While my Thai reading ability has improved a lot recently, my spoken Thai has stayed at much the same level due to a lack of vocabulary.

I feel a bit stuck because although I can now read and write to a basic level, when it comes to learning new vocab I'm not sure if my brain is able to remember a new word from looking at the Thai script alone.

To those of you who can read and write Thai with relative ease, at what point did you stop using Romanized phonetic Thai for learning new vocab?

Thanks for sharing any thoughts.

Edited July 24, 200817 yr by Sir_Sanuk

I found initially when learning the script it was still helpful to use a system of transliteration. I used to use Becker's dictionary which shows both and, because I'd always used her system of transliteration, that and the script usually complimented each other.

Very quickly though (if you keep at it) your reading will improve, and you will be able to rely on just the Thai script. In fact I have the same problem with vocab but find visualising the Thai word actually helps me remember it better.

What works for me is to read and reread, then try writing some of the new vocab in my own sentences. Then have my teacher ask me questions about the lesson. Of course, next week I'll forget 95% of the new terms, but it's progress (for me). The only time I use the transliteration of a Thai word is for difficult-to-read words.....a dictionary like the Thaiways New Age Thai-English Dictionary requires you to use your Thai reading skills to look up the word, but it can help you in decyphering difficult words into syllables.

Thanks.

I used to think that once I reached a certain level there would be a magic switch I could use to instantly move from phonetics to Thai script, but I suppose it's inevitable that there will be a transition period and/or some overlap for difficult words.

I use the Poomsan Becker dictionary which has both Thai and phonetic transliterations.. I should start looking up new words using their Thai spelling rather than relying on phonetic crutches.

While my Thai reading ability has improved a lot recently, my spoken Thai has stayed at much the same level due to a lack of vocabulary.

I feel a bit stuck because although I can now read and write to a basic level, when it comes to learning new vocab I'm not sure if my brain is able to remember a new word from looking at the Thai script alone.

To those of you who can read and write Thai with relative ease, at what point did you stop using Romanized phonetic Thai for learning new vocab?

Thanks for sharing any thoughts.

As soon as I was able to read properly, I stopped using any form of transliteration. A. I could never get the sounds right anyway and B. I have always thought that the best way to learn to swim is to jump in at the deep end.

Having a very cooperative and friendly staff at the time (26 years ago) also helped a lot. We all made a pact never to speak English in the Office and whilst I am now hairless as a result. It was a great way to learn and advance my vocab.

My thoughts in conclusion? Just read the Thai script and forget the rest.

Good luck

AjarnP

Edited July 24, 200817 yr by AjarnP

The only time I use the transliteration of a Thai word is for difficult-to-read words.....a dictionary like the Thaiways New Age Thai-English Dictionary requires you to use your Thai reading skills to look up the word, but it can help you in decyphering difficult words into syllables.

It's more or less the same for me. After learning and practicing to read in thai I don't nead to look at the translitteration to be able to spell most of the words correctly. But there are a lot of words that are a little bit tricky to get and there a translitteration is helpfull (eventually even the spelling in thai characters used in RID is enough to get the right pronunciation)