Bredbury Blue

15 minutes ago, katana said:

1. What makes you think the Thai tone rules aren't correct?
There are a some irregular words like ตำรวจ but they are few and far between.

2. As KeeTua said, you should be getting away from transliteration and using Thai script.

I added a 1. and 2. to your post.

1. You seem to be totally misunderstanding my posts.

Obviously Thai tones are correct, they are part of the Thai language structure.

My earlier posts were saying that while I understand Thai tones, I don't always get them 100% correct, I'd say I'm probably correct 95% of the time. Hence while I'm still learning to read I like to see the tone(s) of a word in a Thai dictionary online so that i get it correct / as a check against what I think the tone(s) is/are. Hope I've made it clearer this time.

2. As stated I learn the Thai script (which I use on the front of an Anki card), but on the back I add a transliteration (maybe later I'll stop doing that when my Thai ability improves) and the English meaning.

I would agree that only learning/using transliteration is *troublesome in the long run and learning Thai script is the way to go, but there's certainly nothing wrong with using both transliteration and Thai script (*each of use speak English in our own dialect - Northern English and Southern English would say 'run' totally differently - so the transliteration I use is unique to me).

Quick question for you guys who use Anki.

Which is the best process / which did you do:

A. Start your own Anki deck, as i did recently which is a slow process to build up but the words in it as words relevant/found by you personally, OR,

B. import a deck (like Women learn Thai top 3000 vocab list) and add to it?

UPDATE

The wife was telling just now that as the dog doesn't have enough milk for its puppies, the B-I-L is going to buy milk or food for them. When I asked why are they buying for a stray dog and it's puppies - as that doesn't sound like thai's to me - I was told that they want the dogs to stick around as security, as people sometimes come in the night to steal fish from the pond. 

1 hour ago, KeeTua said:

I think its best to get away from the transliteration and focus on the Thai. And as katana suggested learn and use the tone rules. They appear daunting at first but if you already know the three different classes of consonants the rules can be learned in a few days, maybe not perfectly but enough to get by on. I created a cheat sheet when learning the rules and referred to it frequently.

 

Did you add sound to your Anki cards? My Anki set up is the Thai word on front in small font at the top of the card. Bottom of the card has a field to type the word. A new card loads and without looking up at the Thai word I play the audio using a keyboard shortcut and then try and figure out the combination of characters to achieve the correct spelling. Its necessary to know the tone rules to have a chance at the correct spelling. The answer is on the back side along with corrected spelling errors if any. The audio is mostly from Google and sometimes not so clear as you pointed out.

 

Women learn Thai top 3000 vocab list https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/522426868 has far superior audio, easy to add to your Anki deck if you haven't already.

1. See my response to Katana on tones.

2. I don't add sound to Anki cards. if I'm not sure of pronunciation I know I can check it on Google translate or similar or ask a family member.

3. Thanks for the tip about Women learn Thai top 3000 vocab list which I'll check out.

2 hours ago, katana said:

Er..that sounds like a faff-around. Why not just use the Thai tone rules? With them you can work out the tone of any Thai word from its spelling.

Err, think you mustn't have fully read my earlier post, in which I posted:

"While I can work out the syllable tones with reasonable accuracy, I want to be 100% correct."

1. Problem solved: use https://thai-notes.com/dictionaries/predictionary.html

2. What about my method of making an Ank card, good or bad, is there a better approach?

31 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Great pics BB. Bet you are well pleased with the water situation; and Grealish. Was gonna have a tickle on the Irons, but after the Grealish transfer went through, now I'm tempted by City (sorry TBL).

 

I'll not say we are desperate here, but there is only six weeks left to fill the ponds. After that it will be sacrificing four to save three. Hope it don't get to that; but who knows? We need just one really big rain. Not had one yet this year but,,,,,ya never know?. That will flood the lower parts of farm one and overflow into the ponds.

Sadly it's the same every year in Thailand, it's either flood or draught.

Hope you get some rain. Don't think it's rained much anywhere this year. When it rains heavy, we get a quick flood in our street (it drains away in a few hours) but that hasn't happened once this year which is indicative of the rainfall this year.

I decided to have a go recently at compiling my own Anki card system recently to see if it helps.

When I find a word I copy it in to Google translate and also in to thai-language.com . I use both so I get to listen to two sound files (I don't always think Google's sound bite is clear). I then copy the word in Thai to the front of the card and on the back I copy the transliteration WITH the syllable tones and the English meaning on the back (is that a good system? For me, it forces me to read the word in Thai, work out the tones and the English meaning and then check it on the back of the card).

Thai-language.com is down currently. While I can work out the syllable tones with reasonable accuracy, I want to be 100% correct. Where can I get the tones from while Thai-language.com is down?

Strangely it doesn't seem to be mentioned on their website and I didn't see any signs informing when I was in the SP Imm offices doing my 90 days in April (and I haven't seen local resident Richard Barrow mention it), but there is a new office which seems only to deal with 90 days and informing of your address (is that TM30?).

2 minutes ago, KeeTua said:

If you can touch type already learning to type Thai is easy. It comes in handy when you want to look up a Thai word using your smartphone or computer. I look up words frequently from Thai subtitles in YouTube videos it helps to build vocabulary and by typing it I think it helps to imprint the word in the brain.

 

I don't remember which website I used to learn typing but I just did a quick search and this one looks good:

https://thai-notes.com/typing/typingtrainer.html

Check out the typing trainer link. Or look around for other sites. Ideally you'd have a keyboard with Thai characters or Thai stickers.

I see there is a user here named ThaiNotes I wonder if he is associated with that site.

 

Great book, I bought a copy over 30 years ago. I left it back in the US but wish I had it here to refer to on occasion.

Go to the link I posted for the Fundamentals of Thai book, and I agree that it is an excellent book.

I type (slowly) Thai in to Google translate to get the English translation and I noticed that the Thai characters on the keyboard are tiny (far smaller than English characters) which isn't great when you're learning.

3 hours ago, 2long said:

Our security guard found and caught it. He assured us it was what it is.

Actually it's still with us, and although appears calm and healthy it isn't racing around, and away from us as it should be.

I see them in my garden often, if they see humans they usually flee the scene RAPID, so there must be something wrong with it.

Message i received maybe of interest:

We have some great news to share for our expats and non-Thai communities who have not yet been vaccinated. You can now register for Covid-19 vaccine at MedPark Hospital through this link: https://medpark.hospital/CovidExpatsVaccine

https://medpark.hospital/CovidExpatsVaccine

In order to be eligible, you need to meet both of the following criteria:
1. This must be your first Covid-19 vaccine shot.
2. You must be (any of the following): 60 years old or above / has underlying disease(s) / over 12 weeks pregnant.

You can also now choose between AstraZeneca, Sinovac, and Pfizer BioNTech. Please note that Pfizer BioNTech will only be available from Aug 10th, 2021. The vaccine is government allocated, and is free of charge.

We hope this brings good news to you. Please register as soon as you can, because our time slots fill up very quickly. Feel free to share the link with your fellow expat / non-Thai friends.

A super fast snake, that 'flies' through the trees.

3 minutes ago, chilly07 said:

Always go and check. They will be operating but pretending to be shut for licences. I used a driving school next to the DLT to get first in line when on the phone they said they were shut

 If the DLT wasn't a 2-3hr round trip, I would pop along to check.

What does the text I made bold mean - you renewed your licence at the driving school?

Need to renew my recently expired 2 year temporary licence.

Beginning of the month the wife called DLT who told us that that renewal in BKK wasn't possible but it was ok to drive on the expired licence until 30 September 2021; the notice below of 27.07.2021 confirms the 30 September 2021. 

Later this month the DLT closed again; see the notice below of 20.07.2021

If anybody spots any updates on the DLT being open again for Renewal of Driving License, please post on this thread to let people know. Thanks.

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From: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/07/20/department-of-land-transport-suspends-most-in-person-services-in-chonburi-other-maximum-control-provinces/
Department of Land Transport suspends most in-person services in Chonburi, other maximum control provinces
The Department of Land Transport, or DLT, has announced they have suspended most in-person services in the thirteen maximum control provinces, including Chonburi, home of Pattaya, to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. This also includes the Bangkok area and most surrounding provinces.
Specific services suspended, amongst others, are driver’s license renewals, issuing, registration, in-person tests, and more.
Training for renewing driver’s licenses will be online only, according to the DLT.
Tax payments for vehicles will be online or drive-through online, the DLT added.
The notice is effective immediately, July 20th, 2021, until further notice.
Non-maximum control zones will operate according to provincial governor orders, the DLT concluded.

(20/07/2021)

From: https://thailand.prd.go.th/main.php?filename=index
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has coordinated with the Royal Thai Police to give a respite to the rules, regulations, and ordinances for drivers whose driving licenses have expired. The expired driving license can be shown to authorities until 30 September 2021. For driving licenses that have expired for more than a year from 10 April to 30 September 2021, drivers will be exempted from taking the exam, while those who have expired driving license for more than three years will be exempted from the driving tests. For more information, please contact hotline 1584 or visit the DLT website at www.dlt.go.th. (27/07/2021)

4 minutes ago, chilly07 said:

Not very helpful as walk in has been shut. It's by appointment only for Bangkok and immediately surrounding provinces.

Sure it's still walk in for over 75s till the end of the month. 

24 minutes ago, remobb said:

Parking at Bang Sue. Can anyone give me information on parking there. I have an appointment set for 4pm today.

Thanks in advance.

 

24 minutes ago, sloperating said:

Entrance is west facing, and the vaccination and 'recovery' areas are near the eastern side.

The back has buses queuing.

The front has drop-off and no buses queuing.

You go in the front.

You work your way through areas:

Initial desk- checks your name on the list if you have an appointment, probably checks your age if you are walk in over 75

Health check machine for blood pressure printout

Queue to get your details in computer

Queue to be injected

30mins rest area

Each area takes you from the front of the building, through it, and out the rear.

47 minutes ago, kidneyw said:

What visa do you have?

Did you think it was an issue and did they check what you had in your passport?

Thanks.

I don't think they checked my visa, just name in passport, passport number and they asked for my address which I didn't have to prove.

7 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

So what does an expat do if he's in the over 60 age category, no underlying issues lives in Nakhon Pathom [deep red zone] and DOES NOT WANT TO TRAVEL TO BANGKOK BANG SU TO GET VACCINATED]

Guess you have to wait till you can register locally in Nakhon Pathom if you don't want to travel the 60-90 minutes to BKK. Traffic in BKK is REALLY quiet these past few weeks, so it's an easy drive. I don't live BKK but the wife registered me on several websites and I had the chance last week to go to a local hospital I  my province; I chose not to go as it was Sinovac & AZ combination and knew Bangsue is AZ.

Keep an eye on Richard Narrows Twitter account as he seems to be in the know about registering being open.

31 minutes ago, chilly07 said:

What were the queues like. Photos on the web look nightmarish?

Yesterday arrived around 4pm for a 5pm appointment. In my car leaving at 5.15pm including the 30mins post-jab rest.

They seemed to keep their eyes open for Farlangs and was treated well. 

Nurse who injected me was brilliant. Didn't even feel it (saw it being injected in).

Last night I was feeling cold in the night. Today just tired, lethargic and a slight hot feeling in my shoulders, but so far so good.

I registered Wednesday, I didn't receive the email people mention (but saw an example of it on Richard Barrow's twitter), received SMS in Thai (copy it in to Google translate or ask the wife to translate) at 11pm for the next afternoon.

Anutin was walking around for photo ops with the farlangs.

31 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Utterly outrageous... 

 

The Police are arresting people who have more than 5 visitors to their house or who are having a few beers after 9pm... 

 

Meanwhile a massive mass-spread event is dis-organised to ensure people congregate in extremely crowded conditions to receive the first dose of a vaccine which has a reported efficacy of 50% after two doses. 

 

 The vaccines also need approximately 2 weeks to work. This is pretty much a guarantee that anyone exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus will present with symptoms within the next week and the vaccine they have taken is pretty much ineffective in that time frame. 

 

Those planning this hideous ‘mass gathering’ are surely criminally negligent.

 

This can be carried out far more effectively by distributing the vaccines to regional hospitals, clinics and even using Vans to park up in front of Temples etc... to vaccinate people while at the same time reassuring the people that the will be present all month to ensure no over crowding - any step such as this is better than one concentrated effort with concentrated crowds. 

 

 

 

 

Unlike the horrific crowd scenes midweek (shown above), there were no similar scenes yesterday, far less people and reasonably organised.