why learn the language if you only get a residence permit for a year, this can be extended but here you never know

On 4/22/2025 at 12:41 PM, StandardIssue said:

 

Yea, this was a bit difficult for me but I got used to it after awhile. 

Two Cats= Meaow Song Tua (classifier rough translation Tua = body)

Two bags: Grabpow song bai ( bai here = piece )

 

Of course English doesn't have classifiers like this so it was a bit confusing at first but daily speaking to Thais helps. Shopping at 7-11 whatever.

 

On 4/22/2025 at 12:41 PM, StandardIssue said:

 

Yea, this was a bit difficult for me but I got used to it after awhile. 

Two Cats= Meaow Song Tua (classifier rough translation Tua = body)

Two bags: Grabpow song bai ( bai here = piece )

 

Of course English doesn't have classifiers like this so it was a bit confusing at first but daily speaking to Thais helps. Shopping at 7-11 whatever.

English does not have classifiers like Thai, but there are partitives in English for many words.  An example is two heads of lettuce - not two lettuces.

32 minutes ago, CM Dad said:

English does not have classifiers like Thai, but there are partitives in English for many words.  An example is two heads of lettuce - not two lettuces.

 

What is the difference between a classifier and a partitive? I always thought of the the Thai classifiers as what you describe as English partitives. Two boxes of cereal. Three loaves of bread. Four flocks of seagulls. Etc. In fact, that parallel helped me learn to use the Thai classifiers... 

On 4/22/2025 at 2:00 AM, jas007 said:

That may be true for some, but I've run across a few that were only 21 and were fluent.  You could close your eye and listen to them talk and you'd swear you were listening to a a college girl from a Big 10 university in the midwest.  

A few years back when I was taking classes at Chulalakorn, I spoke with a young lady for a few minutes before I asked her what southern

state in the U.S. of A. she was from.   

 

Her English was very fluent and she spoke with an Arkansas accent!  She had never been outside of Thailand.

I

1 hour ago, CM Dad said:

English does not have classifiers like Thai, but there are partitives in English for many words.  An example is two heads of lettuce - not two lettuces.

I don’t know about partitives, but I’ve read that there are 2 main types of classifier, one being for countable things and the other for non-countable things. English uses classifiers for non-countable things in much the same way as Thai . For example, water is non-countable, so the phrase “‘three water” is meaningless. It needs a classifier such as glass, bottle, jug, barrel to be added.

Unlike English , Thai also uses classifiers for countable items, such as chairs and dogs, so in Thai we can’t say “three dogs”, we have to say “dog three body”. There are rare exceptions in English - a pedant might say that “‘three cattle” is grammatically incorrect, it should be “three head of cattle”, where “‘head” is the same as a Thai classifier for a countable thing.

 

On 4/23/2025 at 3:04 PM, Harrisfan said:

Farang talk

 

How are you?

Yeah ok

What you been doing?

Not much

Farang people I interact with might start with such platitudes - that's normal - but most of the time we follow up with some more substantial discussions. Sometimes on light subjects, sometimes about more serious subjects. It does not matter what, the important thing is that there is a "real" exchange, moving beyond endless and repetitive platitudes.

Years ago when new in Thailand I made a big attempt to learn Thai but on speaking found the Thais didn't understand what I was trying to say and often stood there in amazement not even seeming to know I was  attempting to speak their language. 

I gave up realising I would never master the different tones that are important in the Thai language. 

I now have my own private interpreter and if she's not around there's always Google. 

Que the low IQ people who've been here more than 5 years and only know 5 Thai words.

 

On 4/22/2025 at 12:59 PM, BritManToo said:

Well, my MiL is definitely Thai, and she only speaks some village language.

When she comes and says (rarely) there are only three other old ladies in our gated village (250 households) that can chat with her.

 

Now there might be a majority of Thais that can speak Central Thai as a second language, generally they don't, and they won't.

You are spot on there, I live in the North and the majority of the Thais speak Lana plus their own “ slang” then of course the various ethnic groups including the Burmese speak their own languages.

My nine year old daughter who speaks fluent English openly states that she prefers to speak Lana rather than Central Thai which she is required to speak at the non government school she attends.

On 4/22/2025 at 12:59 PM, Hellfire said:

If they want your money - the Thais will learn any language of your choice. If you do not have money to offer to them - you could speak the best Thai possible - none of the Thais will be interested in you (they have enough of their own beggars speaking perfect Thai). So better spend your time earning money than learning the exotic local language.

Pretty much the same as every other country, including your home country wherever that is.

Hi can I get a Americano to go please?

 

Mai dai.

 

Okay.  Can I get a cappuccino, no milk or sugar?

 

Dai ka.

On 4/22/2025 at 2:43 PM, StandardIssue said:

I've lived in Bangkok and Pattaya on and off for the last 12 years. 

 

Most all the long term expats I've met don't know much Thai at all even before the use of Google Translate which many now rely on.

 

I never really asked why. I decided to learn early on and tooks some classes at the local library.

 

Question: As an expat in LOS why did you decide to not learn Thai and why?

 

ready set go. From a curious expat

Excellent question. My ex-wife practically discouraged me from learning Thai. We never lived in Thailand. Our children who have Thai, German and Australian citizenships don't speak any language other than English. My Thai wife made sure of that. Even after retiring in Thailand with my new wife, Thais make zero effort to talk to me in Thai. I'm supposed to surprise them with perfect Thai, first time around. Even if I try to speak in Thai, Thai people generally automatically ignore me and prefer to speak to my wife in Thai even if I'm the one they need to communicate with (bank, hospital, immigration etc.). In contrast, while living in Germany and Australia with my former Thai wife, both Germans and Australians made a distinct effort to include her in discussions as much as possible. In Thailand, I'm deliberately left out. I'm tired of asking. While my second wife is very open to the idea of me learning Thai, what for if I'm ignored anyway? What's the point now?

Edited June 3Jun 3 by ZigM

On 4/24/2025 at 11:17 AM, newnative said:

   I'm terrible with languages, to start with.  I greatly admire those who have learned Thai.  My Thai spouse speaks excellent English and most Thais I encounter also have some English so I haven't really felt the need to learn Thai.  I must say my attempts to speak a bit of Thai are usually not welcomed much by Thais.  For example, I'll say something to a waiter in Thai and they'll usually turn to my Thai partner with raised eyebrows--what's he want?  So, not much incentive.  

I,m in the same category as you. The only thing I,ve mastered is the ability to count. I know some what I consider important phrases but if I try to put a longer sentence together I get a funny look and it goes nowhere.

Years ago I bought a whole kit with booklets and cassettes etc. (long abandoned) I have two regrets after 2 decades here.1) Not going to school to learn proper Thai 2) Not having proper medical insurance before all my pre existing conditions arose.

On 4/22/2025 at 12:47 PM, jas007 said:

What was really surprising to me is how well some of the bar girls know English.  No official English classes, but they do well.

Oh dear! They have been teaching English in school in Thailand for the last 30-40 years

2 hours ago, jaideedave said:

I,m in the same category as you. The only thing I,ve mastered is the ability to count. I know some what I consider important phrases but if I try to put a longer sentence together I get a funny look and it goes nowhere.

Years ago I bought a whole kit with booklets and cassettes etc. (long abandoned) I have two regrets after 2 decades here.1) Not going to school to learn proper Thai 2) Not having proper medical insurance before all my pre existing conditions arose.

Me too. After 21+ years I can count, know the days of the week, the menu items I like and how to give directions to a taxi driver. That's about it! However, I do have medical insurance.

I must use only Thai language to speak to the maid.

That's good.

Otherwise, I would continue to forget it, bit by bit.

Someday, I should make more of an effort to radically increase my working vocabulary, and not just rely on recognition vocabulary to get by.

Anyway, it is good to have a maid for Thai practice.

On 4/27/2025 at 11:21 AM, Equatorial said:

 

What is the difference between a classifier and a partitive? I always thought of the the Thai classifiers as what you describe as English partitives. Two boxes of cereal. Three loaves of bread. Four flocks of seagulls. Etc. In fact, that parallel helped me learn to use the Thai classifiers... 

Normally, these are referred to as "measure" words, in many textbooks, such as Chinese primers, Thai language books, etc.

So, anyway: The guy who used the word Partative for either Chinese or Thai is......FULL OF BALONEY...as usual, and here is why....

Just another case of someone spouting off about that which he knows little.

Par for the course, here, though....

As you know.

Edited June 11Jun 11 by GammaGlobulin

Who said "why haven't your learned"? I'm still learning it every day, 8 years on, and that's the problem: learning on and on and never getting there. I put it down to a combination of Thai being particularly difficult, Thai people not wanting to speak Thai with me, and my getting old.

On 4/22/2025 at 11:43 AM, StandardIssue said:

I've lived in Bangkok and Pattaya on and off for the last 12 years. 

 

Most all the long term expats I've met don't know much Thai at all even before the use of Google Translate which many now rely on.

 

I never really asked why. I decided to learn early on and tooks some classes at the local library.

 

Question: As an expat in LOS why did you decide to not learn Thai and why?

 

ready set go. From a curious expat

Obviously most of the expats you know are either lazy or are incapable of learning Thai. I can speak read and write to some extent.

On 4/27/2025 at 9:43 AM, matta01 said:

why learn the language if you only get a residence permit for a year, this can be extended but here you never know

Justifying laziness

19 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

Obviously most of the expats you know are either lazy or are incapable of learning Thai. I can speak read and write to some extent.

Well done, give yourself a pat on the back!👏

11 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Well done, give yourself a pat on the back!👏

Thank you