Hockeybik

I just wanted to say that I have not forgotten this exercise - the search to find the top 3000 Thai words. I do have a growing list in an Excel spreadsheet, but after throwing everything in, I realised awhile back that it has to be tackled from a different angle. A more practical angle.

Some Thai words are created by joining two words together - compound nouns, compound verbs, compound noun + verb, compound noun + adjective, etc - so while knowing the top word frequencies is handy, word frequencies do not work on their own.

I personally believe that you need to start from the meaning and work backwards. I now know that not all English words have an exact duplicate in Thai, so there is that problem. Another problem: sentences to go with each word = a must...

So that's what I'm doing now. Last year, with three Thais, a vocabulary list from a generic book on learning languages was put together. This past month I dragged it out of the mothballs. In the coming months I'll sort it to suit. Right now it matches the book (page by page) so it's pretty basic. And like I mentioned, it's generic to learning all languages so words special to Thai are not listed (yet). So I plan on deleting what doesn't belong, tweaking, and then I'll start adding the must know Thai words from my excel spread sheet until... well, until it is right. Or close to right. Or at least to the point where it generates less of an argument.

The file, such as it is, can be downloaded from this post. Rikker did a quick look at the file, so PLEASE read his disclaimer in the comments.

My dream, for each word, is to have a sentence for: proper Thai (the Thai we get in our course books), street Thai, a more polite Thai than street, and the Issan Thai we hear in taxis and up north.

Yes, I do realise the amount of work this will take, but I am not in any rush...

Btw - For what it's worth, I'm armed with a whole heap of Thai courses, dictionaries, grammar books, phrase books, online resources, etc. I have Rikker's top frequencies, as well as thai2english.com's and others. Seems to me, some sense can be made from all of the resources combined. Or at least I'll have fun trying

Thank you Desi and Rikker, a lot of hard work. This appears to be a valuable resource. All the best.

Sadly there is no phonetical translations.

Check this page: Translation and Phonetic

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Not sad at all - I was fortunate that my first Thai teacher convinced me that learning the Thai alphabet and not to rely on a "third" alphabet - transliteration - was the way to go. Transliteration really doesn't do a great job at teaching you how to pronounce the words anyway. I can't read a newspaper yet but I can read signs and menus well enough and I can sound out words when I need to. Someday, I'll read pretty well. Consequently, I also learn new words.

You won't find a newspaper printed in transliterated Thai. I strongly recommend learning the alphabet - it simply isn't all that difficult. Once you can read the letters, you'll be surprised what you can see.

Thank you Rikker for your resources.

Whatever scumbag gave these scum bail needs to be punished - all so sadly predictable. Words do not work for these despicable life forms.

And just who are these sick XXXXX who are taking pictures of this poor girl????

Seems it's more poke at foreigners than Thais

I just saw this www.bicycletrailersasia.com not sure if it's what you are looking for.

Why isn't passing Economics 101 a prerequisite for public office at any level in any government in the world?

The invention of the safety brake for elevators is literally what made lifts in buildings practical. Somehow the brake on this one must have been disabled or could it have malfunctioned? Awful.

Can't volunteer, you need a work permit.

How can you force someone to run and listen to music.. That is a disgrace and what century is the judge and the country of Thailand living in.. 10 years in jail maybe ok but to torture someone is not acceptable... 1 rule for falang and bail if your a Thai... I hope he complains to the U.N or a world office because that sentence is digraceful

Dood... read the first word in the post.

Did anyone else eat at the same restaurant as the girls? Or were they the only two patrons? Can anyone chime in on a food poisoning that is this dramatic? I'm sure some exist but on Phi Phi? And only these two? But... it's a good thing that tourism hasn't been affected...

Just where do you want the government to raise the money? Would you like Thailand to go on a debt adventure and end up in as bad as shape as the EU or the USA?

These money will curculate within Thailand. Regardless they give - 1 baht or 1K baht, these are just a NUMBERS on electronic accounts. Some numbers will jump from one record to another, and soon (when ppl spend) they will jump back. All of this - within one country.

Don't compare this to US/EU debts (they consume more than they produce, creating inadequate EX/IM) - better learn how modern money/banking works. Supporting LOCAL ppl for LOCAL spending won't make any trouble.

OK, let me see if I understand, as long as you only create internal inflation by "just NUMBERS" (same as printing money) there are no consequences? Do ya think it will have any effect at all on the baht for international exchange?

If these "NUMBERS" you speak of were meaningless economies would just add more "NUMBERS" to their banks whenever they needed them. "Hey Somchai, we're running a little low, add a few zeros to that bottom line, will ya?"

How is putting 10 billion baht into the Thai economy a bad thing at this time? How much should it be? 1 trillion? 10 trillion? A trillion, trillion? How much??? And if you name a number, tell us all where it should come from too.

Easy: just pay out (or compensate to me while I can pay them first) all the bills while repairing house/vehicle etc. I will collect them to the separate folder, for easy reviewing.

Me myself not need any extra baht, but to cover these UNPREDICTED losses.

The sum will be the exact amount, different for each house. Got a calculator?

Oh, that won't be abused at all. Anyone have Photo Shop and a printer?

Anyone care to answer? What do people do with this money, once they get it?

I'm not arguing or discussing whether it's enough or not, just asking - where does the money go?

Into the economy. They will purchase something.

And that just may give a job to someone or help a vendor make her rent, all good things.

How is putting 10 billion baht into the Thai economy a bad thing at this time? How much should it be? 1 trillion? 10 trillion? A trillion, trillion? How much??? And if you name a number, tell us all where it should come from too.

Come on, 5,000 isn't enough? Says who? Us farangs? Sure it isn't enough but 10 billion ain't a bad goose to an economy that will sorely need it and to people who will gladly spend 5,000 on things they need and give business to each other and jobs to each other.

Anyone care to answer? What do people do with this money, once they get it?

I'm not arguing or discussing whether it's enough or not, just asking - where does the money go?

I have some questions and a comment...

Comment is... 5,000 certainly isn't very much. It isn't enough. As one poster said, it will buy a hollow front door; another said, a couple pairs of boots.

My questions are...

If this is the number, 5,000/ household and that's it, all that anyone gets, 10 billion total. Let's also assume that every household does actually get the 5,000 and some politician doesn't get any of it (I know, a big assumption but I'm just cynical).

What will people actually do with that money?

I'm just wondering, what will they do with it? Any ideas out there?

Official Thai web sites say you can get a Multi-entry B visa for - - To conduct business / to work: (Category “B”)

To "work" I know you need a B visa AND a work permit but what is "conduct business"?

A legally operating business, currently paying minimum wage to at least some of their employees when faced with a significant increase in the cost of labor can do one of a few things...

1) They can just pay the increase - assuming they have the excess profit just flowing in or laying around that enables them to "just pay it". (If you think many businesses can or will make this decision, you are not living in the real world.)

2) They can pay the increase by increasing price to their customers... but they will be thinking, how much can I increase price and not lose business? Can I increase at all?

3) They can fire some workers, outsource that labor to contract workers or send it to other countries. This is an easy decision for many minimum wage jobs (office cleaning, grounds maintenance, certain unskilled assembly, etc.)

4) They can become "illegal" and pay some workers "off the books" or find some other way around the increase in their labor costs. Many workers when faced with no job or a job "off the books" will welcome this option.

There are a few variations and combinations of these actions and probably a few more things but you get the idea. So what do you think businesses will do? Who really benefits in the end by each one of these decisions? Is the worker better off? Are ALL workers better off? Who is really better off with an increase in minimum wage?

If a 33% increase in the minimum wage is good from 200 to 300 baht per day is good, then why wouldn't 400 baht per day be even better? 500? 600?

A friend in the US this week when applying for a multi-entry B visa at the Thai embassy in Washington was told that multi-entry B's were no longer available - "new rules" and that he could only get a SINGLE entry B visa.

Has anyone else heard of this? Doesn't make much sense as he needs to come and go to conduct his business with companies in Thailand. Not very convenient (or economical) to get new visas for each trip, especially a 2 or 3 day one to HK or KL.

Thanks for the help.

Khun Jee at

+66840085673

Do what she tells you, you will learn. She's good.

Vic

Like JxP I've been trying to get clear information on this issue. There seems to be huge disagreement and lack of clear information about the differences between "conducting business" and "work" as defined and interpreted by the Foreign Ministry.

The "B" visa allows for "work" under a work permit or to "conduct business" with no real definition or parameters described as to what that is (at least anywhere I can find). Even the ministry web site is vague on what constitutes "conduct business". Conducting business is by definition working and vice versa – isn't it? http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2492

To obtain a work permit as Soutpeel has said, you have to be tied to a Thai company. Big companies already with presence in Thailand this is no problem but for a small company or a company that for which hiring employees is unnecessary and investment of several million baht is not economically feasible this is an unneeded financial burden.

Then jazzbo is of the opinion that if you are buying goods or services, that may be considered as "conducting business" but if you sell you would be "working". Both are "working" aren't they? Why is one OK and the other not?

So… my questions are (this is for a long term situation, not one that could be covered by the 15 day temporary WP) –

1) Is it possible for someone to function in Thailand as an independent agent for a foreign company? Agent is not employed by any Thai company and no payments are exchanged between any Thai company and the Agent. Said foreign company also has no presence in Thailand and no connection to any Thai company (other than maybe as a client), the agent is paid by the foreign company into a non-Thai bank account. Is this possible? (Legally.)

2) Can an individual function legally in Thailand and earn money without setting up a Thai company, hiring the minimum number of full time employees per work permit and showing the required capital investment (2 million baht/WP)?

3) Can anyone offer any specific examples of individuals operating in Thailand on a small scale and how they are doing it and what they are doing?

4) Is anyone familiar with - Three-Year Non-Immigrant Visa "B" (Business only) - Foreign citizen who wishes to visit Thailand for business purpose may apply for a three-year Non-Immigrant Visa "B". This type of visa may be issued to businessmen for multiple-entries and is valid for 3 years. It allows holder to visit Thailand as often as required for as long as the visa remains valid and allows holder to stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 90 days during each visit. Employment of any kind is strictly prohibited for holder of such visa., full description at: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2498

Thanks all for the help

Hockeybik

<h3 class="post-title entry-title">This guy has a great perspective on it all. Read his later posts as well

</h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title">http://www.somtow.org/2010/05/dont-blame-dan-rivers.html

</h3>