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

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

Originally Posted by chinthee

But I stand by my point. (Thai) is a useless language. It relates to no other important world language, such as Mandarin. It gives you no foundation for any other important Asian language, such as Japanese or Bahasa.

Useless. Sorry.

Ooooh, Chinthee, I don't believe you said that.
Thai is very close to Mandarin in terms of grammar and there are no verb conjugations, it's tonal, and several words appear similar (OK, san/sam for three is pan-Asian, but even mai mee -- Mandarin mei yo) is not that much of a stretch. Also, for Westerners who have never heard tonal languages before, it's a good intro to Chinese.
Bahasa? WTF speaks Bahasa? There aren't that many Indonesians. If you're going for the biz angle, speak whatever lingo your partners are speaking. Oh, sorry, forgot this was the Indo forum. 55

I knew an old-school Brit in Thailand who just shouted in English. Embarrassing.

Yes, Jet I did say it and stand by it. As I stated, I do speak "good enough" conversational Thai. I'm illiterate, and can't write in Thai. Who cares? I'm only here at the whim and good graces of immigration year-to-year. It's very hard to become a permanent resident, and there is no permanency here. Anybody who believes otherwise is fooling himself (herself).

Having said that, I do enjoy speaking Thai and I rarely have to revert to English for most things daily. No, I can't carry on extended business conversations, but most of the Thais I know in business speak better English than my Thai.

I mean, what is the point?

Go learn Mandarin or Arabic or Spanish ffs.

Seeing as this has absolutely nothing to do with Indo, it's now in the Thai Language Forum.

Good article on Language of Thailand - IndigoGuide Thailand

Very odd how my thread about languages (sounds greek) spiralled into a avatar-guessing contest and KW's thread about farang pet peeves morphed into a language shit-storm.

Carry-on.

As LD would say, "sorry old bean."

Originally Posted by Whiteshiva

There is very little Thai literature to speak of

That's not really true. There's quite a lot of Thai literature. Small in comparison to English literature of course but still quite a lot of good reading there.

I understand that some people don't want to learn a particularly high level of Thai as I don't bother that much myself. What I don't understand is people claiming that learning Russian, Spanish or Indonesian is a more useful use of time.

I mean how often are you going to use Spanish in Udon Thani or Russian in Surin or Indonesian in Chiang Mai. It doesn't really make any sense unless you are planning to move to a Spanish or Russian or Indonesian speaking country, which I'm not and I assume most people are not.

Originally Posted by DrB0b

That's not really true. There's quite a lot of Thai literature. Small in comparison to English literature of course but still quite a lot of good reading there.

Also English books translated into thai are cheaper than the original books and are easier to find.

Originally Posted by NickA

I understand that some people don't want to learn a particularly high level of Thai as I don't bother that much myself. What I don't understand is people claiming that learning Russian, Spanish or Indonesian is a more useful use of time.

I mean how often are you going to use Spanish in Udon Thani or Russian in Surin or Indonesian in Chiang Mai. It doesn't really make any sense unless you are planning to move to a Spanish or Russian or Indonesian speaking country, which I'm not and I assume most people are not.

So, tell us again, just how long is your Thai visa or right to remain valid for??

^Ah, yes, my Thai visa is only valid for a year, so I should learn the language of another country that I may never use because it is a better use of my time than learning the language of the country that I live in and that my wife and her family and my children speak. Now, I understand.

As I said, fair enough if you can't be bothered learning a high level of Thai, but let's stop making such weak excuses.

^ So, you've accepted that you will never live anyplace but Thailand, even though you only have 12 month guarantee of living here. And, you believe your career opportunities in Thailand exceed those of any other country. What did you say you do for a living?

^never said any of those things... where did you read them?

^ No, really this is silly. Those of us who live here have a life. Some of us speak a number of languages already, and don't see the value in plunging deeply into yet another language that has questionable usefulness in the world. My view is that I speak Thai quite well enough to suit my purposes. I don't need to knock myself out yet again to go deeper.

Simple as that.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Originally Posted by kingwilly

incredible how bigoted some ppl can be....

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Que? Who said anything about racism? Although what else would your alluding to Thais and monkey's be?

maybe a language misunderstanding,

Thais often refer themselves to "monkeys" but in a cute way, not a racist one.

Freebies with the university girls? You need to get back into your dingy dive in Pattaya with your hooker buddies m8. Cause they're about the only ones you'd get freebies off
Let me assure you thais do not like being called monkeys. I've yet to hear the thais call each other ling, joking or not.
if you turn around and call a thai a monkey you'd stand a good chance of being pounded.

Originally Posted by ProjectExcelsior

Freebies with the university girls?

Yep, is it too difficult to believe that not all thai women want to be payed and if they enjoy your company and converstaion they will fcuk your brains out for free. They actually enjoy sex you know! Maybe you should get out more?

Originally Posted by ProjectExcelsior

You need to get back into your dingy dive in Pattaya with your hooker buddies m8. Cause they're about the only ones you'd get freebies off

I have never met BF but i have learned he is a man of means with some sophistication. He doesnt do dingy. hookers maybe....

Originally Posted by ProjectExcelsior

I've yet to hear the thais call each other ling, joking or not.

So until you hear it, it has to be untrue? Is that what you are saying?

^ i think, mate, that it is pretty obviously an insult. lets not be pedantic.

Ok, just my 2 cents. I am really tired of meeting farangs that demand their Thai wife / girlfriend learn English (or whatever the man's native tongue is) and they have no intention of learning Thai. I think it is a bit selfish and also a bit lazy. The man should learn Thai and the woman should learn English. It covers both bases. The two meet in the middle and both put forth some effort. It helps withj communication all the way around.

I speak some Thai and try and learn more each day. I can say a lot of words and phrases. I can usually get the point of a conversation or a movie or an advertisement. I can have general conversation with Thais. I can't read Thai ....yet.

I would hate to live here and have everyone around me speaking and not be able to understand it. At least pick up a few phrases like "you hit him and I will get his wallet" and "Here comes another dumb ass farang, charge him double."

As for Thai being useful in other parts of the world? Me and the missus have a blast talking about people behind their backs when we are in Chicago. No one can understand a word unless we are in a Thai restaurant.

If you plan on living here or marrying a Thai, then you should learn the langauge for sure. If you are here for fun, then do not bother. Just speak broken Englsih to bar girls....Do you smoke? etc.

Oh, by the way....it also helps to speak Thai when you are chatting up Thai ladies at a department store!!!

Anyhow, I have to side with CMN on this one!

Originally Posted by kingwilly

that it is pretty obviously an insult.

I disagree, i have come across numerous examples of Thais being what i consider being rude to each other, but between close freinds in the right context is seems ok. My G/f calls her best friend "hoy".Its not too difficult to imagine them calling each other monkey.

This is turning into a pissing contest anyway now. Boring.

^^ But Thai isn't spoken every where in Thailand it all depends on where you are. Where I live the children have to be taught Thai in school and when they go home they speak Loas or Isaan and don't bother with Thai.
Also my wife told me that Thais look like monkeys. Especially their noses . They don't take it as offensively as some are saying.

Originally Posted by Ivor Biggun

they speak Loas or Isaan and don't bother with Thai.

it is very similar.
just a dialect.

learn thai and it's not that great a leap to issaan.

^Khmer is completely different, although most Thai-Khmer will speak Thai as well unless they are really old.

If your wife or gf is not around and you need help (ie medical asistance or the police), you may wish you spoke Thai. And if you were arrogant about not learning Thai, then all I can say is som num na krahp!!!!

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Ha Loy Dak Ling"

didn't know that, but I would never dream of going near any of those places myself.