When Farang Speak Thai

[lifeisrandom]

i have noticed when many farang speak thai they often do not do the following

1. make eye contact

2. speak slowly/clearly (they do a lot of mumbling)

3. smile enough

i might be wrong about this, but it is just a heads up to other farang that you should try to do these things because you would obviously do them when you speak in your native language. i think many (myself included) are shy to speak Thai thus you get the starring at your shoelaces/mumbling effect.

just my 2 baht.

[GuestHouse]

That eye contact thing is simple to explain.... They're shifty.

Mumbling - They're drunk

Not smiling - They're British and don't want to reveal their teeth

[bkkjames]

That eye contact thing is simple to explain.... They're shifty.

Mumbling - They're drunk

Not smiling - They're British and don't want to reveal their teeth

Wrong wrong wrong,,,,except for your last point.

The first two come down to confidence (lack there of).

[Radius]

Eye contact: Too much other beautifull things to look at while talking.

Mumbling: Talking Thai is scary. Mispronounce a word and who knows what the meaning of the sentence is you just said.

Smiling: I smile enough (mostly because I am nervous)

[flightcrew1]

That eye contact thing is simple to explain.... They're shifty.

Mumbling - They're drunk

Not smiling - They're British and don't want to reveal their teeth

Point 3 made me laugh out loud! I could not help thinking about The Simpsons show episode when Lisa's orthodontist pulls out a book called The Big Book of British Smiles and the pics were hilarious!

[lazeeboy]

i smile all the time ,and my teeth are nice,and im a brit

[coxhoedave]

That eye contact thing is simple to explain.... They're shifty.

Mumbling - They're drunk

Not smiling - They're British and don't want to reveal their teeth

Point 3 made me laugh out loud! I could not help thinking about The Simpsons show episode when Lisa's orthodontist pulls out a book called The Big Book of British Smiles and the pics were hilarious!

Here it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZCzKko03W4

[bkkjames]

i smile all the time ,and my teeth are nice,and im a brit

That's what the ladyb*y said, "Tha Lazeeboy has the nicest teeth I ever came across"

Sorry, have a long day today.

[12DrinkMore]

One problem I find is that the Thai will be thinking you are speaking English and will try to interpret your sounds as English, leading to confusion.

I find that a loud, clear, correctly pronounced "Sawatdee Krap" will often switch their auditory input interpreter to the language setting, "Thai". Which might help, or maybe not

[12DrinkMore]

i smile all the time ,and my teeth are nice,and im a brit

Bums a bit big though, and you should consider buying a new pair of jeans.

[haybilly]

i smile all the time ,and my teeth are nice,and im a brit

I'm afraid to say--and I only just found this out from an American neighbour--for some reason we are known around the globe, at least by those damnnnn Yanks around the globe, for having bad teeth--I, too, have good teeth--though not upto your average septic's standards.

[Neeranam]

i have noticed when many farang speak thai they often do not do the following

1. make eye contact

Possibly, as they can speak Thai, they've been here for a long time and understand the culture better than you. Eye contact here is not the same as in the West.

[Unfaithful]

Great.One more thread about speaking Thai.Nobody speaks Thai perfectly.Andrew Biggs just speaks it better than Andy Gibbs did.In fact, Biggs in Thai is pronounced Gibbs.Alley, nah?

[bkkjames]

Great.One more thread about speaking Thai.Nobody speaks Thai perfectly.Andrew Biggs just speaks it better than Andy Gibbs did.In fact, Biggs in Thai is pronounced Gibbs.Alley, nah?

I agree, what's the point, I would say something equally impressive about Thais speaking English but then again, that is not allowed on here. Just my 2 cents / baht / satang

[Sabum]

My buddy speaks Thai perfectly, I am not exagerating, in business Thais assume they are speaking to a Thai on the phone, when they meet him in person.... they get all upset demanding to speak to the Thai person from the phone. Takes them a few minutes to realise it's the same guy. That whole white face thing just throws them right off.

[dingdongrb]

i smile all the time ,and my teeth are nice,and im a brit

....but are they real?

[Unfaithful]

I think most Thais do not speak Thai perfectly.So0 they think it is impossible for farang.Thais smile when they say that long vowel that sounds like they just stepped in doodoo.

[girlx]

i give up trying to speak thai. i can't hear the difference between the tones so trying to reproduce them correctly is impossible. thai is useless outside of thailand anyway. i will stick to understanding more than they think i can understand- it serves me well.

[Ijustwannateach]

Let's avoid the U.S.-U.K. flaming, guys... (few posts removed)

[tw25rw]

i smile all the time ,and my teeth are nice,and im a brit

I'm afraid to say--and I only just found this out from an American neighbour--for some reason we are known around the globe, at least by those damnnnn Yanks around the globe, for having bad teeth--I, too, have good teeth--though not upto your average septic's standards.

Teeth

English Teeth, English Teeth!

Shining in the sun

A part of British heritage

Aye, each and every one.

English Teeth, Happy Teeth!

Always having fun

Clamping down on bits of fish

And sausages half done.

English Teeth! HEROES' Teeth!

Hear them click! and clack!

Let's sing a song of praise to them -

Three Cheers for the Brown Grey and Black.

Spike Milligan

[tw25rw]

i smile all the time ,and my teeth are nice,and im a brit

I'm afraid to say--and I only just found this out from an American neighbour--for some reason we are known around the globe, at least by those damnnnn Yanks around the globe, for having bad teeth--I, too, have good teeth--though not upto your average septic's standards.

In Australia, the British have a reputation for poor personal hygiene. Hence the expression "dry as a pommie towel"..