Pronunciation

[withnail]

I'm looking for a technical guide to Thai pronunciation preferably with some sort of visual aid as to how to make certain sounds i.e. with diagrams of the position of the mouth/tongue etc.

I hope somebody understands what I mean I'm not interested in a discussion about whether ป sounds like a b or a p and I find it equally useless when a Thai person says no don't say xxx say xxx as it doesn't really help.

Through teaching English I found an excellent pair of books named Tree or Three? and Ship or Sheep? Which through diagrams and explanations show students (and teachers) the differences between HOW different sounds are made rather than using the method favoured by a lot of teachers which is if the student says a word wrong just say it to them louder.

Cheers

[Ice Maiden]

I'm looking for a technical guide to Thai pronunciation preferably with some sort of visual aid as to how to make certain sounds i.e. with diagrams of the position of the mouth/tongue etc.

I hope somebody understands what I mean I'm not interested in a discussion about whether ป sounds like a b or a p and I find it equally useless when a Thai person says no don't say xxx say xxx as it doesn't really help.

Through teaching English I found an excellent pair of books named Tree or Three? and Ship or Sheep? Which through diagrams and explanations show students (and teachers) the differences between HOW different sounds are made rather than using the method favoured by a lot of teachers which is if the student says a word wrong just say it to them louder. 

Cheers

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thats what I struggle with the most, if you find a book tell me about it . I've been told my thai accent isn't clear. Sometimes when I try my hardest to say something some thais say they don't understand but they don't try to understand me. I try to understand the thais speaking English and their English is rarely crystal.

It all comes down to lazyness I guess....

Edited August 16, 2005 by Ice Maiden

[Jack Jones]

Doesn't Becker do a book 'How to improve your Thai pronounciation'? I haven't got it myself but it might be worth a look.

[withnail]

I already have Benjawan Poomsan Beckers's book and CD 'Improving your Thai pronunciation' which is a very good start and helps a lot with the tones however it doesn't go into the depth I am interested in.

Edit.. Jack Jones I actually typed the above before I saw that.

Edited August 16, 2005 by withnail

[Superfrk]

There's not writen but the pimsluer Thai tape or CD course is really good for learning how to pronoun many phrases and explains the tonal system pretty well. I am half way through the complete thai 1 and it really helps.

[meadish_sweetball]

I'm looking for a technical guide to Thai pronunciation preferably with some sort of visual aid as to how to make certain sounds i.e. with diagrams of the position of the mouth/tongue etc.

I hope somebody understands what I mean I'm not interested in a discussion about whether ป sounds like a b or a p and I find it equally useless when a Thai person says no don't say xxx say xxx as it doesn't really help.

Through teaching English I found an excellent pair of books named Tree or Three? and Ship or Sheep? Which through diagrams and explanations show students (and teachers) the differences between HOW different sounds are made rather than using the method favoured by a lot of teachers which is if the student says a word wrong just say it to them louder. 

Cheers

Unless you can find exactly what you are looking for elsewhere, your best bet is probably a phonetical description of Thai sounds. This approach means you have to acquire the relevant phonological terms first (dental, bilabial, fricative, glottal etc. etc.) unless you have already done so while teaching English. Either way, it should not pose much of a problem, as it is just a matter of cramming - and this knowledge can be helpful when you learn another language later on.

In the first chapter of Richard B. Noss' Thai Reference Grammar ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, BANGKOK, THAILAND (firmly within the section 'oldies but goodies' - it was published in 1964 - right around the time when Sabaijai started his Thai studies, perhaps? ), you will find a phonological description of Thai that should be helpful. PM me for details.

[withnail]

Sounds more like the sort of thing I'm looking for cheers. I'll get in touch. Any other suggestions welcome though.

[cholakarn]

Wikipedia has a page about it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_language

^^

[withnail]

Excellent cholakarn thanks