Thread: Thais who pretend to not understand when you speak in farangland?

Hey. I'm not saying that I've mastered the thai language but I do speak a lil ....and this is not just thank you and good morning. What I've found is that in Thailand even when your tonal pronouciation is bad...afterall very difficult...they at least understand you. I know this because we are talking about same subject wheather being bit by a dog and rabie shots. however here in the states when talking with Thais, they pretend not to understand you. It differs depending on what degree of education of course. I somehow get the idea that they are doing this for a reason...not to understand me. Just my 2 cents. chok dii heythere In this establishement, there a lady that always understnds me and another have no idea or always trying to teach me how to say it correctly.

maybe you just ain't a handsome man in farangland as you are in Thailand and they are ignoring your sexual advances.

Decent personal hygiene is also beneficial.

Point to your crotch and thrust in forwards and backwards motions, she'll soon catch on to what you're saying.

Originally Posted by Strongarm

Point to your crotch and thrust in forwards and backwards motions, she'll soon catch on to what you're saying.

...................

Originally Posted by heythere

Thais who pretend to not understand when you speak in farangland?

I do the exact here. Then you listen to what they say about you.

A few pointers.

Say 'krap' first. It switches their brain cell into Thai mode.

Don't bother too much with overdoing the tones (pitch in reality) as it confuses them. 99.9% of Thais (especially rural Thais) don't seem to bother with most of them in everyday speech.

Formulate what you want to say in your head first and then say it quickly as if it's second nature.

Failing that, have a few beers and then try speaking Thai - seems a lot easier that way.

Just do it back to them when they try to speak English. It's actually good fun.

soon as they see your farangface, their ability to understand the farang language will be suddenly failed!!

no need to talk to thais in the states

just talk to them in thailand to get what what you need

in the states they are useless

know the game

Considering the OP can barely write English I hate to think of the mess he makes of Thai.

Feigning ignorance is the Thai way of saying fack off and leave me alone, especially when you shout at them

Farang roo maak, mai dee.

Why would you speak Thai to them if you are not in Thailand? I never speak Thai in the US unless I know the Thai people really well. Even then we converse in English.

^Usually a pretty safe bet that their English is a whole lot better than your Thai.

These crafty Khmers are just trying to make you look stupid. Try speaking thai to them slowly and in a very loud voice, that will show them that you're not to be meddled with.

Originally Posted by superman

Originally Posted by heythere

Thais who pretend to not understand when you speak in farangland?

I do the exact here. Then you listen to what they say about you.

I speak Bahasa Malay and do the same, although I have to admit I haven't heard too many bad comments. I'm trying to learn Thai, nothing too difficult to start with, but my hobby is cooking and I'm pretty much over Thai food (didn't think I'd EVER say that) so I cook falang food daily and I go to the food markets every morning, buy from the same ladies and now when they tell me how much something costs and I give them 20baht they wait for me to tell them how much change I should get before giving it to me, as well as testing me that I remember the Thai for whatever it is I'm buying - and I have to get the pronunciation correct. I know lots of fruits and vegetable names now. I'm starting to learn words like fry, boil and grill now because they want to know what I'm doing with what I buy. Unfortunately, I may be getting a bit too good at it, because they're now starting to tell me the numbers and words in 'Chiang Mai' which is starting to confuse me. I've tried telling them this, but they're insisting on teaching me 'Chiang Mai' as well as high Thai. Perhaps with this gentle introduction, now is the ideal time to start some formal lessons. Is this a good idea, or should I fumble on for a bit longer learning more words in this informal (and relatively easy for me as it's at my own pace) for a bit longer?

Opinions welcome.

Originally Posted by konini

I may be getting a bit too good at it, because they're now starting to tell me the numbers and words in 'Chiang Mai' which is starting to confuse me. I've tried telling them this, but they're insisting on teaching me 'Chiang Mai' as well as high Thai.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. At least up there they speak nice and slowly. Try learning in the South; even Thais struggle to keep up with them some of the time.

In Isaan they discard even more of the tone (pitch, in reality) stuff, so that makes it simpler, but I prefer to speak Thai, even if the person I'm speaking to is using Isaan/Laos.

Originally Posted by heythere

however here in the states when talking with Thais, they pretend not to understand you.

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Considering the OP can barely write English I hate to think of the mess he makes of Thai.

I also wonder what sort of thai he speaks to them.

Many westerners learn bargirl talk, and educated Thai in the states aint gonna wanna speak that shite.

Originally Posted by pescator

Farang roo maak, mai dee.

I never speak thai to anyone living outside of Thailand, unless they themselves initiate it.
My old lady has several friends even older, who are not very good at my language. Hence they speak thai with me.

But basically, anyone pretending not to understand - if indeed this is a prentence - or down right refusing to speak thai with a foreigner are in my experience the ones best avoided anyway.
So no big loss there.

Originally Posted by heythere

however here in the states when talking with Thais, they pretend not to understand you.

Maybe they don't want to appear retarded?

Originally Posted by heythere

Hey. I'm not saying that I've mastered the thai language but I do speak a lil ....and this is not just thank you and good morning. What I've found is that in Thailand even when your tonal pronouciation is bad...afterall very difficult...they at least understand you. I know this because we are talking about same subject wheather being bit by a dog and rabie shots. however here in the states when talking with Thais, they pretend not to understand you. It differs depending on what degree of education of course. I somehow get the idea that they are doing this for a reason...not to understand me. Just my 2 cents. chok dii heythere In this establishement, there a lady that always understnds me and another have no idea or always trying to teach me how to say it correctly.

hey there-yeah I feel like I'm not being understood but then I can only say hello, and thank you!! ha! i' m new to Bangkok and new to this site, smiles! starting teaching in May and already feel lil lost as really want to learn thai- and be able to make myself understood- is there any language exchanges you know of? or did you pay for thai lessons? Im hoping that when I start working at school too as I'm working with a Thai teacher I should pick up a lot too- fingers crossed

[at] Jane. I wouldn't worry to much about learning formal Thai. All Thais use a dialect or a lot of slang when they speak, and unfortunately, doesn't sound like proper Thai. Just listen to the friends you'll make and you should learn some. If a situation arises, where you need to speak proper Thai, your friends will help you.

I live in a condo with an English name when I ask for it in a taxi or bus they often cannot understand as my Englsih is 'mai chat' you just cant win.

Probably, your english is just that: Chat.
And that is the problem.

Thais with little command of english usually butcher the english pronounciation into something quite different. Not surprisingly really.

Try telling a cab driver that you want to go to Tesco Lotus. I would be much surprised if he would understand that, unless you use the thai pronounciation.