back in the same language. If they look uncomfortable, then offer to speak Thai.
I adopt the same practice in the watering-holes, but give myself a few minutes to assess the situation first. No one likes surprises.
Know the bad language and avoid using it. It's called etiqette.
Being able to read takes the mystery out of the road signs.
If you're going to be here for a while, you might as well pick up the local language. Everybody benefits.
,
Exquisitely succintly put. Veritable gems of wisdom. Cheers!
Exquisitely succintly put. Veritable gems of wisdom. Cheers!
.VincentD wrote:
snip, snip,,,
The type of vocabulary also tends to typify the company you keep.
I use it with dealings with suppliers, product engineers, just to make sure everyone understands fully and the head-nodding is not for show.
In a restaurant, see what language they address you in, and answer back in the same language. If they look uncomfortable, then offer to speak Thai. I adopt the same practice in the watering-holes, but give myself a few minutes to assess the situation first. No one likes surprises.
Know the bad language and avoid using it. It's called etiqette.
Being able to read takes the mystery out of the road signs.
If you're going to be here for a while, you might as well pick up the local language. Everybody benefits.
I just came back from a trip to LOS and twice I spoke to girls in English and made out I couldn't speak Thai. Both of these girls said that Westerners speaking Thai were too clever, they both used the same expression, too clever. Suppose bar girls would say that, they are thinking what money they can get out of a guy and Thai speakers are obviously "too clever" in their pricing structure. Speaking Thai has definatly helped me pull the odd non bar girl and first timer. But I suppose life in Thailand isn't just about pulling girls. IS IT?
I would seriously consider the motives of any Thai girl that said this to me. There is only one reason they dont want you speaking their language and you've hit it on the head. I have never in six years of living here had a genuine (non bargirl) Thai woman say to me that I shouldnt be speaking Thai.larry70dj wrote:Both of these girls said that Westerners speaking Thai were too clever, they both used the same expression, too clever. Suppose bar girls would say that, they are thinking what money they can get out of a guy
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson