Govt Raps WSJ Criticism Of PM Yingluck's Thai-Language Speech

[jayboy]

Margaret Thatcher attained a BSc from Oxford University.

No she didn't but it's a common mistake among all you non Oxbridge types.Despite studing chemistry (or reading chemistry as we used to say at the varsity, Yoshiwara) she graduated as Bachelor of Arts later upgraded in the usual Oxbridge manner to Master of Arts (without the necessity of further examinations).

[longway]

The problem with having a translator, as they most likely rightly surmised beforehand, is that people can then ask questions through the translator that she is unable to answer. Safer to just give a speech in Thai and handout in Japanese.

You seem to be unfamiliar with Japanese business etiquette.It would not be normal or even good manners to grill a visting and friendly VIP.No the answer to this rather commonplace and over discussed matter is just old fashioned cockup by Thai officials.

One that was highlighted by the FM by his interesting over-reaction to a rather commonplace article in the WSJ, and look how much is read into it by a member who purports himself to have special access to red shirt opinion, he makes it seem like people are being kept in a state of paranoid hysteria on purpose.

I said nothing about any grilling, is answering a question or 2 so hard for her? Well yes it is.

Edited March 11, 2012 by longway

[Buchholz]

Wall Street Journal reporter Eleanor Warnock wrote in a Thursday article headlined "Some Japanese still in the dark over Thailand's flood plan" that Yingluck made her seven-minute speech to the hundred-strong audience without any accompanying translation. This left many of the attending business leaders wondering quite what she was talking about and "awkwardly scanning their handouts for clues", the report said.

"With a Japanese-language copy of her speech already handed out to an eager audience, Ms Yingluck arrived to make her big pitch - in Thai," the report said, referring to the PM's bid to win back the confidence of Japanese businesses hit by last year's devastating floods.

The report also noted that US-educated Yingluck could have chosen to speak in English. "It could be, though, that Ms Yingluck wasn't entirely confident in English. A video of her greeting visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Thailand last year by saying 'overcome' instead of 'welcome' got heavy play on YouTube," wrote the reporter.

Not exactly supportive of her Education Ministry's 2012 English Speaking Year.

Shame that with her background she's decided not to be the role model for her own Cabinet Minister's program.

Thai students decreed to speak English

Thailand's Education Ministry has decreed 2012 as English Speaking Year in all schools. The project requires students to speak the language at least one day a week, to prepare the kingdom for ASEAN integration in 2015. Thai students study English from their very first day of school.

But internationally, Thai students came 116th out of 163 countries on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test.

Many enter the work force unable to communicate at even a basic level. In 2015, when the ASEAN Economic Community comes into effect, there are concerns jobs will quickly go to foreign nationals with superior English skills and not to Thais.

Although the Thai Education Ministry has declared 2012 an English-speaking year across all schools in the country, implementation of this project may be very difficult indeed.

Continues:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southeastasia/view/1179411/1/.html

Channel News Asia - January 27, 2012

[Xangsamhua]

Margaret Thatcher attained a BSc from Oxford University.

No she didn't.Despite studying chemistry,she graduated as a Bachelor of Arts which was upgraded in the usual Oxford manner to Master of Arts (no additional examinations).

Thanks for the correction. Wikipedia has let me down.

[yoshiwara]

Margaret Thatcher attained a BSc from Oxford University.

No she didn't but it's a common mistake among all you non Oxbridge types.Despite studing chemistry (or reading chemistry as we used to say at the varsity, Yoshiwara) she graduated as Bachelor of Arts later upgraded in the usual Oxbridge manner to Master of Arts (without the necessity of further examinations).

I guess the Thaksin apologist forum crew need one or two pompus prigs on their team. Still wanting to flash the label around and at the same time railing against the so-called Thai elite who you will tomorrow undoubtedly accuse of doing the very same thing. Pot calling the kettle black. All a bit sad really.

Edited March 12, 2012 by yoshiwara

[nocturn]

The Wall Street Journal is not a auxiliary organ or partner of the Thai Opposition no matter what our 'Canadian Member' would like to imply.

They could have had simultaneous Thai to Japanese translating like the UN.

It's not like that wouldn't be in budget at this level.

Bottom line the pre-handout was deemed inadequate.

How can you judge facial and body language of the speaker,

when you spend most of the time reading the hand out?

This is a big point for most Japanese business people.

Agreed, the WSJ is not an auxiliary of the Thai Opposition.

But they print what their Thai reps. send them, and their Thai reps circulate primarily in the Thai Amart world - the Opposition.

My European contacts often send me their local political articles about Thailand. The themes and even direct commentary parrots much of the Thai Oposition media.

And it is no problem for them. Their foreign audiences have enough political problems of their own and have no desire to delve into Thai politics to any depth, so it is easy for foreign reporters here. They can do minimal primary research, paraphrase or quote their fellow Thai reporters, and voila, they earn their exorbitant salaries.

Besides, to penetrate that PTP/UDD/Red Shirt unilingual world, which primarily resides outside BKK, is difficult.

Also, I note my friend Animatic's comments about this incident are primarily 'process' oriented, as opposed to content.

Exactly the intent of this article.

exhorbitant salaries? do you know many journos?

[jayboy]

Margaret Thatcher attained a BSc from Oxford University.

No she didn't but it's a common mistake among all you non Oxbridge types.Despite studing chemistry (or reading chemistry as we used to say at the varsity, Yoshiwara) she graduated as Bachelor of Arts later upgraded in the usual Oxbridge manner to Master of Arts (without the necessity of further examinations).

I guess the Thaksin apologist forum crew need one or two pompus prigs on their team. Still wanting to flash the label around and at the same time railing against the so-called Thai elite who you will tomorrow undoubtedly accuse of doing the very same thing. Pot calling the kettle black. All a bit sad really.

Speaking as a "pompus" prig, even the dimmest bulb surely understands the varsity shtick is just that - self mocking and not to be taken seriously.

The rest of your post has me rather baffled.Are you suggesting that well educated people cannot criticise other well educated people? Actually the unelected elites in Thailand are not that well educated as a rule - though of course there are many exceptions.

[billd766]

Margaret Thatcher attained a BSc from Oxford University.

No she didn't but it's a common mistake among all you non Oxbridge types.Despite studing chemistry (or reading chemistry as we used to say at the varsity, Yoshiwara) she graduated as Bachelor of Arts later upgraded in the usual Oxbridge manner to Master of Arts (without the necessity of further examinations).

I guess the Thaksin apologist forum crew need one or two pompus prigs on their team. Still wanting to flash the label around and at the same time railing against the so-called Thai elite who you will tomorrow undoubtedly accuse of doing the very same thing. Pot calling the kettle black. All a bit sad really.

Speaking as a "pompus" prig, even the dimmest bulb surely understands the varsity shtick is just that - self mocking and not to be taken seriously.

The rest of your post has me rather baffled.Are you suggesting that well educated people cannot criticise other well educated people? Actually the unelected elites in Thailand are not that well educated as a rule - though of course there are many exceptions.

I went to Wikipedia to look up Margaret Roberts (as she was then) at University and found this..

Roberts attended Huntingtower Road Primary School and won a scholarship to Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School.^[7] Her school reports showed hard work and continual improvement; her extracurricular activities included the piano, field hockey, poetry recitals, swimming and walking.^[8][9] She was head girl in 1942–43.^[10] In her upper sixth year she applied for a scholarship to study chemistry at Somerville College, Oxford but was initially rejected, and was offered a place only after another candidate withdrew.^[11][12] She arrived at Oxford in 1943 and graduated in 1947 with Second Class Honours in the four-year Chemistry Bachelor of Science degree; in her final year she specialised in X-ray crystallography under the supervision of Dorothy Hodgkin.^[13][14]

So I guess that unless Wikipedia is wrong then I assume that she actually did get a BSc in Chemistry and not as suggested a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Edited March 13, 2012 by billd766

[jayboy]

I went to Wikipedia to look up Margaret Roberts (as she was then) at University and found this..

Roberts attended Huntingtower Road Primary School and won a scholarship to Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School.^[7] Her school reports showed hard work and continual improvement; her extracurricular activities included the piano, field hockey, poetry recitals, swimming and walking.^[8][9] She was head girl in 1942–43.^[10] In her upper sixth year she applied for a scholarship to study chemistry at Somerville College, Oxford but was initially rejected, and was offered a place only after another candidate withdrew.^[11][12] She arrived at Oxford in 1943 and graduated in 1947 with Second Class Honours in the four-year Chemistry Bachelor of Science degree; in her final year she specialised in X-ray crystallography under the supervision of Dorothy Hodgkin.^[13][14]

So I guess that unless Wikipedia is wrong then I assume that she actually did get a BSc in Chemistry and not as suggested a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Margaret Thatcher graduated as a Bachelor of Arts.The Bachelor of Science degree (which no longer exists) is the equivalent ofthe modern M.Sc, a post graduate degree.

Still at least you know now not to rely on Wikipedia, something for Yoshiwara's benefit we never did at the varsity.We were too busy invading and trashing the rooms of skulking state educated students.Happy days!

[phiphidon]

I went to Wikipedia to look up Margaret Roberts (as she was then) at University and found this..

Roberts attended Huntingtower Road Primary School and won a scholarship to Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School.^[7] Her school reports showed hard work and continual improvement; her extracurricular activities included the piano, field hockey, poetry recitals, swimming and walking.^[8][9] She was head girl in 1942–43.^[10] In her upper sixth year she applied for a scholarship to study chemistry at Somerville College, Oxford but was initially rejected, and was offered a place only after another candidate withdrew.^[11][12] She arrived at Oxford in 1943 and graduated in 1947 with Second Class Honours in the four-year Chemistry Bachelor of Science degree; in her final year she specialised in X-ray crystallography under the supervision of Dorothy Hodgkin.^[13][14]

So I guess that unless Wikipedia is wrong then I assume that she actually did get a BSc in Chemistry and not as suggested a Bachelor of Arts degree.

She certainly did not study Industrial Relations, that I am sure of.

[billd766]

I went to Wikipedia to look up Margaret Roberts (as she was then) at University and found this..

Roberts attended Huntingtower Road Primary School and won a scholarship to Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School.^[7] Her school reports showed hard work and continual improvement; her extracurricular activities included the piano, field hockey, poetry recitals, swimming and walking.^[8][9] She was head girl in 1942–43.^[10] In her upper sixth year she applied for a scholarship to study chemistry at Somerville College, Oxford but was initially rejected, and was offered a place only after another candidate withdrew.^[11][12] She arrived at Oxford in 1943 and graduated in 1947 with Second Class Honours in the four-year Chemistry Bachelor of Science degree; in her final year she specialised in X-ray crystallography under the supervision of Dorothy Hodgkin.^[13][14]

So I guess that unless Wikipedia is wrong then I assume that she actually did get a BSc in Chemistry and not as suggested a Bachelor of Arts degree.

She certainly did not study Industrial Relations, that I am sure of.

Neither did Arthur Scargill nor any other Union official at the time.

[phiphidon]

I went to Wikipedia to look up Margaret Roberts (as she was then) at University and found this..

Roberts attended Huntingtower Road Primary School and won a scholarship to Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School.^[7] Her school reports showed hard work and continual improvement; her extracurricular activities included the piano, field hockey, poetry recitals, swimming and walking.^[8][9] She was head girl in 1942–43.^[10] In her upper sixth year she applied for a scholarship to study chemistry at Somerville College, Oxford but was initially rejected, and was offered a place only after another candidate withdrew.^[11][12] She arrived at Oxford in 1943 and graduated in 1947 with Second Class Honours in the four-year Chemistry Bachelor of Science degree; in her final year she specialised in X-ray crystallography under the supervision of Dorothy Hodgkin.^[13][14]

So I guess that unless Wikipedia is wrong then I assume that she actually did get a BSc in Chemistry and not as suggested a Bachelor of Arts degree.

She certainly did not study Industrial Relations, that I am sure of.

Neither did Arthur Scargill nor any other Union official at the time.

Debateable, but not here unfortunately. One last word, Orgreave.http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/content/articles/2009/03/02/lesley_boulton_orgreave_photo_feature.shtml

[yoshiwara]

Margaret Thatcher attained a BSc from Oxford University.

No she didn't but it's a common mistake among all you non Oxbridge types.Despite studing chemistry (or reading chemistry as we used to say at the varsity, Yoshiwara) she graduated as Bachelor of Arts later upgraded in the usual Oxbridge manner to Master of Arts (without the necessity of further examinations).

I guess the Thaksin apologist forum crew need one or two pompus prigs on their team. Still wanting to flash the label around and at the same time railing against the so-called Thai elite who you will tomorrow undoubtedly accuse of doing the very same thing. Pot calling the kettle black. All a bit sad really.

Speaking as a "pompus" prig, even the dimmest bulb surely understands the varsity shtick is just that - self mocking and not to be taken seriously.

The rest of your post has me rather baffled.Are you suggesting that well educated people cannot criticise other well educated people? Actually the unelected elites in Thailand are not that well educated as a rule - though of course there are many exceptions.

Even the dimmest light-bulb would shine through that. Varsity shtick? Give me a break. How old are you? 19?

I think I would rather listen to Yingluck. Maybe she would make more sense. Even in Thai.

[jayboy]

Even the dimmest light-bulb would shine through that. Varsity shtick? Give me a break. How old are you? 19?

I think I would rather listen to Yingluck. Maybe she would make more sense. Even in Thai.

It's probably not the most sophisticated or mature line of japery ever broadcast for the forum's edification.

But when the little fish (with accompanying chips) rises so unfailingly for the bait it's hard to resist.But you're right of course - time to cease and desist.

However it's instructive to note , in the context of this thread, how those in the lead at taking the mick of the PM's provincial accent and manners are the most sensitive when their own educational and social credentials are called into question.However we would all be well advised to remember that that it's just an anonymous internet forum - where anybody can pretend to be somebody.

[MEL1]

All the linguistic issues aside, the real issue here is how did the Japanese business community respond to Thailand's pitch about its future flood control measures?

Unfortunately, the news post in this thread gives absolutely no clue on that issue, which will help determine whether lots of Japanese manufacturing companies keep their operations here in Thailand with all their employment of Thai workers.

If I were a Japanese corporate exec, I wouldn't bet two cents on the Thai government's actual ability to protect my facility from anything, floods including. But it would be nice to know what the Japanese themselves think about YL's pitch.

Well you see.... ahum...... there's a slight problem here.

Normally when one gives a speech, at the end of it one invites questions and opinions.

I need not go further into how LingYuck could not have coped with that one.

-mel.

[MEL1]

I went to Wikipedia to look up Margaret Roberts (as she was then) at University and found this..

Roberts attended Huntingtower Road Primary School and won a scholarship to Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School.^[7] Her school reports showed hard work and continual improvement; her extracurricular activities included the piano, field hockey, poetry recitals, swimming and walking.^[8][9] She was head girl in 1942–43.^[10] In her upper sixth year she applied for a scholarship to study chemistry at Somerville College, Oxford but was initially rejected, and was offered a place only after another candidate withdrew.^[11][12] She arrived at Oxford in 1943 and graduated in 1947 with Second Class Honours in the four-year Chemistry Bachelor of Science degree; in her final year she specialised in X-ray crystallography under the supervision of Dorothy Hodgkin.^[13][14]

So I guess that unless Wikipedia is wrong then I assume that she actually did get a BSc in Chemistry and not as suggested a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Margaret Thatcher graduated as a Bachelor of Arts.The Bachelor of Science degree (which no longer exists) is the equivalent ofthe modern M.Sc, a post graduate degree.

Still at least you know now not to rely on Wikipedia, something for Yoshiwara's benefit we never did at the varsity.We were too busy invading and trashing the rooms of skulking state educated students.Happy days!

So not only are you a toff, but a racist toff!

I'd like to see you walk the streets of Liverpool at 11pm holding your own, whilst touting state educated scum!...

-mel.

[FOODLOVER]

Is a toff like a scouser? I learn so much here.

[Sing_Sling]

All the linguistic issues aside, the real issue here is how did the Japanese business community respond to Thailand's pitch about its future flood control measures?

Unfortunately, the news post in this thread gives absolutely no clue on that issue, which will help determine whether lots of Japanese manufacturing companies keep their operations here in Thailand with all their employment of Thai workers.

If I were a Japanese corporate exec, I wouldn't bet two cents on the Thai government's actual ability to protect my facility from anything, floods including. But it would be nice to know what the Japanese themselves think about YL's pitch.

Well you see.... ahum...... there's a slight problem here.

Normally when one gives a speech, at the end of it one invites questions and opinions.

I need not go further into how LingYuck could not have coped with that one.

-mel.

All the linguistic issues aside, the real issue here is how did the Japanese business community respond to Thailand's pitch about its future flood control measures?

Unfortunately, the news post in this thread gives absolutely no clue on that issue, which will help determine whether lots of Japanese manufacturing companies keep their operations here in Thailand with all their employment of Thai workers.

If I were a Japanese corporate exec, I wouldn't bet two cents on the Thai government's actual ability to protect my facility from anything, floods including. But it would be nice to know what the Japanese themselves think about YL's pitch.

Well you see.... ahum...... there's a slight problem here.

Normally when one gives a speech, at the end of it one invites questions and opinions.

I need not go further into how LingYuck could not have coped with that one.

-mel.

Not quite true. It depends on the context the speech is given in - some invite questions, most don't. PR is what this was

[rubl]

Is a toff like a scouser? I learn so much here.

"In British English slang, a toff is a mildly derogatory term for someone with an aristocratic background or belonging to the landed gentry, particularly someone who exudes an air of superiority. For instance, The Toff, a character from the series of adventure novels by John Creasey is an upper-class crime sleuth, who uses a common caricature of a toff - a line drawing with a top hat, monocle, bow-tie and cigarette with a holder - as his calling card."

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

"Scouse (/ˈskaʊs/) is an accent and dialect of English found primarily in the Metropolitan county of Merseyside, and closely associated with the city of Liverpool and the adjoining urban areas such as the boroughs of south Sefton, Knowsley and the Wirral. The accent is known to be as far reaching as Flintshire in Wales, and Runcorn and Skelmersdale in Cheshire and Lancashire respectively.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][}"

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

Being a genuine Dutch uncle I keep saying English is a funny language. I once told a Liverpudlian friend he should learn English ... after buying him a beer

[swillowbee]

Who cares what PM Yingluck said! ... what was she wearing?!