How Do You Feel About The Language Barrier ?

[sgtpeppers]

It is these type of frustrations I am talking about. For example, when you ask an open ended question and they respond with "yes" and a smile. "Yes what" I will say with hidden frustration.

I try and be patient but these mis communications and often complete lack of understanding are producing very small feelings of dislike and build up. Sometimes I feel like I am communicating with a cave person eg "I go shop". "he bad" etc.

Ive started a relationship with a Thai who can barely speak English. The language barrier is staring at me right in the face. I am learning Thai but it is taking time for both of us. Sometimes I think its a waste of time. Why have a relationship when you cant communicate and when you do, it is on the linguistic level of a cave man ?

[RakJungTorlae]

It is these type of frustrations I am talking about. For example, when you ask an open ended question and they respond with "yes" and a smile. "Yes what" I will say with hidden frustration.

I try and be patient but these mis communications and often complete lack of understanding are producing very small feelings of dislike and build up. Sometimes I feel like I am communicating with a cave person eg "I go shop". "he bad" etc.

Ive started a relationship with a Thai who can barely speak English. The language barrier is staring at me right in the face. I am learning Thai but it is taking time for both of us. Sometimes I think its a waste of time. Why have a relationship when you cant communicate and when you do, it is on the linguistic level of a cave man ?

yes

[sgtpeppers]

yes

yes what

*sigh*

[RakJungTorlae]

yes

yes what

*sigh*

Look on the bright side, you may learn the language faster, and once you do have the communication power then you will be wishing you didn’t

[Guest Reimar]

I think there is an must to first to realize that you're a guest in an foreign Country. This Country has it own native language, spoken in different dialects as well.

Next to realize is that the next second spoken language isn't English but Chinese!

Realize that you need to learn the native language of that country where you are and not that those country need to learn your language.

It's a very wrong thinking that the Thais need to first to learn a language you can speak and understand! It's on to you to learn to communicate with Thais, which also means to learn their language.

Thais going to foreign countries normally don't need to be forced to lear the language of their gust country. And I know a lot Thais which can even speak languages like German, Swedish and others and much less foreigners which can speak and understand Thai.

Cheers.

[JOHN2]

It is these type of frustrations I am talking about. For example, when you ask an open ended question and they respond with "yes" and a smile. "Yes what" I will say with hidden frustration.

I try and be patient but these mis communications and often complete lack of understanding are producing very small feelings of dislike and build up. Sometimes I feel like I am communicating with a cave person eg "I go shop". "he bad" etc.

Ive started a relationship with a Thai who can barely speak English. The language barrier is staring at me right in the face. I am learning Thai but it is taking time for both of us. Sometimes I think its a waste of time. Why have a relationship when you cant communicate and when you do, it is on the linguistic level of a cave man ?

As long as they understand one san miguel light please i don't care.

A relationship with someone you can't communicate with?? I did it for years,eventually got out,it's an absolute nightmare and can never ever work, it's impossible,never ever again!

[Moonrakers]

I'd say that if it is getting to you already in a new relationship then you need to think about where that relationship is going.

A first it can be amusing, be soon becomes fustrating which doesn't take long to become angering.

My wife's English is not far from being fluent, and I can get by in Thai yet we still have our moments. For example, she seems to have an inability to throw away old, useless junk and so one day I called her a hoarder..... Well it doesn't take a genius to figure how that one panned out.

[Neeranam]

It is these type of frustrations I am talking about. For example, when you ask an open ended question and they respond with "yes" and a smile. "Yes what" I will say with hidden frustration.

I try and be patient but these mis communications and often complete lack of understanding are producing very small feelings of dislike and build up. Sometimes I feel like I am communicating with a cave person eg "I go shop". "he bad" etc.

Ive started a relationship with a Thai who can barely speak English. The language barrier is staring at me right in the face. I am learning Thai but it is taking time for both of us. Sometimes I think its a waste of time. Why have a relationship when you cant communicate and when you do, it is on the linguistic level of a cave man ?

Ideally, she shouldn't be able to speak ANY English, as my wife didn't when we met.

[buffcoat]

My wife spoke very good English when we met although her understanding of slang was poor as she learned at school and then uni.

Personally I would not have started the relationship if we could not talk to each other but that does not mean it can't work for others.

[PeaceBlondie]

Maybe.

Probably. Now there is a word my Thai partner did not know when we met, although he was half-fluent in English. I explained, "More than 50 percent."

I tried to have a relationship with a recently arrived Chinese, in Texas. I gave up. The sex was good, but that is all we had. Sex is not really a relationship.

[Chaimai]

I tried to have a relationship with a recently arrived Chinese, in Texas. I gave up. The sex was good, but that is all we had. Sex is not really a relationship.

Didn't Bill Clinton say something along those lines ?

[solent01]

I think there is an must to first to realize that you're a guest in an foreign Country. This Country has it own native language, spoken in different dialects as well.

Next to realize is that the next second spoken language isn't English but Chinese!

Realize that you need to learn the native language of that country where you are and not that those country need to learn your language.

It's a very wrong thinking that the Thais need to first to learn a language you can speak and understand! It's on to you to learn to communicate with Thais, which also means to learn their language.

Thais going to foreign countries normally don't need to be forced to lear the language of their gust country. And I know a lot Thais which can even speak languages like German, Swedish and others and much less foreigners which can speak and understand Thai.

Cheers.

Some times it can be a problem (Reimer and I have had a problem with the barrier) even when you are being polite, it can be misconstrued as being offensive.

Edit: Does this really need to be a poll, or is the poll a pi55 take, reflecting on another thread?

Edited July 23, 2008 by solent01

[solent01]

Maybe.

Probably. Now there is a word my Thai partner did not know when we met, although he was half-fluent in English. I explained, "More than 50 percent."

I tried to have a relationship with a recently arrived Chinese, in Texas. I gave up. The sex was good, but that is all we had. Sex is not really a relationship.

Your right, not a relationship, but great fun.

Edit: how can I make a spelling mistake with just 1 line

Edited July 23, 2008 by solent01

[solent01]

What do you mean? we should go slow เฉื่อยๆ? or take it slowly เฉื่อยๆ or be passive เฉื่อยๆ? it has miltiple meanings. In roman text you are saying chèuay?

Edited July 23, 2008 by solent01

[cophen]

It is these type of frustrations I am talking about. For example, when you ask an open ended question and they respond with "yes" and a smile. "Yes what" I will say with hidden frustration.

That's not a language barrier problem - it's a culture problem. You asked a question. Politeness requires that they give you an answer. The fact that it's not the answer you were expecting is neither here nor there. They have been riap roy.

[solent01]

It is these type of frustrations I am talking about. For example, when you ask an open ended question and they respond with "yes" and a smile. "Yes what" I will say with hidden frustration.

That's not a language barrier problem - it's a culture problem. You asked a question. Politeness requires that they give you an answer. The fact that it's not the answer you were expecting is neither here nor there. They have been riap roy.

Left or right honey? yes! is a language problem, If your hungry sweetheart we can stop here if you like? Yes! (followed by) Why did we stop here? Is a language problem.

You've just responded like a Thai (coming from a farang piont of view).

I understand your answer though, thats why I try to ask in Thai and hopfully get the answer I am looking for "where are we going honey", seems to work very well, or "lets find some where clean to eat" works very well, It normally takes half an hour to find it.

[qwertz]

My late wife, a German, understood no English.

My command of German when we first met was as good as zero.

I learned, she didn't need to as we married and stayed in Germany.

One good thing about the language barrier though, 11 years of marriage and we never argued once.

[Sabum]

It is these type of frustrations I am talking about. For example, when you ask an open ended question and they respond with "yes" and a smile. "Yes what" I will say with hidden frustration.

I try and be patient but these mis communications and often complete lack of understanding are producing very small feelings of dislike and build up. Sometimes I feel like I am communicating with a cave person eg "I go shop". "he bad" etc.

Ive started a relationship with a Thai who can barely speak English. The language barrier is staring at me right in the face. I am learning Thai but it is taking time for both of us. Sometimes I think its a waste of time. Why have a relationship when you cant communicate and when you do, it is on the linguistic level of a cave man ?

Wait wait wait... are you for real? Your complaining about the language barrier but your poll was TOTALLY a Thai question.... how do I feel about the language barrier, YES or NO? Well gee I guess I feel NO?! That question and the available answers dont make a lick of sense!!!!!!! I feel like Im talking to a caveman here.....

[TheDon]

It is these type of frustrations I am talking about. For example, when you ask an open ended question and they respond with "yes" and a smile. "Yes what" I will say with hidden frustration.

I try and be patient but these mis communications and often complete lack of understanding are producing very small feelings of dislike and build up. Sometimes I feel like I am communicating with a cave person eg "I go shop". "he bad" etc.

Ive started a relationship with a Thai who can barely speak English. The language barrier is staring at me right in the face. I am learning Thai but it is taking time for both of us. Sometimes I think its a waste of time. Why have a relationship when you cant communicate and when you do, it is on the linguistic level of a cave man ?

I thought you were Caveman

[sbk]

What do you mean? we should go slow เฉื่อยๆ? or take it slowly เฉื่อยๆ or be passive เฉื่อยๆ? it has miltiple meanings. In roman text you are saying chèuay?

Post deleted, english only in the regular forums per forum rules.

[cobra]

... how do I feel about the language barrier, YES or NO? Well gee I guess I feel NO?! That question and the available answers dont make a lick of sense!!!!!!! I feel like Im talking to a caveman here.....

Frustration was the inference, and most understood that,

and yes, so simple a caveman can understand it,

[sweetchariot]

I had problems communicating with my English girlfriends in the UK, I find communication with Thai's far easier.

[wolfmanjack]

Didn't Bill Clinton say something along those lines ?

No Bill Clinton said getting a BJ wasn't sex so it isn't considered cheating on your wife or something like that.

[Heng]

Even speaking less than clear Thai -as a lot of inter-Thais do-, I also get a little frustrated* with the language or more specifically the communication barrier. Especially with medical, mechanical, construction/architecture related, legal, and 'proper' Thai phrases and expressions.

Believe it or not, even I will usually let my wife -being inter-Thai also, but born and raised here a little longer than entirely abroad- or whatever employee is along for the ride for the day communicate with locals that I don't know. The latter generally being average locals themselves, but used to getting instructions in Heng-Thai (kind of a Chinese sounding Thai accent with southern states American English thrown in here and there).

*that said, I'd say most folks who are extremely frustrated probably have other issues as well, it's just that the communication thing kind of breaks the farang's/camel's back. I'd imagine it probably feels like what they call the terrible two's in childhood development. The kid knows there's a great big world out there, but can't quite say what he/she means or do what they want to do. The result is of course those temper tantrums you see folks often having at the local barbershop, Tesco-Lotus, Starbucks, Home Pro, etc. etc.

Edited July 24, 2008 by Heng

[saraburioz]

I'd imagine it probably feels like what they call the terrible two's in childhood development. The kid knows there's a great big world out there, but can't quite say what he/she means or do what they want to do. The result is of course those temper tantrums you see folks often having at the local barbershop, Tesco-Lotus, Starbucks, Home Pro, etc. etc.

Ha ha, well spotted.

[tuky]

When I met my wife she couldn't speak a word of english. 6 years later she is no better. It turns out she had a speech impediment which meant learning english was virtually impossible for her as she had enough trouble speaking Thai

Moral of the story is marry someone who already speaks a language you can understand. hehehe

[wolfmanjack]

Even speaking less than clear Thai -as a lot of inter-Thais do-, I also get a little frustrated* with the language or more specifically the communication barrier. Especially with medical, mechanical, construction/architecture related, legal, and 'proper' Thai phrases and expressions.

I get frustrated with the language barrier between thais that are born and raised in thailand. I explain how i want something done to my Thai manager and I make sure he understands by having him explain it back to me. He then explains it to the workers. Many times it comes out wrong. I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me with thais that own businesses also so it is not limited to the workers.

[cloudhopper]

Yes...I guess.

[OxfordWill]

I dont get it. Did you not realise English isn't the language of Thailand before you came? :/

[farang555]

look at the bright side , u can plead ignorance when yr partner needs buffalo munney

hey theres guys here looking for russian womans

Edited July 24, 2008 by farang555