“Don’t complain about our English, If you can’t speak Thai” - sign at restaurant goes viral - again

[sambum]

43 minutes ago, Alex2554 said:

Don't overestimate your value for Thai economy

Here in Isaan nobody speaks English, how do they survive )

 

Not many restaurants in Esan/Isaan, and mostly they struggle to survive, their children working in factories (or worse) in B/K or Chonburi etc. sending money home to support them!

Edited January 20, 2020 by sambum

[pacovl46]

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Exactly. That's what that restaurant sign is all about.

That’s too black and white! Sure you should know better, or don’t you?

[Penefattore]

I guess they won't complain if I choose a restaurant that's capable to understand my order either 

[Yinn]

17 minutes ago, sambum said:

Not many restaurants in Esan/Isaan

Not true.

Thousand+

[Jingthing]

Just now, pacovl46 said:

Why you’re so negative towards Thailand? Did a bargirl relieve you of everything you had or what’s the problem?

 

Obviously there must have been issues at that restaurant which prompted the owner to put up that sign. Neither you nor I know the background story, yet you resort to stereotypical Thai bashing, which is just annoying. Also, your initial comment to this topic is just <deleted>. Didn’t expect anything else from you, though, to be honest! 

My comment was about the sign.

Not Thailand.

Don't project.

As I've said before of course some customers are A-holes.

So deal with those specific people directly.

Don't put out accusatory signs directed at ALL foreigners. 

 

[Alex2554]

10 minutes ago, Penefattore said:

Do you really need we explain that to you ? 

[pacovl46]

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

My comment was about the sign.

Not Thailand.

Don't project.

As I've said before of course some customers are A-holes.

So deal with those specific people directly.

Don't put out accusatory signs directed at ALL foreigners. 

 

How is it directed at all foreigners? It‘s there for all to read, but it applies only to those who complain about the staff‘s English - big difference! 
 

Your “translation” on the other hand felt to me like you think all Thais think like that which they clearly don’t! 
 

It seems like your but hurt because they “dared” to say something “negative” about foreigners! 

[mauGR1]

22 minutes ago, Yinn said:

I think they have.

who write the sign?

Foreigner sure. There is a famous song.

 

[chickenslegs]

Until someone posts evidence that this chalkboard sign is genuine (i.e. - posted at the entrance of a real restaurant in Thailand) I will continue to believe that this (32-page) topic is just a fictitious attempt to garner clicks.

 

[Yinn]

7 minutes ago, pacovl46 said:

How is it directed at all foreigners? It‘s there for all to read, but it applies only to those who complain about the staff‘s English - big difference! 

 

Thankyou. 

 

7 minutes ago, pacovl46 said:

 

Your “translation” on the other hand felt to me like you think all Thais think like that which they clearly don’t! 
 

 

Racist translation. 

[Billpro785]

It is their country, their language, either learn Thai or go back to the Uk. 

[alex8912]

Everyone. The sign doesn’t exist but it will appear in 5 or 6 months again guaranteed!  ????

[monkfish]

44 minutes ago, Yinn said:

If I go to those restaurant I will not complain about the staff language. For what?

 

The board say “not complain” NOT say “must speak Thai”. You confused AGAIN!

 

Can see this popular thread, people like complain. 

 

 

Thailand has restaurant from all over the world same. And many Thai style, Issan, Kao Tom, South food, etc etc 

 

I never see see an “Australian” restaurant. If I go to one I will not complain about there language.

 

Maybe Australian food not popular same Thai food right? Thai restaurant all over the world.  Aussie restaurant is good or not?

 

There's not many good foreign restaurants in Thailand probably because foreigner's aren't allowed to be cooks here not like in the USA where most Thai's have there own restaurants

so here they have to teach Thai's to cook Farang and that just doesn't work out in my opinion they put too much sugar and msg in everything.
Also I think many Thai don't like food from other countries like if they go abroad they have to take Mama, Nam gim and fish sauce with them.

Edited January 20, 2020 by monkfish

[Redline]

They should be expected to be able to communicate in English for their job, unless the don’t want tourists as customers.  But, nobody should expect them to speak fluent or complex English.  Only one percent of the world speaks Thai after all, and people learn English to travel, and for international business, and science, and research, and air travel...

In addition, Thai people that go to school are required to take English classes anyway.  Unfortunately, many teachers cannot speak English either.

[ChaiyaTH]

9 hours ago, Yinn said:

 

If “mandatory” why 39 million. 

 

How many your country last year? 

Pffft

That you have a lot of air traffic doesn't mean it is all tourists, and does not justify the lack of catering respectfully to Tourism, neither lacking English skills.

With merely 17 million people and a tiny country we did over 76 million in 2018, however we do not cheat like the TAT.
We know the transfer rate is around 36.6% too. That is Amsterdam, and it is actually easier to speak English there than Dutch too

Do not take so much credit for Bangkok airport, it is foolish and makes you look quite dumb. We do not take credit for the transfer arrivals too.
Just because people land there, stay a day and travel on, or in case of Bangkok, go trough immigration and depart from another airport, doesn't make them tourists. Sorry to break your fantasy but this is reality. Get over it, no big deal.

Edited January 20, 2020 by ChaiyaTH

[moldresistant]

The sign is unfriendly to tourists. I wouldn't walk in there even though I can speak Thai because obviously somebody in there is frustrated already. Not a good vibe.

 

And half of the replies in this thread are going crazy defending this attitude. Sure, go ahead a tell yourselves it's right but don't be surprised when tourists avoid the place completely!

 

Edited January 20, 2020 by moldresistant

[George FmplesdaCosteedback]

In a country highly dependant on tourists it is pretty sad how bad the translations on menus are. It's fun at first but can become a problem very quickly. I found them amusing until I realised how the price is translated too!

 

What is most frustrating is the fact that even Thai speakers can't order a meal that is a mixture of the other dishes on the menu. The ingredients are there, they know how to cook them but thinking outside the box is very rare for Thais not educated outside of the country. (I'm not talking about places with computer tills.)

 

I have to say so much rubbish "goes viral" SM needs a vaccine shot.

 

 

 

[ChaiyaTH]

18 minutes ago, moldresistant said:

And half of the replies in this thread are going crazy defending this attitude.

And they completely forget the point that this are tourists, not long term stayers of which you might expect Thai language skills.

Edited January 20, 2020 by ChaiyaTH

[mike787]

It's only a sign, what's the big deal?

[Miami007]

6 hours ago, Nkpjed said:

I have to agree with the sign.  If you are in any foreign country and don’t understand the language don’t complain.  Expecting everyone in a foreign country to speak your language, whatever it is, is not only unrealistic but arrogant and just plain stupid.  And for those who choose to live here that don’t even try and learn the language you should never complain.  Whatever country you choose to live in learn the language.  Thai is a difficult language but it’s not impossible to learn.  Don’t just sit back like a moron and get by with your wife or gf translating everything for you.  Thai’s love it when you try to speak their language and you’d be surprised at how much enjoyable living here is when you can speak, read and write Thai.

There is a big difference between a tourist or working expat / longtime retiree.

 

I would not expect a tourist on a short vacation to learn Thai.. but I would hope that establishments catering to tourists have staff who can speak English (as it really seems to be the common denominator for Western tourists)

 

If you work or live in Thailand long term, you should make an effort to learn Thai as you can't expect everyone you interact with to speak a European language.  

 

 

[freestyle]

If you work in a service business, dealing with complaints is part of the job, even if you think they are unjustified.
Customer is king, that goes for anywhere in the world.

Complaints are actually helpfull, because they can give you insight in what areas you could improve your business. Smart businesses even make an effort to ask you your honest opinion.

 

A sign like that makes customers not feel welcome. The "love you" part is not even credible anymore ????

Edited January 20, 2020 by freestyle

[Lacessit]

8 hours ago, Enki said:

What have consonants and tones to do with it? The vowels are completely straight forward. And unlike english or danish that uses 5 vowels in odd combinations to form actually the sound (sound, instead of saund, sea versus see, beak, bear, been, boom etc. sun instead of san, sand instead of saend or seand?) In other words: there is basically no english word that is pronounced like it is spelled. Thai vowels are pronounced _exactly_ as they are spelled, hence they were smart and introduced their own letters for every vowel and diphthong just like norwegians and danish did ????. 

 

Complex languages are indeed Finish, Basque, and German, Russian, English, but also: Spanish, Italian ... etc.

 

English: "Yesterday I have been in the cinema".

Thai: "Yesterday go cinema"

 

English: "After the cinema yesterday, we had dinner".

Thai: "After go cinema yesterday, dinner" or more typical "After yesterday go cinema already, go dinner with friends" In this case, "already" is a marker word to indicate that something happened after something else.

 

And so on. No singular, no plural. No genders as in male or female. No special future or past tense. Just an arrangement of words.

 

In your language comparison, you should have looked first for "native speakers". If you count Indians, you might have a point and get indeed close to 1.5b english speakers. The planet has 7.5billion people however ... so good luck convincing the other 6 billion that they _need_ to learn english ????

OK, try this: : Mai mai mai mai". Which translated from Thai means " Wet wood does not burn". Unless one can read Thai, it's virtually impossible for a non-Thai to get the tones right.

Granted English is difficult. I never said it wasn't. German is probably one of the easiest languages around, I don't know where you get the idea it's complex.

But keep on flogging your hobby horse if you enjoy it.

[Enki]

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

OK, try this: : Mai mai mai mai". Which translated from Thai means " Wet wood does not burn". Unless one can read Thai, it's virtually impossible for a non-Thai to get the tones right.

Granted English is difficult. I never said it wasn't. German is probably one of the easiest languages around, I don't know where you get the idea it's complex.

But keep on flogging your hobby horse if you enjoy it.

But it is not that important to get the tones right. It is usually clear from context. German is easy for english, dutch or nordic speaking people. But most english call it complicated. Your millage may vary ????

[Lacessit]

3 minutes ago, Enki said:

But it is not that important to get the tones right. It is usually clear from context. German is easy for english, dutch or nordic speaking people. But most english call it complicated. Your millage may vary ????

A curious argument - context does the job for Thai, and doesn't do it for English?

In my youth, I studied Latin, French and German. German was by far the easiest for me. Your posts are reminding me of one of the Latin aphorisms " Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses".

[EVENKEEL]

5 hours ago, Yinn said:

I think they have.

who write the sign?

I'm not talking about this specific place but any farang based business. Just looking at it from a business point of view. Personally I could care less. 

[Donutz]

Damn, so much moaning and complaining.  I thought all the moaners had buggered off. 55

 

As for the sign (yes I know it's an old photo), it says don't complain. And indeed, why would you? It's not a 5 star foreign tourist orientated restaurant, now is it? In your average restaurant or watering hole just be be patient and understanding. That goes both for the staff and customers. No need for an attitude. Maybe the owner got a bunch of rude English speaking people in a row and thus the sign. In the unlikely event that they put it up after one single guest pointed out a spelling mistake on the menu.. well , just don't visit the place again if it as a bad vibe. Relax, enjoy, smile, constructive feedback is good, moaning and complaining is not. Chill. ????

[gk10002000]

I never complained nor even thought to complain about their English skills. It is their country.  I am the visitor.  I always kind of enjoyed hearing some broken english with the lovely lady Thai accents, or see some written English that had incorrect grammar.  It simply reminds me I am traveling and in a place I like.

 

  Years ago on my first and only trip down to Tijuana Mexico, went for just one night and was there for a few hours.  I was a bit dismayed at how little English was spoken there by just about every shop keeper, even the great little taco shop we were eating at.  My first thought was, they should be interested in learning and using English as they are right over the border and English speaking people are a huge part of their business.  I was not mad.  I was just taken a bit back that they would not have made more of an effort.

[lucifer666]

Get over yourselves. It's an amusing sign and so very true. Luckily i speak Thai.

[JeffreyO]

So... they expect tourists to learn the language of every nation they travel to?  Damn, I'd be such a polyglot! 

A country that prides itself on tourism, yes, they should have basic English capacity if they intend to serve native English speaking customers.  

[EricTh]

18 minutes ago, JeffreyO said:

So... they expect tourists to learn the language of every nation they travel to?  Damn, I'd be such a polyglot! 

A country that prides itself on tourism, yes, they should have basic English capacity if they intend to serve native English speaking customers.  

Real tourists should have tourist guides to do the translation or they go to shops whose personnels are trained to speak in foreign languages. 

 

Many Thai do have basic English capacity because they have English lessons for 11 years of their school days. They certainly know the numbers except their pronunciation is off even after being taught by native English speakers who can't teach.

 

However, many foreigners don't use basic English, they use higher intermediate English.

 

Edited January 21, 2020 by EricTh