PM Yingluck's Gaffe - Remember Your Lines

[jimbeam1]

I think it's a bit rough to have a shot at the PM's English skills. One could say that she was brave to "have a go" at doing it in English. Perhaps, in hind-sight, she should have done it in Thai, and let the government spokesperson do the English translation.

I am a bit surprised to see that she has a Masters from Ken State though.

That is strange indeed if you don't speak good English (assuming the course was in English)

No idea what language they speak in Kentucky, but rumour has it Sarah Palin once said "If we hadn't won our independence we'd all be speaking English now"

Chickin English, perhaps?

jb1

[robblok]

The interesting thing is that people chose to comment on this rather than the very very strong backing the US gave publically to this government and to the notion of civilian government which is not really being touched upon inspite of being highly noticeable.

Do you SERIOUSLY think that dear old Hillary can reveal her true and innermost thoughts on Yingluck's "ugly performance" so far, on the diplomatic and political stage?????.

We have to wait for wiki leaks for that one

[Ricardo]

Same same. 99% of China, Japanese & Australia PMs don't speak good English if at all. It fact, most have worst English than YS. Yet they are SUPER powers.

Maybe in next PM acceptance citeria, Candidates should required to have a TOEIC 550 cert; just like in many semi-govt companies like PTT & TG.

Australia?

jb1

Yes. It is no typo. Go ask any English man. Any.

When did Australia join the Super-Powers ? Or even Japan ? I myself (an English man) would only rate the USA, Russia & China as Super-Powers.

But PM-Yingluck is supposed to have gained a Masters-Degree, taught in English, wouldn't that mean she needed to speak the language ?

[animatic]

The interesting thing is that people chose to comment on this rather than the very very strong backing the US gave publically to this government and to the notion of civilian government which is not really being touched upon inspite of being highly noticeable.

It's the time of a major disaster affecting many use Tech and auto business, Of course they are going to back them to get the country running again and diskdrives and auto parts moving again. That and the slight reference to democracy. They won't be seen not backing a tituler democratically elected government, in a time of crisis. Whether they are actually happy with them is another matter, this is diplomacy, real politik in action. What is behind the scenes is of course intentionally opaque.

[animatic]

I think it's a bit rough to have a shot at the PM's English skills. One could say that she was brave to "have a go" at doing it in English. Perhaps, in hind-sight, she should have done it in Thai, and let the government spokesperson do the English translation.

I am a bit surprised to see that she has a Masters from Ken State though.

That is strange indeed if you don't speak good English (assuming the course was in English)

No idea what language they speak in Kentucky, but rumour has it Sarah Palin once said "If we hadn't won our independence we'd all be speaking English now"

I picture the Palin / Yingluck debates.....

Ohh, the colonic twisting this image brings.

[ericthai]

I'm no fan of her / her brother but what's the big deal here? Everyone will know what the intended word was and it's not her first language. You can bet your life she did better than ANY non Thai politician would do giving even a one minute speach in Thai. This just isn't a news story, just an incidental part of Clinton's visit...where any focus should be.

I don't think I would bet on that one. The new US Ambassador (Kristie A. Kenney) has been taking Thai lessons and is doing very well.

As for Yingluck and the news coverage on this, cant believe this made the news they have nothing else to report? This mistake should not be news period!

[Trentham]

Same same. 99% of China, Japanese & Australia PMs don't speak good English if at all. It fact, most have worst English than YS. Yet they are SUPER powers.

Maybe in next PM acceptance citeria, Candidates should required to have a TOEIC 550 cert; just like in many semi-govt companies like PTT & TG.

WOW I am a citizen of a super power now, and I think all of Australia's PM's speak reasonably.

[SICHONSTEVE]

The interesting thing is that people chose to comment on this rather than the very very strong backing the US gave publically to this government and to the notion of civilian government which is not really being touched upon inspite of being highly noticeable.

Do you SERIOUSLY think that dear old Hillary can reveal her true and innermost thoughts on Yingluck's "ugly performance" so far, on the diplomatic and political stage?????.

We have to wait for wiki leaks for that one

THAT!!! might be a tad embarrassing for Yingluck if it did occur, don't you think!!!!!!.

[Jawnie]

Pu-leeeeez. If we start going down the road of criticizing Thai officials' English... OMFG!! Pu-<deleted>'-leeeeez.

There is SOOOOOOO much bad and incorrect English usage among Thai officials and the Thai media, for that matter, that to point out one error is completely laughable.

This is, yet again, another irrelevant and dishonest political smear by The Nation.

[americaninbangkok]

What astonished me was her reference to

" long enjoyed friendships and covert cooperations "

shortly after the overcome gaffe..

So I was not the only one!

I, too, thought I heard her refer to covert cooperations.

Another speechwriter fired.

[joelski123]

First off, she says "welcome" not "overcome" - where did you even get that from? You want her to mess up so bad that you are making things up. And the reason there are 10,000 views isn't because of any mistake she made, it's because it was a video of an important meeting. The notion that there is any comparison to Rick Perry's gaffe is ludicrous.

I don't really care for Yingluck but it's obvious that this is nothing more than a sorry hit job. And really, Nation, clean up your own house first before smugly hurling insults at her English abilities. The English and reporting in your paper is horrendous and the pedantic tone of this article is completely uncalled for. Go out and report some news, stop the gratuitous screeds.

Edited November 19, 2011 by joelski123

[rubl]

Pu-leeeeez. If we start going down the road of criticizing Thai officials' English... OMFG!! Pu-<deleted>'-leeeeez.

There is SOOOOOOO much bad and incorrect English usage among Thai officials and the Thai media, for that matter, that to point out one error is completely laughable.

This is, yet again, another irrelevant and dishonest political smear by The Nation.

I agree with the 'irrelevant' only, not with the 'dishonest'

Edited November 19, 2011 by rubl

[scotbeve]

At 2 minutes. Actually sounds more like she stumbled on 'welcome' as opposed to overcome.

This make a good ads for shool of english in Thailand.

Or for Lionel Logue speech therapist services.

More like Lincoln Logs School of Speech Therapy

Her English was pretty good for a Thai..... Haven't there been other PM's who could,t find their hotel rooms (I still fall on the floor laughing about that one...) or PM's speaking little or no English? I think you'll find the answer to be YES. We all know the state of English usage in Thailand. Give it a break....

[americaninbangkok]

Actually, I think the use of "overcome" is acceptable here.

Of course "G'Day Mate. Awesome!" Would have been more appropriate.

Because Hillary Clinton is secretly Australian?!

No American says "G'Day Mate." unless emulating an Aussie.

Big difference.

Kind of like equating Thailand and Vietnam.

[scotbeve]

Same same. 99% of China, Japanese & Australia PMs don't speak good English if at all. It fact, most have worst English than YS. Yet they are SUPER powers.

Maybe in next PM acceptance citeria, Candidates should required to have a TOEIC 550 cert; just like in many semi-govt companies like PTT & TG.

WOW I am a citizen of a super power now, and I think all of Australia's PM's speak reasonably.

Reasonably what???

[SICHONSTEVE]

What astonished me was her reference to

" long enjoyed friendships and covert cooperations "

shortly after the overcome gaffe..

So I was not the only one!

I, too, thought I heard her refer to covert cooperations.

Another speechwriter fired.

At least she didn't call her Clillary Hinton or refer to The United Soviet Socialist America!!!! or DID SHE?????

[slapout]

When you consider the school the PM attended in the US, just be thankful her standard greeting is not "hay Honkey"

[lannarebirth]

At 2 minutes. Actually sounds more like she stumbled on 'welcome' as opposed to overcome.

This make a good ads for shool of english in Thailand.

Or for Lionel Logue speech therapist services.

More like Lincoln Logs School of Speech Therapy

Her English was pretty good for a Thai..... Haven't there been other PM's who could,t find their hotel rooms (I still fall on the floor laughing about that one...) or PM's speaking little or no English? I think you'll find the answer to be YES. We all know the state of English usage in Thailand. Give it a break....

Actually, I'd agree with you if it weren't for the fact she has received a Masters degree from an American University. I'm trying to think of the level of Thai I would need to graduate from a Thai university with a Masters degree. I imagine it would be a level higher than the average Thai posesses.

[lannarebirth]

When you consider the school the PM attended in the US, just be thankful her standard greeting is not "hay Honkey"

Careful. I got suspended once for pointing that out.

[wxyz]

at least she is not speaking Ebonics

[scotbeve]

Actually, I'd agree with you if it weren't for the fact she has received a Masters degree from an American University. I'm trying to think of the level of Thai I would need to graduate from a Thai university with a Masters degree. I imagine it would be a level higher than the average Thai posesses.

Don't want to stray too far off topic here Lannarebirth but IMHO, institutions of higher learning are not delivering the goods so to speak. I've watched many a graduate, be it Ba, or Masters, and in some instances, doctorates which have not the same or equivalent use of the vernacular as say.... graduates + 30 years ago. I'm American and not bashing this issue, but it's frustrating to see some of these graduates unable to put out a good report. Friends in the UK, Oz, and NZ have implied their frustrations as well... It may be true that the world is dumbing down. I won't get into the spelling issues here....

[TAWP]

At 2 minutes. Actually sounds more like she stumbled on 'welcome' as opposed to overcome.

'all come' - she jumbles up what words she is supposed to say and get list in there.

Yes, it is sad seeing as she studied in the US. But what is more sad is that she is thrown into a situation I am sure she doesn't want to be in. All to help out the family (her brother) in a grand plan to establish a new dynasty.

[Xangsamhua]

Big Deal, so Yingluck pronounced a word wrong. The worse "gaffe" I have heard about is how the new minister of "tourism" of Thailand whose positon is to fly around and promote Thailand in other countries (appointed because of her connectioins with Thaksin) cannot speak the internatioinal language of English.

Well, in my pettifogging way, I like to check these claims. According to the Ministry's website, the Minister for Tourism is Mr Chumpol Silapa-archa (hmm...sounds familiar) and he has an MBA from Syracuse University in New York. You must be thinking of someone else.

[fredlaw]

The discussions people should be thinking about are "what can we do to help those flooded" and not what Ms Yingluck says after learning English in Kentucky. if you happen to visit that State, you'll be lucky to understand anything anyone says there. The drawl is really bad and i know this, cause i lived there before.

[jamstock]

What is everyone going on about? It's clearly a slip of the tongue due to to nerves or whatever. Big deal! About 10 seconds later she actually says the word "welcome" correctly.

[Xangsamhua]

Give her a break. It was welcome, but mispronounced.

I agree, and I have worked in the TEFL/TESL industry for 42 years. She had trouble with the first syllable of the word "welcome". It is a slightly difficult combination of vowel and semi-vowel for a Thai speaker, but she shouldn't have mangled it so much. Other Thai speakers of English seem to manage. It may have just been nerves and lack of confidence, but I think it was just a mispronunciation.

[HeavyDrinker]

I thought she did rather well seeing as she has somewhat had all of this thrust upon her.

It just seems like she's yet to reach the levels of confidence and experience which the other Thai Dips and Hons mentioned in the lead article have reached after decades spent in the field of diplomacy.

It's an unfair comparison in my opinion.

[SICHONSTEVE]

What is everyone going on about? It's clearly a slip of the tongue due to to nerves or whatever. Big deal! About 10 seconds later she actually says the word "welcome" correctly.

"About 10 seconds later she actually says the word "welcome" correctly".

Wow!!! I am dead impressed by this!!!! What professionalism!!

Was this after the 9 seconds thinking...............what the f*** did I just say as they are laughing at me inside (I can tell)??? and what the f*** am I doing here surrounded by all these important people!!!!!.

TAXI for Yingluck!!!!!!!!.

Edited November 19, 2011 by SICHONSTEVE

[Buchholz]

You can bet your life she did better than ANY non Thai politician would do giving even a one minute speach in Thai.

Not if that non-Thai politician had completed a Masters degree at a Thai university in Thai.

.

[Buchholz]

Wonder how much Thai Hirrally has at her command.

An appropriate question if she had completed a Masters degree at a Thai university in Thai.

.