Lost in translation: Thai road sign riddle baffles tourists

[trevoromgh]

Here's a question to find out how many UK retirees read this story.  "Why would Neddie Seagoon like the original road sign featured?"

[chrissables]

5 hours ago, rwill said:

Ak or Ahk would probably be better than Ork.

Or "awk"

[chrissables]

4 hours ago, natb19 said:

Lol. Correct pronunciation for English of Aw Ang is... aw.

 

So in this case Awg, not Ok, and definitely not Ak or ahk!

 

Or/Ork is problematic for those languages that can actually pronounce the letter R, which for most parts of the country is not Thailand.

 

4 hours ago, natb19 said:

Lol. Correct pronunciation for English of Aw Ang is... aw.

 

So in this case Awg, not Ok, and definitely not Ak or ahk!

 

Or/Ork is problematic for those languages that can actually pronounce the letter R, which for most parts of the country is not Thailand.

ออก = out (awk or aawk) There is no "R" sound at all. ????

[chrissables]

2 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

what's wrong with ahk? If it's Awg you'll get a strong discernible "g" sound which will confuse Thais. Listen to how it actually sounds:

 

https://translate.google.com/?sl=en&tl=th&text=out &op=translate

ออก = aawk

[chrissables]

53 minutes ago, deesquared said:

No, that reads as the wrong vowel sound. It's an "Aw" sound not a "Ah" sound. 

ออก = aawk

[RocketDog]

Coming north from Pranburi toward Huahin there is a sign saying "HUA NIH 20km".

It was clearly done with a paint stencil and the user flipped the second stencil backwards. There is no place named Hua Nih.

 

We pass there frequently and always conjecture about who lives there and what they do. We've concluded it's a government black project location. ????????

[HarrySeaman]

Wikipedia - Royal Thai General System of Transcription  Usually used by the Thai government, but not always.

 

How well it works depends on what version of English you speak - England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, South Africa, India, Philippines, Canada, USA, the various US territories, and any other country I can't think of that uses English.

[mancub]

There's a vehicle I see on the school run with a rear door sticker proclaiming

"Danger child in car "

One day I'll ask if it's Chucky !

[Goat]

6 hours ago, rwill said:

Ak or Ahk would probably be better than Ork.

No, wrong vowel, it would be worse.

Ork, or just Ock would be better.

[Goat]

2 hours ago, thailand49 said:

There is lots of fixing then! 

DLT, thinks everything is fine. 

The whole country signs places everywhere spelled wrong. Jobs are handed out those in charge don't have a clue or time to check it is react if a complaint happens then a big photo op that they are on top of things. 

Just look at all the stops signs put in the wrong place! 

Do you live here?

You speak fluent Thai right?

[chrissables]

14 minutes ago, Goat said:

No, wrong vowel, it would be worse.

Ork, or just Ock would be better.

ออก is spoken as aawk 

[Goat]

4 minutes ago, chrissables said:

ออก is spoken as aawk 

Yes as in law or saw.

But i reckon tourists would struggle with aawk. Ock or even orck would be easier.

[chrissables]

6 minutes ago, Goat said:

Yes as in law or saw.

But i reckon tourists would struggle with aawk. Ock or even orck would be easier.

Maybe depending on their native language. But in English awk or aawk are accurate.

[youreavinalaff]

8 hours ago, rwill said:

Ak or Ahk would probably be better than Ork.

No. It's Ork.

[youreavinalaff]

1 hour ago, chrissables said:

Maybe depending on their native language. But in English awk or aawk are accurate.

As is Ork. 

 

[thailand49]

1 hour ago, Goat said:

Do you live here?

You speak fluent Thai right?

Let first respond what a silly question Why?   You not follow up with a comment as to explain so I'm going to assume and speculate. Your remark comes across if I neither I have no right to make such a remark!

Although, I had visited Thailand in late 70's and 80's other than that there was nothing that would make me stay.  In late 90's, through a family request went looking for a family member in HK, Mainland China, finally we ended up in Northern Thailand in the Triangle.  My family accomplished what the Federal government couldn't do and that was to protect that member from the Colombian Cartel until the matter could be settle when that happen it was time to bring him back. 

Because of that event it change my life for years I traveled back and forth in 2007, another event cause me to make it permanently my home. 

Has it been a cake walk paradise far from it although Chinese American born and raise I've never felt so much racism nor prejudice early years I learned the language was asked to be 100% Thai, how many of you white guys been ask to be 100% Thai, adjusting to the culture and food was easy. My 40 years working in the transportation industry regular training with US Transportation Dept countless seminars with the Calif Hwy Patrol,  license and traIning certification for commercial vehicle,  Haz Mat, Surprise,  never in my wildest dream any of it would have so much value here keeping me alive. In Fifteen years I driven throughout Thailand north and south most likely continue for a few more year. 

As for learning Thai,  reading or writing I know more than I care to know stop years ago as for being Thai, that is the last thing I ever want to be. 

I've experience things here I would never wish on my worse enemy, in protecting someone I love a moment of kindness in sparing his life I turn only to nearly have my life ended a inch closer the butcher knife would have cut an artery. Two years later the attackers family showed up with the police question me as to the whereabouts of their son the <deleted> audacity police try to intimidate me by taking me to their station thinking I was going to crack as if I've never been in trouble back home in the end lawyers came in from Bangkok for my release a good tongue whipping was given never to be bother again. 

I've learn as much as I need to learn about this <deleted> hole to get along.  Does it sound like I hate Thai no what I dislike is their government and system I love the people but feel sorry what their leaders have done to them. 

Does that help in answering your silly question! 

[connda]

Transliterations are at best approximations. 

[Goat]

3 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

was asked to be 100% Thai, how many of you white guys been ask to be 100% Thai,

Cool.

[youreavinalaff]

7 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

Does that help in answering your silly question! 

No. What is the answer to the question?

Edited September 27, 2023 by youreavinalaff

[connda]

My favorite is the pronunciation of a women's name "พอล" which gets transliterated as Porn.

Then all of the Farangs have a great laugh - "That gal is named Porn!  Ha ha ha ha ha!  She must be a Porn-Star!  Ha ha ha ha ha!" 

What the jerks don't know is that the correct pronunciation is almost exactly like Pawn is in Pawn Shop. 

Like I said - transliteration are at best approximations and most often full of holes unless you completely understand the pronunciation substitutions of the transliteration schemes (and there are more than one which makes it even more confusing).  Even someone with a rudimentary understanding of the Thai alphabet and their pronunciations and work out the proper Thai pronunciations on signs.

[KhaoNiaw]

3 minutes ago, connda said:

My favorite is the pronunciation of a women's name "พอล" which gets transliterated as Porn.

You won't find many Thai women called พอล. That's most commonly the Thai transliteration for the English male name Paul. The Thai woman's name you're thinking of is พร.

[Sydebolle]

The latest linguistic challenges between East and West could include: Suvarnabhumi, which is pronounced "Souwannaphoom" for English speakers, "Suwannaphuhm" for German speakers and "Souvannaphoum" for our French friends. In general, the English phonetics should prevail. 

Another lovely example is Pattaya, Pattya, Bad Thaya etc. while the beach of
Jomtien can read Chomthien, Chom Thian and, my favourite being "Haad Choum Tien" (Haad stands for "beach"). 

Unless you put an educated bilingual desk in charge of this, Thailand will always feature hilarious signs to the benefit of non-Thai entertainment, me thinks! 

[Ben Zioner]

6 hours ago, harrycallahan said:

The Chinese-Thai approaching the sign was heard to say Wat Da Fook. 

Fook Mee or Fook Yew?

[connda]

47 minutes ago, KhaoNiaw said:

You won't find many Thai women called พอล. That's most commonly the Thai transliteration for the English male name Paul. The Thai woman's name you're thinking of is พร.

Thanks, agreed.

 

[thailand49]

46 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

No. What is the answer to the question?

That's lif????e isn't it,  there are some who get it then some lights are on but no one is home! 

[novacova]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The sign was written according to the dictionary but has proven problematic for non-Thai speakers.

…yeah whatever. 
I'm sure hordes of tourists are jammed up there trying to decipher the sign.

[youreavinalaff]

29 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

That's lif????e isn't it,  there are some who get it then some lights are on but no one is home! 

And then there are those that can't answer questions.

 

 

[thailand49]

9 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

And then there are those that can't answer questions.

 

 

The answer is there clear as a bell, it wasn't a riddle. You must be one of those who need someone to hold your dick when they piss. 

Not fair to others if you need help next time in Pattaya or already here give me a pm, I'll buy coffee or whatever you drink and explain it like talk to my Thai Granddaughter. ????

[Woof999]

I have now updated the spelling of my thoughts on this story to "I don't give a fork".

[Goat]

1 hour ago, connda said:

What the jerks don't know is that the correct pronunciation is almost exactly like Pawn is in Pawn Shop. 

Mate you have it completly wrong. the womans name is spelt พร