The best way to learn Isaan thai

^ Agreed, good post.

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Given the way the Thai youth of today, even in one buffalo villages in Nakhon Nowhere, are connected to the internet; I think this next generation is gonna really come into itself in regards to finding a 'balance' between their innate "Thai-ness" and the need for English as far as their future is concerned.

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I wouldn't dismiss Lao language too soon. A lot of Isaan people are culturally more Lao than Thai. They eat Lao food, listen to Lao music, speak Lao at home, etc.

They call it "Isaan" because the government here insists they are not Lao.

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Originally Posted by Panty Hamster

They call it "Isaan" because the government here insists they are not Lao.

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Actually I think the reason they call it "Isaan Thai" is because after even a brief perusal of it, almost anyone can see it ain't the Laotian language; but a "hybrid" of both Thai and Lao. That's possibly why when Isaan-ites go to Vientiane, they're put off because they're suddenly exposed to "real Lao", not the "bastardized version" used in North Eastern Thailand.

Heck Isaan Thai is even spelled with THAI characters, not Lao ones. Last time I checked ร is still pronounced as an "R" (unless you're just plain lazy when it comes out like an "L") but I'm pretty sure, what it ain't is an "H" like the corresponding Lao character is..

Who of thunk it? The Thai "government" might really be onto something; I think those people ARE indeed Thais and not just misplace Laotians who wandered "off the rez" down into Thailand.

As far as not counting the Lao language out, well it was "counted out" as a language which had any meaning anywhere but inside the country of 6 million people, a LONG time before I washed up here!

About the only plus going for "real Lao" is the reform they did to the language as far as eliminating a LOT of the character duplication which Thai has (6-"T's", 5-"K's", 4-"S's", etc, which show word origins for Thais), in favor of a more simplified alphabetic system. Thai is WAY overdue for something like this.

That's why I say it's the Thai youth of today which will change the country for the better or worse. I mean, after all it's their country. I ain't tryin' to change 'em, I just live in and amongst ' em. .

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Originally Posted by toddaniels

Thai is WAY overdue for something like this.

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Or better still, it should be binned and everyone use a proper language like English.

Good post - well, many good points. While I do not get an erection of forum post - without girlie pics - eh.

Promoting use of English as this Government does - against all the past government did - is a very good thing, and does not mean nothing like abandoning "Thainess" as the yellow media puts it. It is just additional bonus, if you like that comparison. Bring freedom and access to education and to world of knowledge to people - I say.

To better future!

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Originally Posted by toddaniels

I stand humbly erected, errr I mean corrected!! Environment is everything and if indeed your "target audience" speaks Isaan Thai, well that's the lingo you're most likely to get the best "bang-4-the-baht" from when interacting with them.

The Thai guys my age who live/work here in Bangkok near my house ALL hail from Isaan, yet all speak Central Thai just fine. Then again they've lived/worked in Bangkok for 10-15 years now, so I'd imagine even they've adopted the "when in Bangkok speak Central Thai" adage (if only to stop the overt racism Bangkokians have for Isaan-ites). Don't get me wrong, most of them speak Isaan and the guy from Surin speaks Cambodian too.

I was only relating my own personal experience that Thais, the country over, seemed more than willing to converse in Central Thai with me during my travels around this country. Then again, the choice was speak Central Thai or English, so in a way that backed 'em into a corner.

I agree with "Borey the Bald" totally as far as generation by generation you can see the increased use of Central Thai due to access to the Thai government education system.

Thankfully, (for the younger Thais) we're also seeing an equally exponential growth in Thais using English; which is far more important on the world stage for the Thais at this stage of the game.

Gone are the days when Thailand was insulated and could afford to adopt the pretentious (yet totally predictably Thai) mindset of; "I'm Thai so I don't need to speak English".

Given the way the Thai youth of today, even in one buffalo villages in Nakhon Nowhere, are connected to the internet; I think this next generation is gonna really come into itself in regards to finding a 'balance' between their innate "Thai-ness" and the need for English as far as their future is concerned.

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