Printable View
Khmer is Cambodian. What does it have to do with Laos or Isaan? In Thailand Khmer is mostly used in magical incantations and the dialect for talking to royalty or extremely senior monks. Any old Thai who only speaks Khmer would have to be well over a 1000 years old as that's the last time it was used as a generally spoken language in Thailand.Quote:
Originally Posted by NickA
They find it endlessly amusing, I think it's rather funny myself :)Quote:
Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon
I can speak Khymer.
To order a beer, anyway.
Priceless. quote of the year. :rofl:Quote:
Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog
Is that related to Khmer?
Yes. It's one of the lesser known dialects. :bunny3:Quote:
Originally Posted by DrB0bQuote:
Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog
Is that related to Khmer?
One would have thought in the sticks. where I now reside, that some fuency in thai would be mandatory. Strangely its quite rare for me to come across a Westener who has even basic Thai language skills.
In fact my friends in Bangkok have a much greater grasp of the language than those here. I assume because they are in the main, not working and therefore their wife is always around to sort things out for them as its also quite rare to meet a Thai who has good English skills, even my kids English teacher finds it easier to converse with me in Thai than English.
Maybe a confidence thing tho', upcountry Thai feel intimidated speaking English with a foreigner even if they have a reasonable grasp of the language.
Well, Mr Bob, that shows that even doctors don't know what they are talking about and spout complete bollox sometimes. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by DrB0b
My wife and her family and the whole village she lives in and quite a lot of people in Surin and a few other provinces speak Khmer. My wife's grandmother can only speak Khmer and not Thai and as far as I know she isn't 1000 years old, though she does look it.
And they are not alone! Government estimates 1.1M, 6.5% of Isaan residents speak Khmer "officially" know as Northern Khmer. Khmer is the 2nd most spoken behind Lao/Issan (officially known as Northeastern Thai) spoken by 15M, 87% of Isaan residents.Quote:
Originally Posted by NickA
Ok I got most of it except that word "Dak", what does it mean ?Quote:
Originally Posted by DrB0b
I will use it next time I go to the bars and see their reactions :)
It means to trap or ensnare.
It means arse, "500, monkey arse!"Quote:
Originally Posted by Butterfly
Sadly true, I'll get me coat :)Quote:
Originally Posted by NickA
it could also mean "Delicious Monkey Arse"Quote:
Originally Posted by DrB0b
actually my understanding of 'dark ling' is that it is a little worse than just monkey arse, its more like monkey asshole.
I don't care what she calls me if it's only 500. :)
Only if she's speaking with a French or Cockney accent :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Butterfly
Quote:
Originally Posted by kingwilly
Means both, afaik, in Isaan ดาก means arse, I've also heard it used in normal non-slang Thai to mean rectum.
it also means to trap or snare.Quote:
Originally Posted by DrB0b
if spelt like this ด้ก
I'm with you on this 100%Quote:
Originally Posted by chitown
A friend of mine, Italian, whose English was understandable to me but not to most Thais, and who spoke zero Thai, fell seriously ill last year. The missus sensing her opportunity lifted not one finger and he wound up flying home to Italy for healthcare.
It killed him.
The missus gets the house and car.
Learn the lingo.
That's a different word, you silly bugger:) Yes, that does mean trap, daaaaaaaaaaaaak, as in arse, is spelt ดาก.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon
I learnt Portuguese when living in Brasil as it improved my life. I had no idea how long I was going to be there and it hardly improved my career prospects.Quote:
Originally Posted by chinthee
It did enable me to travel and speak to people in off-road places and made meeting cute women much easier
I now have to learn Thai, even if only to communicate with my ma-in-law
what is the problem? why is learning something such a big deal?
I have studied and learnt many things in my life that are apparently no use whatever, like English History or Latin, but they do improve my basic understanding of life somehow.
learning Thai could also be almost useless for many people, but that does not mean they should not do it.
^ A lot of people seem to have misconstrued my comments on this thread. I do speak passable Thai. I do speak several other languages. I do think it's valuable to learn the language wherever you go.
I'm too lazy to study Thai formally and to learn to read and write. That's a personal choice. When I arrived in Thailand, I did take a conversational Thai class and studied for a few months, but again the focus was simply conversation.
I will say this. I never have any Thai ask me to restate or rephrase anything, or that they don't understand it. I don't speak bargirl Thai. My wife corrects me when I make a mistake, and that is how I learned.
My first contribution to this thread and it certainly has meandered . . .
I also speak four languages fluently, but they are European languages. I speak a smattering of Hokkien and Mandarin, a bit of Japanese and more than a bit of Bahasa Malayu.
All this helps me sweet FA when I'm at my office or out on site and can't understand a word anyone is saying, I can't read directions to where I need to go and I am reliant on other people to provide me with what I need.
Of course knowledge of Thai in Thailand is necessary and all the arrogant posturing that the 'jungle-bunnies' should be learning English just deflects from the point that we need the local language here.
I don't try it for any practical reason. It's just like an interesting puzzle to try and decipher which is fun when you get it right. I wish they would put spaces between the words.
It is handy being able to read street signs for getting around.