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English Noodles

If you have learnt basic sentance stucture then this is easy for you, to be fluent in a language does not mean learning every word, it simply means learning the basic syntax of a language, you can then simply find a word or two from a dictionary that you don't know and basicly converse about anything you wish.

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English Noodles

I would agree, though I'm sure the majority of people can at least understand the central dialect and with a little effort you could be understood to a point.

Texpat

^ Right.

Other times I feel like Jane Goodall in the Congo with the chimps, tapping my forehead and pointing at the sky while hoopin' and hollerin'

Frankenstein

That's how we feel about you, too.

English Noodles

Yep, never lived in that neck of the woods so have no great experience conversing with the natives, I'm sure it would get frustrating having put the effort in to leaning 'the language' only to find it not realy useful.

In Bangkok I have the same frustration but in reverse, I find people want to try to show off their English 'skills' and prefer to speak to me in very bad English which gives me a headache trying to understand, then again, who knows, maybe they feel the same about my Thai.

rubbajohnny

Most people in Siam are not Thai
Altho politically incorrect most of N Esan they speak lao
which is fine f you stay put or go t Lao but useless as seen as lo class in Krung Thep et al.
I have same issue as my neighbours all speakLanna unlike the Thai on the Tapes and books
Do persist there are Lao teachers,material readily available in Vangchang
NeeOrk

walrus

You should stop hanging out with 'Tud' then Noodles ...

Norton

Agree. Many words are similar. Difference is in volume and delivery. Lao or Northeastern Thai as the government prefers, is country folk speak. None of the flowery polite pi, nong, khun, ka and krup's. Get involved in a discussion with the family about the weather, what's for dinner, or mom's preference in beetle nut and one would think they were in the middle of a full on family fight with blows to follow.

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JoGeAr

I used to get upset when I heard an Isarn person refer to me (or another farang) as mun (it), until I realized that they use it for everyone.

ray23

You know life can be so funny I was the Khon Kean University today, where I was told I spoke Thai very well. Two things if you can get past hello the you putt pasa Thai geng mak. And pray they don't say anything else. Actually I do understand a lot more then I can remember to say.

Secondly how often will I be in a University setting to speak with people. It's probably very true that to speak properly would be great, but I think it is more important to actually communicate. To some extent I can.

I'm not complaining about my Thai classes they really helped along with the wife reminding me.


But this is how I see it this is my home a bit unrealistic to expect the local population to adapt to my needs. Probably more realisitc that I'm the one to adapt.

I have no intention of quitting nor do I expect to learn overnight.

I have a phrase book that gives all three languages and a English translation. I'm going to begin in that. I really enjoy talking with the people in the small villages. Just nice folks, if you need someyhing they will bend over backwards to try to help.

Cassmate Huh then you got the T short too LOL

My point is, learning Thai I beleive to be important if you live here. But there is a huge difference between learning a tourist language and day to day usage. At some point you need to go that one step forward that fits the life you live.

The other day I was in a bike shop, money is changing hands between the owner and worker he sent for a part. I know they are talking about the change due the owner when I hear, Nung Loi Sau Baht, Well I know the guy is saying numbers, but I don't have clue what numbers. What he was really saying in Thai was nung roi yii sip baht. He was speaking Lao, it's really not much different but it is enough to really throw you.

You use the proper way of saying 100 here, people will definetly be scratching thier heads. Took me ten mins one time to pay for an order of chicken once on that one. She had no idea what Roi was and I didn't know Loi. Well I do now and I know it's not proper but if I want to be understood I have to speak in a manner they can understand.

Got to get my nuts and bolts, now if that turns out to be the same in all the languages, great. If not I have to say thier way. If I want the nut and bolt LOL

Norton

You're going to get lost if you come visit Roiet! Better when you ask directions to just say hon neung soon neung. Of course it won't really make much difference what you ask. The response will be the same. If you are close, they will point and say poon. If you have a long way to go they will point and say poooon!

You're on the right track. As some wise man once said "seek first to understand and then to be understood".

ray23

I think Roi Et is a great town, been twice I will be back

bobbysan124

Sounds a little condescending to me. Perhaps in this scenario, the Thais are Jane Gooddall and you're the chimp.

Norton

Let me know. Will meet for a couple of cool ones.

friscofrankie

"Aow" can be to have something in hand or want something in hand. "Aow bai kern" for instance is to take something back. Aow is generally used with things you either have or want to have. confuising but it becomes second nature after a while. "Yak" (short vowel sound here) is more wanting to do something. "Yak gin" want to eat. "Yak bai duay" I want to go with you. Although I have heard "aow bai duay" or "Aow eek?" but this usually is in reference to another glass of wine or another piece of ass. and although sex is an activity rather than a "thing" it is easier to treat the sex acct as a thing in this context and say "aow eek?" as in "want one more"
Dropping the pronouns when in one on one conversations is always done. Using the Khun as you is rarely done although if addressing a person as Khun So-and-So. is certainly called for.
As far as using Jaa inthe above statement; why?
"I want to speak Isaan well" "Yak phood Isaan Gaeng maak maak" would be the correct term to use "Maaaak" can be used exaggerating the Maaaak in this way give it the emphasis but this is normally used when saying some thing or someone is "gaeng maaak!" or "aroi maaak." if it were me I would drop the Maak all thogether in the statement. and leave it at "Yak phood Isaan Gaeng"

Schools are fine for getting started learnign a language, learning to read is a good leg up. But Ray you sound as if You don;t use the language or converse with the locals and if you do not you will not learn the lingo, no matter how many schools you attend. We speak Thai in the home about 80% of the time. When I go out I always use Thai. I gossip with Khun Yaa down the street when buying my ice and cigarettes, I speak thai in the bars, restaurants, seven elevens and just about everywhere I go. I do NOT speak Thai with non-Thai.

This is how you learn the language. USE IT! If you really want to learn, get your ol' lady to tun off the English. Not one day a week, not when it's convenient but entirely. It will be frustrating at first but with the schooling you've had you'll pick it up quickly enough.

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ray23

Actually used in the home a lot, but the conversations are pretty limited, never miss trying to speak, if I recall the words.

The other thing is Auntie, the wife and the housekeeper understand my accent. Many times something simple as tim tung, fill the gas. If my wife is with me they will look at her. If I'm alone they just put the gas in. By the way I'm tone deaf so I have to spell things out how they sound to me. A big reason why reading is important to me.

I believe your right the more I use it the better things will go. I'm not at all against learning Thai, just pointing out something that seemed odd to me for the area I live in.

Ow and Yak can be a bit confusing for me Ow eek meas I want more. Mai Ow I don't want anymore.

I could be very wrong I do that frequently, I would use yak in sentence such a do you want_____________

Does how personal the thing wanted make a difference in the use?

The Pronoun, that is a hold over from formal classes. Business I here krap a lot, normal talkling not so much. Women never seem to miss Ka.

Oh well I will keep plugging along but I don't think I'm going back to formal classes again. I think I have the base I need to use it and build on it. The downside is the descipline to do it, which I think formal classes provides.

Here is a doosey for everyone that I had to use today won't say I learned but I've seen it.

gee-soon-dook-maai (pollen)

don't know if I will ever use it again but I know it exists

But If I really wanted to sink in I would have to write it in sentneces dozens of time to recall it

ChiangMai noon

no, it's simply the difference between wanting something and wanting to do something.

Ao Buri = I want a cigarette.

Yak suup = I want to smoke.
Yak gin = I want to eat.

use yak with a verb and ao with a noun.

Texpat

Fair play -- as you wish.

My point was the struggle to communicate.
Also, they're both making an effort to learn. I'm not offended in the least by being referred to as a chimp -- especially if it means I can avoid being British.

ray23

Good Example thanks

Nawty

A friend of mine who has excellent english skills came up with a corker the other night.... 'L' is for elephant.