Top Thai Language Speakers Honoured

[webfact]

Top Thai language speakers honoured

By The Nation

US ambassador to Thailand, Kristie Kenney's command of the Thai language has received both official recognition and praise. This year, the Culture Ministry has named her as one of two foreigners with outstanding proficiency in Thai.

The ambassador, who began her duties in Thailand in January, will be invited to receive a plaque of honour in a ceremony on July 29, the National Thai-Language Day.

The other honoured foreigner is Dr Esther Wakeman.

Culture Ministry permanent-secretary Somchai Sianglai yesterday revealed the list of people to receive the awards for their great command of Thai.

Mahachulalongkornrajavidayalaya University's rector Phra Dharma Kosajarn is among 13 people regarded as Thai-language gurus.

Songwriter Nitipong Hornak, actress Sinjai Plengpanich, singer Su Boonliang, TV host Sanya Kunakorn, and writer Prapassorn Sevikul are on the list of 15 outstanding Thai-language users for the year.

Outstanding users of Thai dialect this year are Phra Ratchaprasittikhun, Dr Chantas Thongchuay and singer Pongthep Kradonchamnan.

Fine Arts Department deputy director-general Karun Suttipoon said Ban Rao Ja Mernderm marked Prapas Chonsalanon as the best songwriter judged on his outstanding use of Thai.

"The best male singer is Uten Prommin for his Likhit Rak Buangbon while best female singer is Thanaporn Wakprayoon or Pan Thanaporn for her Khor Pai Hai Theung Dao," he said.

With his Sanya Korn Norn song, Srangsan Ruangsri or Noo Meter of R Siam is named the best male look-tung singer. Tuenjai or Fon Thanasunthorn has claimed the best female look-tung singer award for her Klua song. The singers were honoured for their clear and correct pronunciation of Thai words.

The Culture Ministry in collaboration with Thailand Post will create stamps to mark the National Thai-Language Day.

"They will feature 44 Thai characters. Each stamp in this collection will cost Bt100", Somchai said, and will be sold at all post offices from July 29.

-- The Nation 2011-07-07

[dantilley]

US ambassador to Thailand, Kristie Kenney's command of the Thai language has received both official recognition and praise.

Not bad considering she spoke no Thai before moving here for her post.

[EvilDrSomkid]

US ambassador to Thailand, Kristie Kenney's command of the Thai language has received both official recognition and praise.

Not bad considering she spoke no Thai before moving here for her post.

What? Really? She has learned Thai is just 6 months? Has anyone here heard her speak Thai?

[kuffki]

US ambassador to Thailand, Kristie Kenney's command of the Thai language has received both official recognition and praise.

Not bad considering she spoke no Thai before moving here for her post.

What? Really? She has learned Thai is just 6 months? Has anyone here heard her speak Thai?

Recently she was interviewed by the local Pattaya TV and she was only capable of saying hello and thank you in Thai, she must have undertaken the super duper, top secret, highly classified language course to master the language.

[dantilley]

I think so - I remember reading on her Twitter feed perhaps? No Thai speaking, or very basic Thai perhaps at best. A good effort!

[Kilgore Trout]

US ambassador to Thailand, Kristie Kenney's command of the Thai language has received both official recognition and praise.

Not bad considering she spoke no Thai before moving here for her post.

What? Really? She has learned Thai is just 6 months? Has anyone here heard her speak Thai?

Recently she was interviewed by the local Pattaya TV and she was only capable of saying hello and thank you in Thai, she must have undertaken the super duper, top secret, highly classified language course to master the language.

Not unusual, when you speak only a few words of Thai they love it; "geng maak" "pood Thai chat," but when you actually speak and understand Thai with fluency very few Thais will approve, much less congratulate your efforts.

I highly doubt this lady can actually speak Thai fluently, just my 2 cents....

[CosmicSurfer]

US ambassador to Thailand, Kristie Kenney's command of the Thai language has received both official recognition and praise.

Not bad considering she spoke no Thai before moving here for her post.

What? Really? She has learned Thai is just 6 months? Has anyone here heard her speak Thai?

Recently she was interviewed by the local Pattaya TV and she was only capable of saying hello and thank you in Thai, she must have undertaken the super duper, top secret, highly classified language course to master the language.

Maybe she sent an Aide down to Khosan Rd to pick up her newly minted Certificate!!!

Or she made a "contribution" to a local Thai 'University' Degree Factory.

TIT... This is the Thai way, and she wouldn't want to insult the locals.. Need to adapt to local norms.. USA Policy.

CS

Edited July 7, 2011 by CosmicSurfer

[TheGhostWithin]

Does anyone else find this odd? All for protecting languages.. but last I checked Thai language was flourishing - even foreigners are learning. We don't have awards for proficiency in English for people here, let alone natives.. there are a lot of Thai names on that list.

If a western born person in an English country was not proficient in English.. and an educated western person was not highly proficient in English.. I would have serious concerns about our ability to control our own red future in the yellow sun.

Edited July 7, 2011 by sbk
Leave HM the King out of it, please

[sunspun]

wasn't she on a soap a few months back? The one with all the farang acting in it, and she was speaking Thai quite well (though they still put subtitles..)

[jjlhc6]

I heard her speak a rehearsed sentence in Thai during a speech a few nights ago, and it definitely was not fluent (e.g. couldn't pronounce ป, ต, or other sounds that don't exist in English). I highly doubt she can carry on a conversation in Thai yet, but she's only been here a short time! So, it's understandable. I would guess they're awarding effort more than achievement in this case.

[Payboy]

US ambassador to Thailand, Kristie Kenney's command of the Thai language has received both official recognition and praise.

Not bad considering she spoke no Thai before moving here for her post.

What? Really? She has learned Thai is just 6 months? Has anyone here heard her speak Thai?

Recently she was interviewed by the local Pattaya TV and she was only capable of saying hello and thank you in Thai, she must have undertaken the super duper, top secret, highly classified language course to master the language.

I think her classmate at Thai school was Natalie Glebova, she got the gong for the most beautiful Thai Wai.

[DP25]

I heard her speak a rehearsed sentence in Thai during a speech a few nights ago, and it definitely was not fluent (e.g. couldn't pronounce ป, ต, or other sounds that don't exist in English). I highly doubt she can carry on a conversation in Thai yet, but she's only been here a short time! So, it's understandable. I would guess they're awarding effort more than achievement in this case.

I would guess it's her position that's being awarded

[coma]

What level did she aquire in the official Thai Ministry of Education's 'Thai Language Proficiency Exam for Foriegners' ?? If she took it at all. I studied for years and took this exam last November and I don't remember seeeing her there . What a farce !!!!

[pisico]

Kilgore Trout

(Quote) Not unusual, when you speak only a few words of Thai they love it; "geng maak" "pood Thai chat," but when you actually speak and understand Thai with fluency very few Thais will approve, much less congratulate your efforts.

I highly doubt this lady can actually speak Thai fluently, just my 2 cents.... . (End of quote)

So true!

Not only I heard it from vendors, maids and some acquaintances: they do not like it when a Farang can understand them, much less speak Thai.

Some good people will react surprised and some, as you well said, congratulate you.

It is a veiled manifestation of Xenophobia. Not that they only want to take advantage of the Farang financially. They feel we are usurping something that should always be of their sole domain.

[sbk]

And so different from my experiences. I find most people delighted to hear me speak Thai and appreciate the fact that I have made an effort.

And yes this includes everyone, not just a few. I can't say I have had a single negative reaction to me speaking Thai.

[SpoliaOpima]

Congratulations to the US ambassador. I wonder how the MOC recruits candidates for the award? I know at least a dozen foreign residents who speak better Thai than the American ambassador (with no disrespect to Her Excellency).

[SpoliaOpima]

And so different from my experiences. I find most people delighted to hear me speak Thai and appreciate the fact that I have made an effort.

And yes this includes everyone, not just a few. I can't say I have had a single negative reaction to me speaking Thai.

I think it depends on what level your Thai is. For foreigners who reach near-native fluency (which only a very few do, it seems), I have seen the negative reaction the member refers too, as summed up in the infamous phrase ฝรั่งรู้มาก.

While I was still at beginning and intermediate levels, even high intermediate - say 3+ on the FSI scale - I had 100% positive reactions to speaking Thai. When it got to the point I could read and write, and understand pretty much everything said around me or on Thai TV news, for example, a few negative reactions began to trickle in. Still mostly positive, but I would say with certainty that in my experience, there are Thais who view very fluent foreigners - farang especially - with some suspicion or resentment. Yes of course, it is a form of xenophobia.

That said, for me the positives of speaking Thai proficiently far outweigh the negatives, and I don't know any foreigner who doesn't feel the same way (other than the member who posted above).

Edited July 7, 2011 by SpoliaOpima

[Chonburiram]

... and obama got a Nobel price...

[SteeleJoe]

when you actually speak and understand Thai with fluency very few Thais will approve, much less congratulate your efforts...

Well the bar is set pretty dam_n high but nonetheless I can definitely say that's one of the biggest inaccuracies I've seen yet on TVF.

Complete b^#llocks.

[Xangsamhua]

And so different from my experiences. I find most people delighted to hear me speak Thai and appreciate the fact that I have made an effort.

And yes this includes everyone, not just a few. I can't say I have had a single negative reaction to me speaking Thai.

I think it depends on what level your Thai is. For foreigners who reach near-native fluency (which only a very few do, it seems), I have seen the negative reaction the member refers too, as summed up in the infamous phrase ฝรั่งรู้มาก.

While I was still at beginning and intermediate levels, even high intermediate - say 3+ on the FSI scale - I had 100% positive reactions to speaking Thai. When it got to the point I could read and write, and understand pretty much everything said around me or on Thai TV news, for example, a few negative reactions began to trickle in. Still mostly positive, but I would say with certainty that in my experience, there are Thais who view very fluent foreigners - farang especially - with some suspicion or resentment. Yes of course, it is a form of xenophobia.

That said, for me the positives of speaking Thai proficiently far outweigh the negatives, and I don't know any foreigner who doesn't feel the same way (other than the member who posted above).

I wonder why people get different responses. I can read and write and sound impressive for a little while (I tire after that) and I can't remember any Thai responding negatively. Most, even quite good English speakers, seem relieved when they realize they don't have to speak English. I have very occasionally had people respond with a lengthy burst of rapid Thai that's out of my league; perhaps that's meant to put me in my place. :-)

[SteeleJoe]

And so different from my experiences. I find most people delighted to hear me speak Thai and appreciate the fact that I have made an effort.

And yes this includes everyone, not just a few. I can't say I have had a single negative reaction to me speaking Thai.

I think it depends on what level your Thai is. For foreigners who reach near-native fluency (which only a very few do, it seems), I have seen the negative reaction the member refers too, as summed up in the infamous phrase ฝรั่งรู้มาก.

While I was still at beginning and intermediate levels, even high intermediate - say 3+ on the FSI scale - I had 100% positive reactions to speaking Thai. When it got to the point I could read and write, and understand pretty much everything said around me or on Thai TV news, for example, a few negative reactions began to trickle in. Still mostly positive, but I would say with certainty that in my experience, there are Thais who view very fluent foreigners - farang especially - with some suspicion or resentment. Yes of course, it is a form of xenophobia.

That said, for me the positives of speaking Thai proficiently far outweigh the negatives, and I don't know any foreigner who doesn't feel the same way (other than the member who posted above).

I wonder why people get different responses. I can read and write and sound impressive for a little while (I tire after that) and I can't remember any Thai responding negatively. Most, even quite good English speakers, seem relieved when they realize they don't have to speak English. I have very occasionally had people respond with a lengthy burst of rapid Thai that's out of my league; perhaps that's meant to put me in my place. :-)

I speak Thai well enough that on the phone or when I'm in the back of a dark taxi at night, I'm mistaken for a Thai. I've never had a negative reaction to it (except years ago when I used to go to bars and from only the most larcenous ill-intentioned working girls (most of whom did not fall into such a category, in my experience) who announce their distaste for Farangs who "know too much").

My Thai colleagues with very high levels of English often choose to speak Thai with me and I simply have never seen any evidence at any time that my Thai speaking bothered anyone -- even the rare Thai who I feel is obviously not too keen on foreigners doesn't seem to mind me speaking Thai and indeed they sometimes end up treating me slightly better than my Farang friends that don't speak Thai as well.

[Johpa]

US ambassador to Thailand, Kristie Kenney's command of the Thai language has received both official recognition and praise.

Not bad considering she spoke no Thai before moving here for her post.

What? Really? She has learned Thai is just 6 months? Has anyone here heard her speak Thai?

This is really an insult to Esther Wakeman who has been here for decades, working charities, involved in education, and who does indeed speak Thai as well as any non-Thai I have known. This is an embarrassing case of some Thais attempting to brown nose their way within diplomatic circles. Achaan Esther is certainly worthy of being honored by the Thai government whereas Ms. Kenney remains a neophyte regarding Thailand, its people, and its culture despite her having made exemplary gains in her Thai language skills over the past few months. Would not we all be so lucky as to have private tutors around all day as I am sure Ms. Kenney did not spend her lesson hours in class over at AUA.

[Xangsamhua]

US ambassador to Thailand, Kristie Kenney's command of the Thai language has received both official recognition and praise.

Not bad considering she spoke no Thai before moving here for her post.

What? Really? She has learned Thai is just 6 months? Has anyone here heard her speak Thai?

This is really an insult to Esther Wakeman who has been here for decades, working charities, involved in education, and who does indeed speak Thai as well as any non-Thai I have known. This is an embarrassing case of some Thais attempting to brown nose their way within diplomatic circles. Achaan Esther is certainly worthy of being honored by the Thai government whereas Ms. Kenney remains a neophyte regarding Thailand, its people, and its culture despite her having made exemplary gains in her Thai language skills over the past few months. Would not we all be so lucky as to have private tutors around all day as I am sure Ms. Kenney did not spend her lesson hours in class over at AUA.

Well, it is the Ministry of Culture - all form, no substance.

[Somtamnication]

I am in no way fluent in Thai, but the effort put forth to TRY to speak it with those darn tones, is noteworthy. Even basic stuff, like "how much is the watermelon", gets responses of "farang geng maak".

10 years here and I have not yet mastered the 10 different "kao" versions and probably never ever will.

But locals appreciate the effort. Oftentimes, my speech is met with giggles, and such is life here. ( I did call my mother in law "K. Dog" for 6 months before my wife told me it was wrong).

So back to the topic at hand. If this "merkin" lady can speak an ounce of Thai, more power to her. I know falangs here who have lived 30 years and all they know is "mai bpen rai".

[Kilgore Trout]

when you actually speak and understand Thai with fluency very few Thais will approve, much less congratulate your efforts...

Well the bar is set pretty dam_n high but nonetheless I can definitely say that's one of the biggest inaccuracies I've seen yet on TVF.

Complete b^#llocks.

Clearly a quote from someone who has not a proper grasp on the Thai language

I once had a problem at a restaurant for asking where the bathroom is in Thai; got a huge lecture from the obnoxious kid of the owner who said in order to work he "had" to learn English, but foreigners don't need to speak Thai and he didn't like hearing it. He then refused to serve me for less than double the price of what the menu stated;

granted this was an extreme case but the sentiment is similar in day to day dealings.

Not painting everyone with this brush, but it does exist, big time.

[Xangsamhua]

when you actually speak and understand Thai with fluency very few Thais will approve, much less congratulate your efforts...

Well the bar is set pretty dam_n high but nonetheless I can definitely say that's one of the biggest inaccuracies I've seen yet on TVF.

Complete b^#llocks.

Clearly a quote from someone who has not a proper grasp on the Thai language

I once had a problem at a restaurant for asking where the bathroom is in Thai; got a huge lecture from the obnoxious kid of the owner who said in order to work he "had" to learn English, but foreigners don't need to speak Thai and he didn't like hearing it. He then refused to serve me for less than double the price of what the menu stated;

granted this was an extreme case but the sentiment is similar in day to day dealings.

Not painting everyone with this brush, but it does exist, big time.

As you say, the kid was obnoxious and exceptional. I find that if people want to speak English they respond to your Thai in English. I then revert to English, too. I wouldn't try to press my Thai onto anyone.

On other occasions, colleagues who normally speak to me in English will revert to Thai when they are stressed. On these occasions, if their Thai is very rapid I may have to check my understanding in English. Of course, language practices among close colleagues, friends, partners include lots of code-switching and use of both languages in the same conversation. Purely functional conversations with people you don't know tend to be in one language, don't they?

Anyway, I don't begrudge Ms Kennedy getting a gong for making a good effort and submitting herself to the public gaze while doing so (she's something of an extrovert I gather). I'm sure Dr Wakeman understands the differences between the different awards and would not be offended. There was a US ambassador here a few years ago who spoke very fluent Thai. I wonder if he got an award, too.

[coma]

Any Thai that responds negatively to a foriegner speaking Thai is a Thai that is best given a wide birth.

[jjlhc6]

And so different from my experiences. I find most people delighted to hear me speak Thai and appreciate the fact that I have made an effort.

And yes this includes everyone, not just a few. I can't say I have had a single negative reaction to me speaking Thai.

I think it depends on what level your Thai is. For foreigners who reach near-native fluency (which only a very few do, it seems), I have seen the negative reaction the member refers too, as summed up in the infamous phrase ฝรั่งรู้มาก.

While I was still at beginning and intermediate levels, even high intermediate - say 3+ on the FSI scale - I had 100% positive reactions to speaking Thai. When it got to the point I could read and write, and understand pretty much everything said around me or on Thai TV news, for example, a few negative reactions began to trickle in. Still mostly positive, but I would say with certainty that in my experience, there are Thais who view very fluent foreigners - farang especially - with some suspicion or resentment. Yes of course, it is a form of xenophobia.

That said, for me the positives of speaking Thai proficiently far outweigh the negatives, and I don't know any foreigner who doesn't feel the same way (other than the member who posted above).

I wonder why people get different responses. I can read and write and sound impressive for a little while (I tire after that) and I can't remember any Thai responding negatively. Most, even quite good English speakers, seem relieved when they realize they don't have to speak English. I have very occasionally had people respond with a lengthy burst of rapid Thai that's out of my league; perhaps that's meant to put me in my place. :-)

I speak Thai well enough that on the phone or when I'm in the back of a dark taxi at night, I'm mistaken for a Thai. I've never had a negative reaction to it (except years ago when I used to go to bars and from only the most larcenous ill-intentioned working girls (most of whom did not fall into such a category, in my experience) who announce their distaste for Farangs who "know too much").

My Thai colleagues with very high levels of English often choose to speak Thai with me and I simply have never seen any evidence at any time that my Thai speaking bothered anyone -- even the rare Thai who I feel is obviously not too keen on foreigners doesn't seem to mind me speaking Thai and indeed they sometimes end up treating me slightly better than my Farang friends that don't speak Thai as well.

I'm approximately at this level as well (rarely mistaken for Thai, but get the luk khreung question almost daily). Most Thai people are impressed and happy that they don't have to rely on English. However, I have had a few bad experiences similar to those mentioned on this board. Mostly, this negative reaction has come from Thai people who speak English well enough that they're proud of their ability but don't speak perfectly and thus lack complete confidence. My theory is that these people take my speaking Thai to them as a subtle insult to their English skills. I think the logic is something like: I'm farang, therefore my default must always be to speak English no matter how good my Thai is, thus by choosing to go out of my way to speak Thai with them, I'm signaling that their English isn't good enough for me to allow myself to go with the default but instead feel forced to switch into Thai. They, in turn, think they're English is good (which it often is) and thus want to prove to me how good it is by insisting on speaking only in English.

In this situation, I typically just comply and speak English with them until they feel sufficiently satisfied that I am aware of and respect their English abilities; then, we usually end up switching back into Thai if it's someone I see on a regular basis.

[SteeleJoe]

I'm approximately at this level as well (rarely mistaken for Thai, but get the luk khreung question almost daily). Most Thai people are impressed and happy that they don't have to rely on English. However, I have had a few bad experiences similar to those mentioned on this board. Mostly, this negative reaction has come from Thai people who speak English well enough that they're proud of their ability but don't speak perfectly and thus lack complete confidence. My theory is that these people take my speaking Thai to them as a subtle insult to their English skills. I think the logic is something like: I'm farang, therefore my default must always be to speak English no matter how good my Thai is, thus by choosing to go out of my way to speak Thai with them, I'm signaling that their English isn't good enough for me to allow myself to go with the default but instead feel forced to switch into Thai. They, in turn, think they're English is good (which it often is) and thus want to prove to me how good it is by insisting on speaking only in English.

In this situation, I typically just comply and speak English with them until they feel sufficiently satisfied that I am aware of and respect their English abilities; then, we usually end up switching back into Thai if it's someone I see on a regular basis.

Maybe that's why I haven't had any negative reactions; when I know someone has the ability to converse in English (even poorly but comfortably), I always use that language -- precisely to avoid seeming to feel superior or as if I assume their English isn't good enough -- unless they opt to use Thai; almost invariably they do, except for the fairly rare Thai whose English is virtually flawless and truly fluent (and even they sometimes enjoy expressing themselves in Thai when other foreigners are around - not precisely to keep any secrets but more as a way of communicating something that is especially Thai in cultural/social terms.)

In the nearly 3 decades I've been speaking Thai, I've met only a few Farangs who have achieved true fluency (though I'm well aware there are many more out there), one of whom I often work with. I spoke to him today about this topic and he said that in his 20 years of experience, he has had the same response that I have.

EDIT to ADD:

Re-reading your post:

I realize that I have occasionally mis-stepped and used Thai with someone who wanted me to know they could use English and sensed a bit of displeasure on their part. And like you I found that once I switched to English it often wasn't long (perhaps the next conversation, at most) that they'd opt for Thai.

But "sensed a bit of displeasure" is about the worst I can say has happened. And it wasn't, as the previous poster avers, that they disapproved of the fact that I could speak Thai -- just that I used it with them.

Edited July 8, 2011 by SteeleJoe

[SAffer]

when you actually speak and understand Thai with fluency very few Thais will approve, much less congratulate your efforts...

Well the bar is set pretty dam_n high but nonetheless I can definitely say that's one of the biggest inaccuracies I've seen yet on TVF.

Complete b^#llocks.

I have been here for 6 years, and my Thai is very basic... I am a slow learner. Anyway, I noticed that if I speak basic Thai, the locals are often very impressed and congratulate me on how wonderful my Thai is. My friend has been here for the same amount of time, but he can speak and read Thai... pretty well actually. And he often gets negative responces from Thais. This I have seen on many occassions. Even for me, as my Thai improved I started getting more negative comments.

I would say that the majority of Thais are more impressed by farang who speak Thai... but there is a segment who get hot under the collar when they hear farang speak Thai comfortably.

Thus, the comment is not complete b#llocks.