Why Do Thais Get Angry When Corrected On Their English?

[Kilgore Trout]

Think of it this way. "Farang" doesn't mean "white person." it means "foreigner" that isn't Asian, African or Middle Eastern (Although middle easterners are still sometimes called farang)

Seems like a lot of conditions put on a definition

Here is the real test; if a "white westerner" gets Thai citizenship (which handfuls of people have) then are they no longer considered a "farang?"

I think any Thai would tell you "I don't care where their passport is from, that person is a 'falang' full stop.

So, logically, it is impossible for the word to mean "foreigner" full stop.

[Johnniey]

The Thai speaking does not have race in his or her mind when they speak it. It just so happens that most foreigners in Thailand are white. The fact that other Asian

nationalities are broken up according to nationality is more evidence that Thai's don't make the distinction along racial lines: "Chin, Yippoon, Kemphuche, Burmese", etc. These are all the same race, Asian. Blacks are referred to as "farang dahm" and I am pretty sure that doesn't mean "Black white guy."

I disagree - the Thai often has race on his mind when saying 'farang'.

Most foreigners in Thailand are not white.

Jeen, Yeepoon etc are all the same race? The human race.

Thais use many terms for black people but very rarely 'farang dam'.

I've never heard the term "farang dam" before; I could see someone calling someone that if they knew the person was from a western country; but I assure you that term is rarely used if ever. Black people are not "farangs," full stop.

Also, Thais think and act in very racial terms; if you don't know this then you don't have much experience here, which clearly you don't. This is not a slur in any respect; just stating the facts.

I've heard it once (farang dum) and I think, as you say, it was a group of backpackers in Khao San Road.

[Johnniey]

Think of it this way. "Farang" doesn't mean "white person." it means "foreigner" that isn't Asian, African or Middle Eastern (Although middle easterners are still sometimes called farang)

Seems like a lot of conditions put on a definition

Here is the real test; if a "white westerner" gets Thai citizenship (which handfuls of people have) then are they no longer considered a "farang?"

I think any Thai would tell you "I don't care where their passport is from, that person is a 'falang' full stop.

So, logically, it is impossible for the word to mean "foreigner" full stop.

I can only assume the guy who said this hasn't been here long. Farang DOES mean white person.

Middle Easterners are called "Kaek Khao" or simply "Kaek"

[kerryk]

Joe you owe it to yourself to read some of the 1694 threads on Thai Visa on the meaning of the word Farang. My personal favorite is the 220 threads on; if it should be pronounced Farang or Falang. JT was stellar on that one. Next to Sinsot threads, "The meaning of the word Farang" is a close second for sheer volume of words written.

Yeah I have read, even participated in some of those threads. People have some interesting notions of what the word means. I do not consider the ThaiVisa posters to be either educated on the topic nor representative of the overall population of foriegners living in Thailand. Most the foreigners I meet in Thailand appear far more educated and reasonable than the majority of Thaivisa posters. Bit I do cringe every time a mate of mine, here 10 years now and speaks Thai quite well, says "Fuh-Rang" even though he admits it's incorrect. Ugg. Correct transliteration is "farang." Correct pronunciation is "FUH-long."

Sowe I hab took so long to answer. But quick quick you have got to tell Jing Thing!!! You know JT that legendary Thai Visa poster and keeper of all the collective knowledge of things he thinks he is an expert in including the correct pronunciation of the word Farang.

He has been saying it wrong all these years he has been in Thailand. Imagine the chagrin actually the chagrin of all of us who thought he was right.

For gosh sake tell him the right way to say it immediately and let his shame cease.

[mrjohndub]

Good luck using 'homely' and having most Americans understand it without having to think about it for a hot second.

Try 'busted', 'beat', or 'fugly' to get results.

[NomadJoe]

Good luck using 'homely' and having most Americans understand it without having to think about it for a hot second.

Try 'busted', 'beat', or 'fugly' to get results.

Never heard of busted or beat to describe an ugly person.

Well if you have never heard of it, perhaps "homely" is a mid-western term then. I recall it being used by my mother, and possibly her mother, when I was growing up.

[StreetCowboy]

Joe you owe it to yourself to read some of the 1694 threads on Thai Visa on the meaning of the word Farang. My personal favorite is the 220 threads on; if it should be pronounced Farang or Falang. JT was stellar on that one. Next to Sinsot threads, "The meaning of the word Farang" is a close second for sheer volume of words written.

Yeah I have read, even participated in some of those threads. People have some interesting notions of what the word means. I do not consider the ThaiVisa posters to be either educated on the topic nor representative of the overall population of foriegners living in Thailand. Most the foreigners I meet in Thailand appear far more educated and reasonable than the majority of Thaivisa posters. Bit I do cringe every time a mate of mine, here 10 years now and speaks Thai quite well, says "Fuh-Rang" even though he admits it's incorrect. Ugg. Correct transliteration is "farang." Correct pronunciation is "FUH-long."

Sowe I hab took so long to answer. But quick quick you have got to tell Jing Thing!!! You know JT that legendary Thai Visa poster and keeper of all the collective knowledge of things he thinks he is an expert in including the correct pronunciation of the word Farang.

He has been saying it wrong all these years he has been in Thailand. Imagine the chagrin actually the chagrin of all of us who thought he was right.

For gosh sake tell him the right way to say it immediately and let his shame cease.

Good Job, Kerry.

You've illustrated precisely why Thais get angry.

"I know farang say "April" but I cannot say "April" it always comes out "Aprin".

I Struggle to say "I should like to order the same dish as well" so I say "same same me"

You understand. I understand. I don't care how you think I should speak, and I do not care if you say "farang" or "fahlang" or "furlong" or "8 Chains"

So you no collect me, na khap?"

Please, for the sake of the internet, and all the people trying to download porn, can we leave off the discussion of "farang"?

SC

[Johnniey]

I've found that Thai people get more upset when I refuse to speak English with them if my Thai is better than their English, which happens quite often these days.

[kerryk]

Joe you owe it to yourself to read some of the 1694 threads on Thai Visa on the meaning of the word Farang. My personal favorite is the 220 threads on; if it should be pronounced Farang or Falang. JT was stellar on that one. Next to Sinsot threads, "The meaning of the word Farang" is a close second for sheer volume of words written.

Yeah I have read, even participated in some of those threads. People have some interesting notions of what the word means. I do not consider the ThaiVisa posters to be either educated on the topic nor representative of the overall population of foriegners living in Thailand. Most the foreigners I meet in Thailand appear far more educated and reasonable than the majority of Thaivisa posters. Bit I do cringe every time a mate of mine, here 10 years now and speaks Thai quite well, says "Fuh-Rang" even though he admits it's incorrect. Ugg. Correct transliteration is "farang." Correct pronunciation is "FUH-long."

Sowe I hab took so long to answer. But quick quick you have got to tell Jing Thing!!! You know JT that legendary Thai Visa poster and keeper of all the collective knowledge of things he thinks he is an expert in including the correct pronunciation of the word Farang.

He has been saying it wrong all these years he has been in Thailand. Imagine the chagrin actually the chagrin of all of us who thought he was right.

For gosh sake tell him the right way to say it immediately and let his shame cease.

Good Job, Kerry.

You've illustrated precisely why Thais get angry.

"I know farang say "April" but I cannot say "April" it always comes out "Aprin".

I Struggle to say "I should like to order the same dish as well" so I say "same same me"

You understand. I understand. I don't care how you think I should speak, and I do not care if you say "farang" or "fahlang" or "furlong" or "8 Chains"

So you no collect me, na khap?"

Please, for the sake of the internet, and all the people trying to download porn, can we leave off the discussion of "farang"?

SC

But JT and No Joe might be a classic!

[cooked]

I've found that Thai people get more upset when I refuse to speak English with them if my Thai is better than their English, which happens quite often these days.

In an ideal world, each person would try to speak the language of the other. However if you do that there will be less possibilty of helping out with each other's little FUs.

Why worry? We used to find ourselves talking three or more languages at the dinner table and the only people that had problems with it were the English. This isn't meant as a derogatory comment about the Anglo-Saxons; they rarely hear other languages as they are growing up and so don't have the habit of 'listening to', instead of just hearing, speach. I must admit that this may no longer be true in my home town of Leicester, UK....

(40% 'other mother tongue than English' I believe)

[Berkshire]

I've found that Thai people get more upset when I refuse to speak English with them if my Thai is better than their English, which happens quite often these days.

Sorry, but I find this hard to believe. I've never had a Thai person be anything but appreciative when I try to speak Thai.

[ARISTIDE]

May be she likes you

[WebBangkok]

Never had this problem, not once, maybe you came across as an ass but you didnt mean to be? I have no idea.

[WebBangkok]

I've found that Thai people get more upset when I refuse to speak English with them if my Thai is better than their English, which happens quite often these days.

I also found that some foreigners get upset when Thai's can't speak English well. lol Like the dud I mentioned in another thread in McDonalds losing it at all the staff because he has been in Thailand for 15 years and none of them can speak English in an American restaurant.

[Johnniey]

I've found that Thai people get more upset when I refuse to speak English with them if my Thai is better than their English, which happens quite often these days.

Sorry, but I find this hard to believe. I've never had a Thai person be anything but appreciative when I try to speak Thai.

It usually happens with educated Thais that think their English is good. The worst are doctors, especially at the expensive hospitals like Bamrungrad. Once there with my wife, the doc refused to talk with me in Thai - he'd talk to my wife in Thai then translate for me, When I spoke to him in Thai(for my wife's benefit, he'd answer me in English then tell her in Thai - what an idiot.

[Johnniey]

I've found that Thai people get more upset when I refuse to speak English with them if my Thai is better than their English, which happens quite often these days.

I also found that some foreigners get upset when Thai's can't speak English well. lol Like the dud I mentioned in another thread in McDonalds losing it at all the staff because he has been in Thailand for 15 years and none of them can speak English in an American restaurant.

I was sitting next to a guy at TRUE internet today. I asked him where he was from as I recognised a Scots accent. He said, "Thailand, I've been here for 13 years". The plonker then got into difficulties with the staff as he couldn't speak any Thai apart from :mai ow krap.

I was so tempted to go up and say, "I'm from Scotland, can I help you as I speak Thai"

Edited July 10, 2012 by Johnniey

[hookedondhamma]

I've found that Thai people get more upset when I refuse to speak English with them if my Thai is better than their English, which happens quite often these days.

I also found that some foreigners get upset when Thai's can't speak English well. lol Like the dud I mentioned in another thread in McDonalds losing it at all the staff because he has been in Thailand for 15 years and none of them can speak English in an American restaurant.

I was sitting next to a guy at TRUE internet today. I asked him where he was from as I recognised a Scots accent. He said, "Thailand, I've been here for 13 years". The plonker then got into difficulties with the staff as he couldn't speak any Thai apart from :mai ow krap.

I was so tempted to go up and say, "I'm from Scotland, can I help you as I speak Thai"

Who knows, he'd probably been asked that question many times over (if he'd been in Thailand for 13 years), and more than likely wanted to stop any further conversation with a bogus answer. In other words, he probably just didn't feel like talking to anyone and just wanted to get business done and leave (which didn't go over so well apparently).

[hookedondhamma]

I've found that Thai people get more upset when I refuse to speak English with them if my Thai is better than their English, which happens quite often these days.

Sorry, but I find this hard to believe. I've never had a Thai person be anything but appreciative when I try to speak Thai.

It usually happens with educated Thais that think their English is good. The worst are doctors, especially at the expensive hospitals like Bamrungrad. Once there with my wife, the doc refused to talk with me in Thai - he'd talk to my wife in Thai then translate for me, When I spoke to him in Thai(for my wife's benefit, he'd answer me in English then tell her in Thai - what an idiot.

Sorry about that John; sometimes no matter how fluent you are, if you do not have the 'Thai' look your language skills will always fly over the heads of some - of course not with all, but some. It's happened to me quite a bit as well. More interesting when they ask your friend where you come from, do you speak Thai etc. etc. right in front of you, ignoring the fact that your friend had already told the inquirer to ask you directly, as you speak Thai.

I must say, it has helped me with learning a new level of patience, and for that I'm thankful.

[Johnniey]

I've found that Thai people get more upset when I refuse to speak English with them if my Thai is better than their English, which happens quite often these days.

Sorry, but I find this hard to believe. I've never had a Thai person be anything but appreciative when I try to speak Thai.

It usually happens with educated Thais that think their English is good. The worst are doctors, especially at the expensive hospitals like Bamrungrad. Once there with my wife, the doc refused to talk with me in Thai - he'd talk to my wife in Thai then translate for me, When I spoke to him in Thai(for my wife's benefit, he'd answer me in English then tell her in Thai - what an idiot.

Sorry about that John; sometimes no matter how fluent you are, if you do not have the 'Thai' look your language skills will always fly over the heads of some - of course not with all, but some. It's happened to me quite a bit as well. More interesting when they ask your friend where you come from, do you speak Thai etc. etc. right in front of you, ignoring the fact that your friend had already told the inquirer to ask you directly, as you speak Thai.

I must say, it has helped me with learning a new level of patience, and for that I'm thankful.

Quite - how could we develop spiritually without such happenings. Maybe, as your name suggests, you know the story about the Indian Buddhist master who went to Tibet. He had heard that all Tibetans were kind agreeable people - so he took the most annoying person he knew with him as a servant.

[n00b]

no sorry, this one (pointing at the iron), is pronounced, EYE-EN, do not say the R",

Actually if she said i-urn she is closer than you .............

Listen before you write. According to this video iron is pronounced "aɪəɳ" or if you don't have IPA symbols available "ajoern".

[krisb]

I find it down right rude to correct someones English when its not an English speaking country.

She should have thrown the iron at you.

How bout you learn Thai.

[DocN]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDFogjXdIVc&feature=related

I taught this lady English.

Oh god...I am in pain with laughter now! "Please give me coke"....say that to me, baby!

[farang000999]

dont ever correct a thai about anything.

[tinfoilhat]

i have never known a thai to get angry about having their pronunciation corrected in an appropriate manner under appropriate circumstances.

I have know thais to become annoyed with <deleted> who are wrong.

EYE-YEN my ass

Edited November 13, 2012 by tinfoilhat

[DocN]

I try to understand their English as far as I possibly can.

Sometimes I just don't get it and when I finally understand, I laugh and try -in a lighthearted manner- to correct!

Anyways, their English is mostly better than my Thai.

I am here 5 years, but I find it EXTREMELY difficult to learn!

[Murf]

Someone needs to iron out a few problems with their language skillz.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

I earn $10 an hour

iron - $10 an hour

Yep, 'bout right. . .

Edited November 13, 2012 by BigJohnnyBKK

[Thailand2012]

The way you described your conversation with this women, sounds as if you are being patronizing.

Near where I live, there is this shop owner, and one day when I was in his shop, the guy had the same attitude with me when I was trying my very best to converse with him in my basic Thai. I actually appreciate when Thai people try to teach me Thai words and meanings, but this guy was just completely condescending and after a few minutes the urge to smack him in the face was becoming overwhelming.

I always make allowances for Thai people that speak extremely basic or bad English and hope for vice versa when I converse in my basic Thai.

Why not try and converse in Thai instead? After all, we are in Thailand.

you should of smacked in the face with an iron 555

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Sorry, but I find this hard to believe. I've never had a Thai person be anything but appreciative when I try to speak Thai.

Maybe you just don't spot the more subtle signs, but try this context:

Big-faced bossman or the person in an office who is supposed to be a "fluent" English speaker just because they speak it a little better than the rest of them.

Your job is to pretend that you understand more than 30% of the gibberish coming out of their mouth so all their co-workers can be suitably impressed.

However being a noob fool you don't realize this, and make it obvious to everyone that this respected puyai's English level actually sucks, and he loses face big-time.

He's very very unhappy, but of course remains superficially polite, and you, being a clueless noob, have no idea just how much offense you just caused.

If this really is a new scenario for you, you just haven't got out and about among the "educated" Thais much, and now you understand why a farang showing up can cause so much panic.

Try walking into a parent-teacher mixer function at the expensive "International/English Programme" Thai schools, and watch all the Thai "English teachers" that don't actually have a clue run for cover, hilarious!

When you actually let them know (so discreetly they don't have to explicitly acknowledge it) that you understand the issues and won't blow their cover, you can literally hear the sighs of relief, and suddenly you're a most popular fellow again. . .

Edited November 13, 2012 by BigJohnnyBKK

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Good luck using 'homely' and having most Americans understand it without having to think about it for a hot second.

Try 'busted', 'beat', or 'fugly' to get results.

I'm a Yank - coastal, never been to the mid-west other than Chicago and "homely" is certainly a normal word AFAIC, traditionally used when trying to be polite about someone's unattractiveness, kind of like calling the fat kid "chunky".

I believe it used to actually mean something positive as in pertaining to domesticity? But maybe that's on the other side of the pond. . .

Off to google. . .

==============

Edit - the latter positive meaning's the UK one, in the US it just means fugly.

Edited November 13, 2012 by BigJohnnyBKK