Am I Tone Deaf?

[HalfSquat]

I've had a few lessons and been listening to some teach yourself Thai audio CDs but I can't really get my head around the tones.

Sometimes it feels like I can't even hear them!

Can anyone recommend a way for me to get to grips with them?

Are there any online or audio exercises dedicated to teaching people the tones?

Can you get away with out using the tones and only speak the words that are flat?

Thanks

[JetsetBkk]

<snip>

Can you get away with out using the tones and only speak the words that are flat?

Thanks

Well, you could probably try, but I doubt if many people would be able to understand you.

[toptuan]

All I can do is commiserate with you. I've formally studied nine languages including Thai. Two of the other languages were also tonal (Cantonese and Vietnamese). However, the Thai has got me tongue-tied (or ear-plugged) too. Still looking for the magic wand.

[SoftWater]

I don't think you're tone deaf, you just haven't amassed enough hours of listening practice. The AUA Thai course reckon you need a minimum of 200 hours listening to get a good ear for the language. Personally, I think that estimate is way over but of course people are different and it also depends on what you're listening to.

Don't pay much heed to those oft-heard platitudes of 'unconscious listening' (you know, the "I put a tape recorder under my pillow and run the language tape while i'm sleeping' nonsense). Simply hearing Thai will do nothing for your language skills until your unconscious brain has some framework by which to analyse and store what you hear. For that reason, what you need is structured and frequent listening. Try Pimsleur if you haven't done it already (and if you have, do it again!). The key to this is to make sure you do it every day (30 minutes), by the end of the course you'll start to have an ear for the tones for sure.

[Lost in LOS]

I have a lot of trouble with the tones since I am hard of hearing. Putting the words into sentences is the way to go, they ususally figure it out if you are killing it. at least put a few words together and they will usually get it. the fewer words you put together the more you will need the tones

[desi]

Are there any online or audio exercises dedicated to teaching people the tones?

This is what I used...

Improving Your Thai Pronunciation CD, by Benjawan Poomsan Becker

Understand words that are identical except for tone or vowel length.

Master the basic five tones.

Speak Thai with more confidence.

Enhance your Thai listening and speaking skills.

Make yourself understood!

[HalfSquat]

Thanks people.

I know I will have to get to grips with them and it is early days.

I do have the Pimsleur and am doing 30 mins each day but it is usually the same one as I don't want to rush it and miss bits out!

Thanks for that link, will have a look.

[bartlett]

stick with it..when you practice talking to yourself exagerate the tones massivly ..do it enough and when you talk normally they will just sound right.

as for listening ..if i dont know the word i often still cannot hear the tone and have to ask my gf to repeat two or three times...

it just takes time ..

if you were tones deaf youd have problems with english too as you wouldnt be able to tell if someone was use tones to make a statement or ask a question ..if they were happy or sad.