Jump to content
Login with your Gmail HERE and start posting in seconds! ×

Thai English Translator App

Alsyapal

By Alsyapal
in Thai Language

 Share

Recommended Posts

Alsyapal Rookie Member

Alsyapal

Posted
Posted

Please help I have a Thai girlfriend who speaks little English and I speak even less Thai.   The problem is I am in the UK and she in Thailand and communication is very difficult.   As she cannot read or write Thai or English she can only send me voice messages which it is very hard to translate.   I have to play then in Messenger on a tablet then copy over to my mobile phone Google translater app. when it does work the messages are different each time I try.    Is there nothing that works with Messenger that is easier -  I have tried most of them without success.  Please help :-)

recycler Silver Member

recycler

Posted
Posted

Fairly likely she speaks a dialect and that will be very difficult to translate if you don't have another Thai around that speaks the same dialect. But in the UK that will be another Thai woman, so that will get you in even more trouble....

 

You should also realize that Thai language, dialect or not, is fairly inefficient. It happens a lot that the message does not come across even between people that speak the same dialect. Misunderstandings are an everyday thing here.

Antioc Newbie

Antioc

Posted
Posted

Thai is not an easy language to translate via the digital apps.  My wife, who is University educated, often has to struggle with the written word and sometimes finds it difficult to get a precise outcome.  Try the App "translate voice" and "Then Dictionary".  The standard is "Google Translate".  As "recycler" stated, the dialects are difficult at times because they are not represented in the official "Central Thai" language Apps.

oldcarguy Senior Member

oldcarguy

Posted
Posted

even when you try Thai text into Google translate you often cannot understand the translation into English ,

 

I will put the Thai text into a few translation programs so I have a better idea,

 

I also think you talk "with your hands" a lot more than you think , so maybe set up Skype video

jgarbo Apprentice Member

jgarbo

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, recycler said:

Fairly likely she speaks a dialect and that will be very difficult to translate if you don't have another Thai around that speaks the same dialect. But in the UK that will be another Thai woman, so that will get you in even more trouble....

 

You should also realize that Thai language, dialect or not, is fairly inefficient. It happens a lot that the message does not come across even between people that speak the same dialect. Misunderstandings are an everyday thing here.

Thai an "inefficient" language? Do you actually speak it? Thai is extremely "economical". English is "inefficient" with its silly tenses, inflections, plurals, redundant pronouns. Why say I "went" yesterday when the temporal adverb "yesterday" makes the time obvious? Why two "cars" when the "two" shows it's more than one car. I find Thai even more "efficient" than Chinese, with its sneaky plurals. As for an app to translate Thai to English, good luck. I've never found a useful one.

connda Star Member

connda

Posted
Posted

There is an app called: แปลเสียงไทย (Plea Siieng Thai - or 'translate spoken thai')  You can find this in the Google Play store.  It will translate spoken Thai to  English and English to Thai.  Also Thai to Korean, Japanese, and Chinese.

Your phone will need to be fairly powerful to run the app.  It translates common words, phrases, and even sentences pretty well.  Not so well for complicated words, phrases, or sentences or slang.  If you have an older phone, forget it.

It's a good 'bridge' app as you are both learning each other's language.

 

Go to Google Play and have your GF type in แปลเสียงไทย.  There is not an English title, only Thai.
Have fun.

connda Star Member

connda

Posted
Posted
47 minutes ago, oldcarguy said:

even when you try Thai text into Google translate you often cannot understand the translation into English ,

 

I will put the Thai text into a few translation programs so I have a better idea,

 

I also think you talk "with your hands" a lot more than you think , so maybe set up Skype video

Google Translate is only so-so. If you understand written Thai syntax, but don't have a large written vocabulary it works well enough for an initial translation that I then take and 'clean up.'  Translating the results into voice?  You may get some entertaining translations.

Krataiboy Gold Member

Krataiboy

Posted
Posted
23 minutes ago, jgarbo said:

Thai an "inefficient" language? Do you actually speak it? Thai is extremely "economical". English is "inefficient" with its silly tenses, inflections, plurals, redundant pronouns. Why say I "went" yesterday when the temporal adverb "yesterday" makes the time obvious? Why two "cars" when the "two" shows it's more than one car. I find Thai even more "efficient" than Chinese, with its sneaky plurals. As for an app to translate Thai to English, good luck. I've never found a useful one.

"Simple" or "functional" is another way describing the Thai language.  English, for historical reasons, is far more complex, convoluted and subtle - and therein lies the main problem when it comes to accurate translation.

 

Whenever I need a quick cheer-up, I go to my wife's Facebook page and us Google translate to turn her postings to friends and relatives into English. The gibberish which results has to be seen to be believed and gives us both the giggles. Try it some time!

Nokawou Apprentice Member

Nokawou

Posted
Posted

I currently use the app "speak and translate" from Apple to practice my Thai, but even the Thai's have to speak very clearly and slowly to make the app work. If she can only speak a local dialect like Loa, Kmer or Soi then you out of luck. The fact that she does not read or write Thai gives an indication that she only speaks dialect.   My wife from Isaan learned to speak Thai in school, her mother that never went to school cannot speak Thai at all. I do not know of any apps that can translate local dialects,  but like Kratiaboy said even written Thai is a mess in Google translate, it only works for individual words. It would probably be better to find out which dialect she speaks first and use a app that can handle the original language, Lao for Laos, Kmer for Cambodia maybe you get better results. Best of luck!

Lancelot01 Advanced Member

Lancelot01

Posted
Posted

Line has an EN - TH translator. 

You type in English and it does a simultaneous written translation in Thai.

Conversely, your gf can type in Thai language and you will receive an instant translation in English.

 

It seems to work for general corresponding not sure about technical translations.

oldcarguy Senior Member

oldcarguy

Posted
Posted
21 hours ago, connda said:

Go to Google Play and have your GF type in แปลเสียงไทย.  There is not an English title, only Thai.
Have fun.

do you have a link for it ?

 

thanks

elgenon Platinum Member

elgenon

Posted
Posted
15 hours ago, Lancelot01 said:

Line has an EN - TH translator. 

You type in English and it does a simultaneous written translation in Thai.

Conversely, your gf can type in Thai language and you will receive an instant translation in English.

 

It seems to work for general corresponding not sure about technical translations.

I have LIne. If you have time could you PM me with directions on how to find it and use the translator? Cheers.

tonray Ruby Member

tonray

Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, elgenon said:

I have LIne. If you have time could you PM me with directions on how to find it and use the translator? Cheers.

Search for TH-EN Translator in LINE and add as new friend

Alsyapal Rookie Member

Alsyapal

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I asked a simple question about translation I neither wanted or deserved your patronising response.   The lady in question is somebody that I will be meeting over Christmas when I am visiting Thailand for two months.   I am going to stay at her family home with a good friend of mine who is married to her sister.    We have had several video chats over the last months and have managed to communicate with the assistance of the sister who speaks good English.   Merely company for the four of us to tour around a little over the holiday I have no intention of making her my life partner.     You have jumped to conclusions and insulted me with your comments about my friends and intentions.  I suggest you get your head out of your butt and investigate a little more before jumping to conclusions. 

Rimmer Star Member

Rimmer

Posted
Posted

Inflammatory posts removed please see the following forum rule:

 

7) You will respect fellow members and post in a civil manner. No personal attacks, hateful or insulting towards other members, (flaming) Stalking of members on either the forum or via PM will not be allowed.

BernieOnTour Advanced Member

BernieOnTour

Posted
Posted
On 9/21/2017 at 6:33 AM, jgarbo said:

Thai an "inefficient" language? Do you actually speak it? Thai is extremely "economical". English is "inefficient" with its silly tenses, inflections, plurals, redundant pronouns. Why say I "went" yesterday when the temporal adverb "yesterday" makes the time obvious? Why two "cars" when the "two" shows it's more than one car. I find Thai even more "efficient" than Chinese, with its sneaky plurals. As for an app to translate Thai to English, good luck. I've never found a useful one.

it is inefficient.

If I ask my girlfriend to discuss some more important topic because of her -of cause- far better Thai with an official, salesman, whoever  - it takes her 2 to 3 times the time, I would need in my mother language.

 

Picking up your example: 2 cars versus รถ 2 คัน (rot 2 kan) - so 3 letters from the classifier instead of 1 "s" 

If you compare, for example,  technical terms for a car, you'll also realize that what is achieved with a relatively short english 2 syllable word (eg. boot lid) takes a far longer (official) Thai word ( in this case 4 syllables gra pro:ng tha:i rot) กระโปรงท้ายรถ 

 

 

BernieOnTour Advanced Member

BernieOnTour

Posted
Posted
On 9/21/2017 at 1:34 PM, Alsyapal said:

As I said she doesn't read or write Thai only speaks it

 

You are sure, she is Thai?

How old is she?

Public education is available since long in Thailand, not at least to ensure developing a Thai identity. I am only aware of some 60 years plus Thai, who cannot read Thai ...

Antioc Newbie

Antioc

Posted
Posted

To comment on "BernieOnTour's" post.  I find the same thing.  Back in Farang Land you can ask the sales person a question like; "Do you have a USB WiFi Dongle for a Samsung TV?"  The reply will be a quick "yes" or "no".  My wife has asked the same question in Thai to the Thai sales person and the whole affair has taken at least 5 minutes of intense conversation to come up with the answer.  I have observed this lengthy process on many occasion and am convinced that it does indeed take far longer to communicate concepts and ideas, or get an answer to a simple question, than in most other languages.  I believe that it's because the language is not specific enough in it's structure and has far fewer words in it's vocabulary.  Also extra spacial thinking is not a forte and when combined with an insular approach to the world you will find that patience is a great  asset.

Good luck with your quest "Alsyapal".  Unfortunately there are folks out there who sport with honest people seeking honest answers, don't let it put you off.  Their posts expose them for what they are and the moderators are quickly on to most of them.

Joosesis Senior Member

Joosesis

Posted
Posted
On 9/20/2017 at 11:55 PM, connda said:

Go to Google Play and have your GF type in แปลเสียงไทย.  There is not an English title, only

Wow!  This app is amazing!  Thanks for the recommendation.

Joosesis Senior Member

Joosesis

Posted
Posted

Does anyone have a good translator app from the app store (apple)?  I showed my bf the แปลเสียงไทย app and now he wants one for his iphone....but  we couldn't find it in the app store.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.






ASEANNOW

ASEANNOW (formerly Thai Visa) Thailand's oldest and most popular forum for expats and foreigners.

Sign up today and have your say

MORE INFO

POPULAR AREAS

CONTACT US

219/59 Asoke Towers, 15th Floor, Soi Sukhumvit 21, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
(+66) 99 196 1100
[email protected]

×
×
  • Create New...