The Coca Cola Incident

[singa-traz]

Next time ... order a "Pepsi" ... 

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Why didn't I think of that! Perfect.

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Only works if they have.... more confusion to eliminate!

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No, if they don't have, you will get the "Mai Mee" ... then you point to the Coke bottle ... :-)

[sbk]

Although words like 'computer'(compoo deeer) and 'ice cream(ai dtim) come from English, they are not the same in Thai and why should Thais undersatand if they don't speak English?

But in an "american restaurant" catering to farangs in a major tourist destination??? If the waiter doesn't at least understand "diet coke" then he/she shouldn't be there.

[kat]

Next time ... order a "Pepsi" ... 

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mai dai - not the same

[Ice Maiden]

Next time ... order a "Pepsi" ... 

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mai dai - not the same

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Deffo not the same!

It just shocks me a waiter in a restraunt in which farangs are the main customers they are not taught what "diet coke" means.

[stats]

Another thing...

Beyah... Beer... LOL

[britmaveric]

Next time ... order a "Pepsi" ... 

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mai dai - not the same

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Deffo not the same!

It just shocks me a waiter in a restraunt in which farangs are the main customers they are not taught what "diet coke" means.

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Carry a empty bottle or peel off the label - that might ring a bell?

[STEALTH K3]

I had the problem with larger n lime when I wanted coke it had to be"cola"

[BambinA]

whatever u say just dont say as

1 cock

2 coke khang pauy (coz when reverse/spoonerism in TH it is = hardon rock cock

oops..i did it again kri kri

bangbi

Edited October 5, 2005 by BambinA

[Thaipwriter]

One aspect of not being understood may be down to the Thai's poor problem solving abilities. Many times i get the feeling that when i ask for something and I am not understood, the Thai person is not able to listen and analyse what they are hearing and assist me in getting what I want. I always seem to get that "the lights are on but nobodies home" expression

Lampards observation about physically pointing at a Toyota vehicle backs up this theory for me. For Thai people not being able to make the link between "toy-ota" and "toyo-taaa" for themselves is frustrating for the average falang.

I just tried the Toyota thing on a friend with exactly the same results.

I think that Thai's may well also be applying tones to "international" names like toyota. From what i understand of reading thai, tones are applied to certain letters as they appear in a word.

On the other hand this theory is rubbish and the average farang just needs to learn all these international words in thai also. Asuming that the word "Coke" is perfectly understandable the world over is reasonable....but this is Thailand after all

I was in KFC today trying to order "crispy strips" today....the staff made me point to what i wanted from the photo menu!!!

[raggedjagged]

OxfordWill made a very accurate judgement: They will not recognize what you say because they are thinking hard and focusing carefully on what you're about to say because they are not expecting thai from you. So if they suddenly hear thai, they wouldn't be able to make out, kind of funny if you think about it

Beginning sentences like "aowww..." would flip their listening mode and it generally works.

The funniest situations has to be when the workers make some comments about you themselves thiknig you won't understand, and you reply back "jing lorr kub?" with a wide grin on your face

[Ice Maiden]

Maybe I should try Brit's suggestion and just point to the label from a diet coke. Bit of an extreme though but thats amazing Thailand

Edit - Spelling!

Edited October 5, 2005 by Ice Maiden

[LivinLOS]

While I do understand the justification that 'its because they see a farang and dont expect Thai" excuse I just have to say that I think thats an excuse..

When the word is Toyota, coke, ATM, etc its NOT them expecting english or other farang speak..

Thais seem extremely rigid in what they can understand and deduce from limited understanding.. I know my Thai is awful (I in no way wish to defend it) but my german was awaful and I got by.. My dutch was awful and I could do better than get by.. People in those countris heard roughtly what I was saying and made a mental deduction of guess at what I meant and corrected (or not bothered) me.. Either way they got a grasp on what was being communicated.. Thais on the other hand appear to simply not be able to grasp what I could possibly mean when the word is so close as to be the same to my ears (and I understand that tones are playing a part but who sets the tones for ATM)..

By this I dont mean the kind of example like the cig packets above which is a subtle Thai issue, I mean going into a trainer shop and asking "nike, erm.. Nikey... Nickie.. Nickii.. erm no not addidas !!" or even to put it into a thai word say you go to a food stall and have a selection of pork, chicken, beef, squid.. How badly do I have to be pronouncing pla muk for them not to understand that it was squid ?? surely when the word is heard it is then compared to the list of candidates and is obvously not A B or C but actually might just be D ??

I have to sday this does make it less enjoyable to attempt bad Thai than it does to attempt other languages and speaking badl is part of learning..

Edited October 6, 2005 by LivinLOS

[otherstuff1957]

I can usually make myself understood in Taxi's and in Restaurants, but I must admit that Thais generally make very little effort to understand people who speak with foreign accents.

Bye the way, it's Pep SEE, not Pepsi

[The Coder]

I think there is a simple explanation. Take for instance Spanish; this language has much fewer vowel sounds than English. If you were to say the word "bitch" to someone speaking Spanish, they would hear "beach" because they don't have that "ih" sound and it get grouped with "e". Likewise Thai language has many more sounds than English. So if a Thai say something their way back to us we may think "that's what I just said", but it isn't to them--two completely unrelated words and determining your error is not as easy as you would think. So if you say "guy" to a Thai, that sounds like one thing to us, but could be a half dozen unrelated words to them depending on how you toned it.

This topic belongs in the language section

[wolf5370]

I find it help to qualify it.

If you say 'Kor Coke Nueng Kwat Krup' or 'Kor Coke Nueng Gow Krup' it seems to click for them easier - I guess if you say 'a bottle/glass of <bad Thai coke pronounciation>' that its any easy guess - narrows the field a little!

The amount of times I've answered in Thai to a Thai person asking me a question, only to receive a blank look! I check with the Mrs and she says the pronounciation is fine (assuming I can keep answeres away from Tigers/Shirts and Horses/Dogs!), its just they expect an English response. If I answer in English they don't understand either! TIT

[Insight]

The Welsh accent one works for me!

Then pad your request with a little bit of Thai before and after, as also suggested. Lengthen out the "Aooowwww" at the beggining like you're still deciding what you want.

"Aooowwww... black cock".

[Totster]

"Aooowwww... black cock".

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errrm...

totster

[Mighty Mouse]

The dangers of diet coke. Take a read:

http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Diet_Coke-21640-1.html

Maybe you should switch to Sprite. (Thai pronunciation: Sarprey )

[SiamOne]

I like this topic, so easy!!

my hubbie worked in BKk for 6 months, and the taxi drivers never understood the name of his hotel - Chao Phrya Park. He always had to get them to Ratchada then direct more. When they arrived, the taxi driver would exclaim "oh Chao Phraya".

He never worked it out, until I told him about Harry Potter

Hareee Poterrrr

[LivinLOS]

I think there is a simple explanation. Take for instance Spanish; this language has much fewer vowel sounds than English. If you were to say the word "bitch" to someone speaking Spanish, they would hear "beach" because they don't have that "ih" sound and it get grouped with "e". Likewise Thai language has many more sounds than English. So if a Thai say something their way back to us we may think "that's what I just said", but it isn't to them--two completely unrelated words and determining your error is not as easy as you would think. So if you say "guy" to a Thai, that sounds like one thing to us, but could be a half dozen unrelated words to them depending on how you toned it.

This topic belongs in the language section

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Agreed thats a reason for some of it.. However that doesnt really explain the 'coke' when ordering a drink in an American resturant setting does it ?? How many possible words that sound like coke.. And the likelyhood of them in order should by simple deduction come to the possibility that she may be ordering a coke..

I must admit I do find it frustrating when trying my bad thai that given a set of possibilites of Moo, Nua, Gai, or Pla Muk, to still be missunderstood to the point of the blank stare or total mis comprehension.. Its obviously only one of a small subset of VERY different sounding words yet that just seems to stall them..

If I was getting in difficulties of near and far in Thai I will accept complete 100% the fault of screwing it up in tonal representation.. However when I hear bad english I use my mind to examine the possible words from the context.. Seems to me like that very often doesnt happen and does make me wonder about how different our thought processes really are.

Edited October 6, 2005 by LivinLOS

[meemiathai]

I think there is a simple explanation. Take for instance Spanish; this language has much fewer vowel sounds than English. If you were to say the word "bitch" to someone speaking Spanish, they would hear "beach" because they don't have that "ih" sound and it get grouped with "e". Likewise Thai language has many more sounds than English. So if a Thai say something their way back to us we may think "that's what I just said", but it isn't to them--two completely unrelated words and determining your error is not as easy as you would think. So if you say "guy" to a Thai, that sounds like one thing to us, but could be a half dozen unrelated words to them depending on how you toned it.

This topic belongs in the language section

Agreed thats a reason for some of it.. However that doesnt really explain the 'coke' when ordering a drink in an American resturant setting does it ?? How many possible words that sound like coke.. And the likelyhood of them in order should by simple deduction come to the possibility that she may be ordering a coke..

I must admit I do find it frustrating when trying my bad thai that given a set of possibilites of Moo, Nua, Gai, or Pla Muk, to still be missunderstood to the point of the blank stare or total mis comprehension.. Its obviously only one of a small subset of VERY different sounding words yet that just seems to stall them..

If I was getting in difficulties of near and far in Thai I will accept complete 100% the fault of screwing it up in tonal representation.. However when I hear bad english I use my mind to examine the possible words from the context.. Seems to me like that very often doesnt happen and does make me wonder about how different our thought processes really are.

I understand what u mean about choices between A, B, C & D. But there could be a possibility that the person thought u were trying to say something instead of simply just ordering something from the ABCD, which makes the person think of some other things else. Just a guess though.

[psychosid10]

At the Airport , i asked for Coke and for a change she got it instantly.. Then started the fun , she asked me " I or no I" .. i said "what?" .. she smiled and said " I or no I" .. then she repeated " you want I" now pointing toward ice.. now what do u say to that ?

[Jockstar]

You know the Central shopping plaza. We say it Central but the Thais say it Centran. Go figure.!

[meemiathai]

At the Airport , i asked for Coke and for a change she got it instantly.. Then started the fun , she asked me " I or no I" .. i said "what?" .. she smiled and said " I or no I" .. then she repeated " you want I" now pointing toward ice.. now what do u say to that ?

You see! According to LivinLOS theory, you should have known better. What else would you have expected when u are buying coke? There aren't a lot of things there that begins with "I".

[LivinLOS]

I think there is a simple explanation. Take for instance Spanish; this language has much fewer vowel sounds than English. If you were to say the word "bitch" to someone speaking Spanish, they would hear "beach" because they don't have that "ih" sound and it get grouped with "e". Likewise Thai language has many more sounds than English. So if a Thai say something their way back to us we may think "that's what I just said", but it isn't to them--two completely unrelated words and determining your error is not as easy as you would think. So if you say "guy" to a Thai, that sounds like one thing to us, but could be a half dozen unrelated words to them depending on how you toned it.

This topic belongs in the language section

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Agreed thats a reason for some of it.. However that doesnt really explain the 'coke' when ordering a drink in an American resturant setting does it ?? How many possible words that sound like coke.. And the likelyhood of them in order should by simple deduction come to the possibility that she may be ordering a coke..

I must admit I do find it frustrating when trying my bad thai that given a set of possibilites of Moo, Nua, Gai, or Pla Muk, to still be missunderstood to the point of the blank stare or total mis comprehension.. Its obviously only one of a small subset of VERY different sounding words yet that just seems to stall them..

If I was getting in difficulties of near and far in Thai I will accept complete 100% the fault of screwing it up in tonal representation.. However when I hear bad english I use my mind to examine the possible words from the context.. Seems to me like that very often doesnt happen and does make me wonder about how different our thought processes really are.

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I understand what u mean about choices between A, B, C & D. But there could be a possibility that the person thought u were trying to say something instead of simply just ordering something from the ABCD, which makes the person think of some other things else. Just a guess though.

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Well sure.. My take on it would be that as a food stall selling food of those 4 flavours.. and as 95% of the conversation is purely the ordering of food.. and to compound that its pretty obvious that as a non Thai speaker I wouldnt be asking them thier opinions on Kensian economics or Sartre's phillosophy that the enquiry with the word that sounds amazingly similar to, but perhaps not quite like, 'squid' might actually have something to do with ordering cooked 'squid'..

At the Airport , i asked for Coke and for a change she got it instantly.. Then started the fun , she asked me " I or no I" .. i said "what?" .. she smiled and said " I or no I" .. then she repeated " you want I" now pointing toward ice.. now what do u say to that ?

Well I guess thats where my idea that farangs would make the mental jump falls down .. After ordering a cold drink perhaps the word thats sounds similar to but not exactly like..

Owwww forget it..

[The Coder]

Agreed thats a reason for some of it.. However that doesnt really explain the 'coke' when ordering a drink in an American resturant setting does it ??

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It may explain this too. We are just as guilty of butchering non-native words as Thai's are of butchering ours. Take for instance the country called Mexico. If you were to pronounce it the English way (Meksico) English people would understand, but maybe not if you used the real pronunciation of the country being Mehico.

Whether it is excusable to hire people who deal with foreigners on a daily basis who can't understand them, that is a different matter. I definitely sympathize with that situation, but fortunately am getting a lot better at pronouncing things the Thai way.

[Smokin Joe]

You know the Central shopping plaza. We say it Central but the Thais say it Centran. Go figure.!

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That one might be because that most common Thai "L" letter, Lor Ling, is pronounced as an "N" when it is the ending conconant. A few other letters have different sounds whether they are initial or ending consonats. A popular seafood restaurant here is Nang Nual but is pronouced Nang Nuan. The Kings name is another example.

As The Coder mentioned , Spanish has some similar problems. When I worked in Panama I was in a McDonalds and they had "Big Mac" on the menu same as the US. My friend ordered one and they couldn't understand till he pointed it out, then they said "Oh! Beeg Mahk". Their vowels are only pronounced one way all the time which makes learing a bit easier for us but they have a hard time with the different vowel pronunciations.

I was learing some spanish, and at the same time was learning to play blackjack in the casino near my apartment, and as a result if I count in Spanish I always pronouce venti uno (21) in an emphasised excited tone.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

"Honestly, the only way I can get a coke is to ask firmly for some 'cock', usually while frowning. "

I don't think I'll try that ..... 

Hello Will 

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[dr_Pat_Pong]

You know the Central shopping plaza. We say it Central but the Thais say it Centran. Go figure.!

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That's yer highland brogue wee laddie. Centun ( pronounced Sentun )

[OxfordWill]

Oops, Hi Kat!