Thread: Is it really necessary to learn a host country's language?

Originally Posted by Butterfly

I don't see how this can be an argument, and no, giving reds is the not answer

how can that not be an argument?

"if you live in thailand it is more useful to learn Japanese??"

WTF.

I'll red you again as soon as I can.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Originally Posted by chinthee

Everyone is so proud when they speak Thai in Thailand, but it doesn't get them anything outside this little country.

It's actually useful to score hotties and have freebies with the uni girls, so not totally useless if you live here. But yeah being proud of speaking Thai is like being a proud puppy putting his first turd on the carpet, not really an accomplishment.

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

do you live in thailand or not Chintee.

I don't see how this can be an argument, and no, giving out reds is the not answer

Ok, look, I'm married to a Thai, I speak Thai everyday, and it is a useless language to my life outside Thailand. What is so hard to understand about that?

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

how can that not be an argument?

"if you live in thailand it is more useful to learn Japanese??"

but we do not live here, we are only temporary guests,

I hope you are not planning to spend the rest of your life here ?

Oh dear, I find myself agreeing with the wise Welsh one, something must be wrong.

Thai is very easy to read and write, listening is pretty simple, but speaking is difficult for most people, including me. I have the distinct advantage of being able to say krap at the end of my sentences instead of boyo, which is off-putting to some of the natives.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

but we do not live here, we are only temporary guests,

silly argument.

I have been here pushing 7 years.

if I didn't speak thai by now I would be horribly ashamed.
i would also find stuff like calling the electricians a bit difficult.

you are a buffoon
a large French one.

I will red you as often as the software allows.
i have just stuck a reminder on my monitor.

Interesting that technical books written in Thai have important words set in English inside brackets, next to the Thai equivalent.

The reason for this is that the Thai language invariably does not have an appropriate word of its own - the de facto standard is English - the Thai lecturer often has to synthesise a Thai equivalent that will hopefully convey some kind of primitive constructive meaning to the locals.

So, the easiest way to read a Thai technical book is to skim read through the bracketed English key words, look at the pictures & equations. This is how I studied at CU when the main text book was in Thai.

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

i would also find stuff like calling the electricians a bit difficult.

Isn't that what the wife's for?

I wouldn't even consider making a phone call in Thai.

Originally Posted by NickA

I wouldn't even consider making a phone call in Thai.

she's shy.

It's always me that has to do that stuff.

anyway, not everyone has a wife.

she might leave me tomorrow and i like living here regardless.

^I hide behind the wife a lot, when she's not around I get forced to speak Thai and I can get by, but I make her do all the talking when she's there. Probably my own shyness rather than a language barrier.

I even make her answer the phone to my parents now, I really can't stand fucking phones.

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

you are a buffoon
a large French one.

I will red you as often as the software allows.
i have just stuck a reminder on my monitor.

you silly petite Gaelic, you are a proud little puppy, aren't you ?

I made a decision to live in Thailand. I came here with a plan to live here a very long time. Within weeks of arriving I started taking Thai language lessons -- 3x a week for 2 hours a shot. I studied for eight months until I moved into the jungle.

Nobody here speaks English save my precious wife. Funnily (or not so) they don't speak much Thai either, they speak Issan wich is nothing more than a Thai/Lao mix. Eight months won't get you far, but I have the fundamentals down. I can read and write at a basic level. I'd be screwed without being able to communicate.

If you live in Bangkok or Phuket maybe the need to speak Thai isn't as pressing. For me it is, and I think it a bit haughty that some don't concede they might be better for it, regarless of where they live.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

being proud of speaking Thai is like being a proud puppy putting his first turd on the carpet

Brilliant!

Originally Posted by NickA

I really can't stand fucking phones.

Yeah, the G-spot is so elusive. They're getting smaller every day, though, and that's a plus.

^****

Language is simply a means of communication (even body language). For those in areas of Thailand where non Thai speakers are fortunate enough to find English speaking Thais or have English speaking Thai wives or GFs, learning Thai is really not worth the effort. In the area I chose to live (Isaan) without some Thai and Lao language skill it would be impossible to communicate the most basic of things even to my wife. I could try to teach all the villagers to speak English or learn enough Lao to get by. I chose the latter.

IMO, Thai is a useless language anywhere outside Thailand. Thais, especially in the business community, would be better off if they were taught to speak English and/or Mandarin.

Originally Posted by Texpat

If you live in Bangkok or Phuket maybe the need to speak Thai isn't as pressing. For me it is, and I think it a bit haughty that some don't concede they might be better for it, regarless of where they live.

Well you beat me to it. Guess the old saying "you snooze you lose" is still true.

Reading Thai, pointless. Writing Thai pointless. Fluent Thai pointless.
Basic Thai/Lao, essential.

^
another troll.

Originally Posted by Texpat

I think it a bit haughty that some don't concede they might be better for it, regarless of where they live.

agreed.

I can't imagine living here for years and not being able to read.

Don't you ever drive down the road and wonder what is written on all the signs?

Don't you ever pick up something in a store and wonder what the package says?

Wouldn't you like to look at someone's Thai ID card and know what their name is without having to ask?

Maybe not. As someone said before, it's not that difficult to read.

I can't imagine living here either without being able to speak and read Thai language.
I'm just surviving so far...

And for the people who did not understand this comment.
I work here, this is why I'm here.
When the work is gone, the equation changes...

Originally Posted by Bluecat

I can't imagine living here ...
I'm just surviving so far...

Agreed.