The Alphabet Song

[Totster]

Can anyone post the lyrics to the song the children sing to recite the Thai alphabet ?

totster

[meadish_sweetball]

http://www.learningthai.com/gorgai_poem.htm

Ask and thou shalt receive.

[Guest endure]

Following Meadish's recommendation I've bought myself a copy of 'Teach yourself Thai'. It doesn't teach the alphabet in the same order as they do in Thai schools. Anyone know the reason for this please?

Edited December 28, 2005 by endure

[meadish_sweetball]

The reason is because Smythe's way is smarter. It pays attention to the classes of letters/sounds and what their effect is on tone formation.

Don't worry, it makes good sense and is formulated especially with adult foreigners* in mind, as we face other obstacles and need a different approach than native speaking 5-7 year old kids. (Adults have better analysis skills and are better at distinguishing patterns, whereas the kids have the advantage of already being fluent in the language they are learning to read).

*(more specifically native English speakers, preferably speaking or being familiar with the official formal pronunciation in Southern England, also known as RP, Received Pronunciation)

[Guest endure]

The reason is because Smythe's way is smarter. It pays attention to the classes of letters/sounds and what their effect is on tone formation.

Don't worry, it makes good sense and is formulated especially with adult foreigners*  in mind, as we face other obstacles and need a different approach than native speaking 5-7 year old kids. (Adults have better analysis skills and are better at distinguishing patterns, whereas the kids have the advantage of already being fluent in the language they are learning to read).

*(more specifically native English speakers, preferably speaking or being familiar with the official formal pronunciation in Southern England, also known as RP, Received Pronunciation)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Cheers, Meadish. I'm familiar with RP but, not being a Southern wuss, am fortunate enough not to have to speak it

[Totster]

http://www.learningthai.com/gorgai_poem.htm

Ask and thou shalt receive.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Fantastic.. thanks meadish... now hopefully i can sing along with the little 'uns in the family...

totster

[Guest endure]

They are an epic set of websites. I bet that Nattawud didn't realise just how big it would all get when he started.

[jdinasia]

The remark about the "order" kids learn/recite the alphabet is spot on. Kids in Thailand are inundated with the language from the beginning.

As an adult you learn by classes that tell you how to pronounce the words. Chances are the kids pronounce it right already! As well as learning in an order that helps you pronounce Thai correctly tonally .... you can spell much of what you hear. when you learn by class.

[Jack Jones]

Also available in the Becker advanced book/CD set I believe

[gburns57au]

http://www.learningthai.com/gorgai_poem.htm

Ask and thou shalt receive.

The translation in that is BS.....

[meadish_sweetball]

That's interesting. Do you have a link to better translations of the alphabet rhyme/song - so far that's the only one I have been able to find online.

Which ones in particular do you think are bad?

[gburns57au]

That's interesting. Do you have a link to better translations of the alphabet rhyme/song - so far that's the only one I have been able to find online.

Which ones in particular do you think are bad?

Most of them....

Click on the individual characters and listen closely to the speaker pronouncing the words....and read the English version of the words, there are very subtle but distinct differences.

Mor Mon Tho stands out but there are others. If you have a read through them you will find them.