The Way Thai People Speak English

[bifftastic]

Just nodding and smiling has worked fine for me in many situations

[Mossfinn]

especially when the majority of the board seems rely on emoticons in their stead.

particularly the use of because they do not understand the value of irony

[endure]

especially when the majority of the board seems rely on emoticons in their stead.

particularly the use of because they do not understand the value of irony

[Mossfinn]

[GamLing]

Just which English were you talking about? Are you including: Cockney English, Shropshire English, Oxford English, Welsh English, Scottish English, Irish English, Liverpool English, Bangladesh English, West coast Canadian English, East coast Canadian English, French Canadian English, Australian English, Southern US English, New England US English, California English, or pick any one of the British Commonwealth countries that supposedly speak English?

.....An' divent forget uz Geordies Yer bugger a hell man. Ah think ah need a tab noo!

[seriouseats]

Pretty sure any bargirl speaks better english than that 'welsh' guy with a picture of a baby smoking a joint as his avatar.

Seriously who cares if thais speak bad english, their own language is extremely dumbed down. Whats stupid is native english speakers not dumbing down their own english with the common thais that werent educated overseas. <deleted> seriously.

[IMA_FARANG]

Well, me and me English mate was sat there having a beer, and we agreed we speaks the bestest English.

True, init ??

-----------------------------

I was working in Saud Arabia and we were on our way to another location just outside of Jeddah.

The man driving was from the U.S., a Texan, and had a very noticible accent.

The guy in the passenger seat was a brit and had a decided accent. He was reading the map and givng directions.

The Texan driving asked,"Whar am I sposed to go now?".

"Turn here at the roon-da-bout", said the brit.

"Whar?", asked the Texan.

"At the roon-da-bout, the roon-da-bout", answered the brit

"What the h-ll is a rawn-da-bout?", asked the Texan.

I was in the rear seat, and heard every word both of them said. However, I was laughing so hard I couldn't explain to either of them why the other one couldn't understand what was being said.

[meatboy]

Pretty sure any bargirl speaks better english than that 'welsh' guy with a picture of a baby smoking a joint as his avatar.

Seriously who cares if thais speak bad english, their own language is extremely dumbed down. Whats stupid is native english speakers not dumbing down their own english with the common thais that werent educated overseas. <deleted> seriously.

YOU YOU speak no good you now

[anterian]

I adjust my language to the level that the other person displays. I learnt to do this as a kid, an East End cockney kid at night and a Public school boy by day. Then as a wartime evacuee I lived in Somerset, Wales, Norfolk and Coventry, now I just go with the flow, Thailish, Singlish, whatever.

[Hardie]

This is Thailand, so speak Thai. If they've got a problem with that, <deleted> 'em.

[sausageandmash]

Nobody likes a smart-arse!

Just which English were you talking about? Are you including: Cockney English, Shropshire English, Oxford English, Welsh English, Scottish English, Irish English, Liverpool English, Bangladesh English, West coast Canadian English, East coast Canadian English, French Canadian English, Australian English, Southern US English, New England US English, California English, or pick any one of the British Commonwealth countries that supposedly speak English?

[chmiroau]

Quality of English on the board is poor even for the first language English speakers.

Too right! However, with the huge variety of native English spoken in Thailand, it is so hard to work out what is good, bad or just plain lazy.

Sometimes I get the feeling that most of the comments on this message board are from ESL speakers, so, because of this I make allowances. However, if I am wrong and most of the comments have been made by native speakers, then I sure hope that they aren't teaching English.

[chmiroau]

Just which English were you talking about? Are you including: Cockney English, Shropshire English, Oxford English, Welsh English, Scottish English, Irish English, Liverpool English, Bangladesh English, West coast Canadian English, East coast Canadian English, French Canadian English, Australian English, Southern US English, New England US English, California English, or pick any one of the British Commonwealth countries that supposedly speak English?

Queen's English.

Her Majesty hardly speaks at all, at least not to the likes of me!

RP or 'received pronunciation' was often referred to as 'BBC English, if spoken now, would be barely understandable by 90% of the population of England. Language is fluid, English language particularly so, given it's widspread use around the world. The most important aspect of it is to understand and be understood. This means that you will, necessarily, shift your language into patterns that are easily digestible in order to express your thoughts accurately

I think it's easy to slip into the Thai grammar style of English, especially when speaking in 'mixed' company. Hard to continually adjust if there's, say, three farang and three Thai people with less than fluent Engrish skills and you want everyone to grasp the meaning without having to continually 'translate' from a more native speakers flow of English. If I'm discussing the finer points of football with a couple of English mates then I'm not going to be saying things like 'man yoo same same kee kwai' although the native English version may use equally incorrect grammar.

What did throw me yesterday was flying into Mumbai and having to switch my ear to the way the Indian airport staff form their sentences. I did, however, enjoy their frustration at my blank 'huh?' stares, as they obviously feel they are fluent!

True story; Mature Indian English language student trying to polish her pronunciation so that it is easier for the Thai people to understand her. "I don't have an accent, back home everyone understands me perfectly." Me, "sorry, can you say that a bit slower for me." Student, "Oh!"

After many hours I have managed to get this student to slow her pronunciation for the locals and because of this she is finding it much easier to communicate with others using English as a second language.

[ozzieovaseas]

This is Thailand, so speak Thai. If they've got a problem with that, <deleted> 'em.

Dare i say..that is usually what causes all the problems