Pasa Thai Or Pasa Laos

[richie09]

Hi,

I have been living and working in Bangkok for 6 months teaching English. I wanted a change so I have recently accepted a job in Korat. I have never studied Thai formally but have picked up a little bit through reading/speaking locally.

My question is this, how different is the language spoken in Isaan from that of the Bangkok dialect of Thai? Are there any good books available or schools in Korat on learning pasa Isaan or is just a matter of learning general Thai and learning the differences?

Cheers

[Pai2009]

It is better you learn Thai then you can pick up Isaan. For thai learning book, try the Thai for beginer by Benjawan Poomsan Becker.

Good luck for you.

[Prajak]

Lucky you in Korat. In the village I live people speak Thai and Isan and Lao and mixe it up. Some people from my age don't even read Thai or any other language. But their children go to school and speak Thai but also this local mix. I learn Bangkok Thai and never have problems, there is always a person to help me.

I once saw the dictionaries Thai-Isan and Isan-Thai. Since that day I decided NOT to learn Isan. So better learn Thai.

[phibunmike]

I agree with previous posters, learn Thai properly and then pick up Isaan. I have not seen decent books on Isaan, but beware that if you buy a Laos book, Isaan is not pure Laos; also, Isaan is written in the Thai alphabet, not the Laos alphabet.

Good luck,

Mike

[NanaFoods]

It is better you learn Thai then you can pick up Isaan. For thai learning book, try the Thai for beginer by Benjawan Poomsan Becker.

Good luck for you.

Yes, that's the best book out there.... actually there are at least 3 from Benjawan Poomsan Becker (Paiboon Publishing), Thai for Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced. I have all three and they are the most consistent regarding transliteration, and most logical in the lesson progression.

Edited September 9, 2009 by ChefHeat

[stevehaigh]

Benjawan also has a book for North Eastern dialects which is very useful.

[mca]

You'll be fine using standard Thai language and then picking up the local dialect. Even a hardcore Isaan speaking local will understand standard Thai unless it's some 90 year old granny who's never left the village in her life and these locals who don't understand the differences between the vocab and verbs of central Thai and isaan are a relative rarity. For example (and please excuse my abysmal transliteration) the Isaan word for dinner is "kao lang" as opposed to the Thai "ahaan yen". If you use the Thai word instead of the Isaan they aren't going to think "What the <deleted> did the westerner say?" To be honest you'd be fine using standard Thai all the time but the locals love it if you can speak even a little of the dialect. A number of locals iIve spoken to said if a westerner uses Isaan they're easier to understand than if they use Thai. Go figure.

Edited September 9, 2009 by mca

[bina]

bo men?

men bo.

korat is different then the issaan of nongkhai, ubon etc...

and thai is fine. to please the grannies u can learn a bit of the u sai, ieng? pudai? seap il lee !! (where are u going, what's up, who? delicious) sort of stuff .

that is, if u can understand the grannies and old geezers thru their missing teeth, level of beer consumption , and the amount of mak in their mouths at the time........

hubby speaks thai and korat thai. he wouldnt understand laos if he tripped over it. but nongkhai folks probably would.

i have an english, thai, issaan dictionary also but hubby cant understand most of what is written either.......its a great dictionary for someone studying linguistics as it has the inflections for all the different dialects/localized pronunciations with drawings/scales, word changes, etc.

when he and friends relapse in to korat thai, i give up and do something else, as it usually is their way of talking over my head /local gossip /boy talk.

bina

israel