They sell only 1 thing but get confused when you order it?

[TheSpade]

This ever happen to anyone else...

You go to a street stall that literally sells one thing, in tonights case grilled pork on a stick, and nothing else. Literally nothing.

You order (in Thai) and you get a confused look back from the seller as if they don't understand what you are asking them even though it can only be one thing.

You ask again in Thai and even do some hand actions by pointing at the meat and signalling one and you still get the stare as if they have no idea what you are on about.

Eventually you do get what you wanted but it takes a few minutes of communicating for what should have been a very quick transaction.

This doesn't happen all the time but maybe once every 2 weeks or so and I wonder if they aren't just having a right laugh at me when I leave with their mates.

Anyone else or is it just me having the piss taken out of?

[NCC1701A]

happens to me in France all the time.

[wooloomooloo]

OP - you're too sentimental. Nobody's having a laugh at you.

Maybe your Thai isn't so great. Relax.

[I Like Thai]

She probably wonders why you always try to place the order about 5 or 6 times, in Thai, in English and also using hand gestures. Silly farang, can he not see we only sell one thing

[TheSpade]

Sentimental?

I don't care that it happens I find it amusing hence why I posted it. Hence the smiley face.

Bad Thai or not....what else can I be asking them when they only sell grilled pork and I'm pointing at the grilled pork and saying in Thai "one grilled pork please" whilst signalling 1 with my finger.

[wooloomooloo]

The vendor could construe your wild gestures as that of a vegetarian.

Nothing to get excited about.

[TheSpade]

The vendor could construe your wild gestures as that of a vegetarian.

Nothing to get excited about.

Wild gestures?

First attempt was literally spoken Thai with no gestures....total confused look, no action, no speech.

Wait about 30 seconds with her staring at me with that confused look until I think I better try again as she's not doing anything except looking seriously confused.

[wooloomooloo]

I've personal experience of this very situation. When your average Thai looks confused, it's because they're confused. They laugh through the stress of trying to understand.

It's no big deal.

[kurnell]

I think it's nothing to do with the level of Thai that you speak. I sat in a cafe with the wife (Thai) and ordered waffles with ice cream. (they were 2 separate dishes from the menu) and the waitress was so baffled by the order that she had to summon the manager. We ordered again and they looked at each other (the way that Thais do) and walked away to discuss it, while I sat with the missuz wondering <deleted> was so difficult about taking an order of 2 items from the menu. The 2 geniuses returned and told my wife that we cannot have waffles with ice cream as this was not on the menu, but if we order ice cream they can give us waffles as a side order. My wife just laughed out loud and the 2 girls just stood there with a bemused look on their face, having no idea why my wife was laughing.

[JLCrab]

The vendor could construe your wild gestures as that of a vegetarian.

Nothing to get excited about.

Wild gestures?

First attempt was literally spoken Thai with no gestures....total confused look, no action, no speech.

Wait about 30 seconds with her staring at me with that confused look until I think I better try again as she's not doing anything except looking seriously confused.

So are you describing here ordering a snack or your hundreds of Thai girl dates?

[sustento]

Sentimental?

I don't care that it happens I find it amusing hence why I posted it. Hence the smiley face.

Bad Thai or not....what else can I be asking them when they only sell grilled pork and I'm pointing at the grilled pork and saying in Thai "one grilled pork please" whilst signalling 1 with my finger.

I think that's the problem. You should have used your forefinger rather than your middle finger...

[benalibina]

Let somebody write in thai language on a paper; hello, my name is...... and i can speak some thai, although not perfect. So please listen carefully. Thank you !

Copy it and put it in your wallet.

Problem solved.

Most likely.

[MilesofSmiles]

Maybe you're asking directions ?

Seriously though, talk less, just pick it up, or motion at whatever you're after and hand over the money.

When a menu I can't read is involved, I just choose random stuff, and agree to the first suggestion if anyone gets confused.

Every now and then I get the shits and smile and walk away tho, it can be frustrating.

[TheSpade]

I think it's nothing to do with the level of Thai that you speak. I sat in a cafe with the wife (Thai) and ordered waffles with ice cream. (they were 2 separate dishes from the menu) and the waitress was so baffled by the order that she had to summon the manager. We ordered again and they looked at each other (the way that Thais do) and walked away to discuss it, while I sat with the missuz wondering <deleted> was so difficult about taking an order of 2 items from the menu. The 2 geniuses returned and told my wife that we cannot have waffles with ice cream as this was not on the menu, but if we order ice cream they can give us waffles as a side order. My wife just laughed out loud and the 2 girls just stood there with a bemused look on their face, having no idea why my wife was laughing.

Yeah I've seen this sort of thing happen too. I try and keep it simple and not do anything other than point at the menu. Mixing 2 things is guaranteed problems.

Though I've even seen Thai friends trying to order a Thai dish in Thai and the waiting staff being so confused at it they had to pick up the menu and point at a picture which I always find funny.

I usually joke with them afterwards that they obviously don't speak Thai and are probably Cambodian.

I do cringe when I hear tourists saying things like "I want the thai green chicken curry but I don't want the chicken in it...instead I want pork and if it has mushrooms I don't like mushrooms...but I do like bean sprouts so if you have them I want them instead" then getting mad when they didn't get it EXACTLY like they wanted when clearly it was never going to happen because the server didn't understand a word they said and it comes as it comes not the way some ting tong farang wants it.

So are you describing here ordering a snack or your hundreds of Thai girl dates?

Clearly not if I had a Thai girl with me I'd let her do the pointing and gesturing so when the confusion happens they could sort it out between themselves.

Though sometimes two Thai's trying to sort something out can be even more confusing than when it's a farang and Thai try.

Maybe you're asking directions ?

Seriously though, talk less, just pick it up, or motion at whatever you're after and hand over the money.

When a menu I can't read is involved, I just choose random stuff, and agree to the first suggestion if anyone gets confused.

Every now and then I get the shits and smile and walk away tho, it can be frustrating.

Sure if there are menu's involved pointing is the best bet.

But when you only sell one thing and someone asks for it in Thai by name and tells you how many they want whilst pointing at it where is the confusion.

Asking for directions....pffft!

[JLCrab]

Well I realize those little BBQ pork skewers are 10 baht each 3 for 25 baht or some such but it must get awfully confusing buying street food or going to the 7-11 when one can't count beyond 100 ... as in a 500 or 1000 baht note. What's 500 anyway but 50 times 10 so I guess you can work it out that but takes some time standing at the checkout line with people grousing behind you.

[meatboy]

happened to the wf.yesterday at home pro.boy in charge of the paint section didnt have a clue what the wf.wanted although the code and product no was written down for him and it was the one that served her with the same tin last week.

[tartempion]

The blank stare happens at least once a week for me.

I then ask them: "Khun pood Thai dai mai krap?" (Can you speak Thai?)

[poanoi]

I get the same blank stare when i order a 200 baht shorttime.

As it turns out, thai language is very much a tonal language,

the slightest difference can mean an entirely different word.

It took me 6 months just to get the pronunciation of "LEO", as in Leo beer, right,

at a 7/11 at that.

My suggestion is to listen very carefully, if you can,

and you will eventually pick up the basic rhythm of this language.

ed: an example came just above,

pood pasa thai dai mai

pasa here refer to language, so what can i say ? picky? or just unnatural wording ?

[pattayadingo]

You have a funny accent

Imagine a Geordie, a Yorkshireman, an American and an Aussie all trying to say the same thing in Thai anhd you can imagine what the Thai people hear is not quite what you have said.

Maybe she thinks you want to 'pork her / him' and not buy one of her pork

[ignis]

Simple your not Thai, so whatever language you speak they no not understand even if you are speaking Thai.........

It is not just here.......... I am not German, but speak, read and write German..... spoke to a Lady in German, she sort of replied she did not understand English, her Husband said you ****** ****** he spoke in perfect German... it happened many times, even with people I had meet lots of times..

My French is not that good, so in France would ask them in French to speak slower, almost all would then Shout and just as fast....... oddly if the French person was older, and you then asked again but spoke in German they would reply.. !!

Not to bad in Portuguese, most younger people speak English, but older ones it was just automatic you are not Portuguese so they don't understand, again found it odd mix in a bit of French and suddenly they would understand, big smiles you are trying to speak Portuguese..

[ignis]

You have a funny accent

Imagine a Geordie, a Yorkshireman, an American and an Aussie all trying to say the same thing in Thai anhd you can imagine what the Thai people hear is not quite what you have said.

Maybe she thinks you want to 'pork her / him' and not buy one of her pork

Yea I been from south England ain't got no idea what them folk up north be talking about..

Same in Portugal, lived in the Algarve, so south always thought it funny that Portuguese people from the south had a hard time understanding Portuguese from Porto and above, far north...

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Generally street sellers aren't very bright.

The person suggesting you carry a note, assumes the street seller can read Thai, not a good assumption to make.

[benalibina]

Generally street sellers aren't very bright.

The person suggesting you carry a note, assumes the street seller can read Thai, not a good assumption to make.

On a positive note, the glass was IMO halvefull. Your reply balanced it. Thanks.

[canuckamuck]

This happens occasionally and there is not much you can do about it. Some folks see a foreigner walk up and a switch in their head trips (foreign language anxiety syndrome). No matter what you say or how well you say it. It will not be comprehended until there is a reset. Sometimes they will understand you a minute later, sometimes it takes longer. But usually before the reset occurs they will find someone else to ask you what you want in English.

The fun part about this is, if you ask your question again in Thai; the second person will likely understand you and shoot a look back to first person that implies "you idiot he speaks Thai as well as you do!"

[Gsxrnz]

They have their ear tuned to English from a Farang customer. They then get a surprise when you speak Thai. We all speak it with a variety of accents so they are not prepared. We probably speak our Thai too fast as well.

Try saying in Thai, hello, how are you, it's hot eh?, the food delicious na? etc. Most of us trying to speak/learn Thai can get these across reasonably fluently.

Then they have a chance to focus on your accent and are "waiting" for more Thai. So make your order, and they will understand. While they're getting your order, practice your small talk.

I find my biggest problem is the same as theirs - when a Thai person starts to speak to you, you expect English and I'm waiting to tune into their specific accent of pidgin. When they speak Thai I have to recalibrate my thinking - often I'll apologise and say I didn't hear properly, say again - don't say you didn't understand because they'll revert to English and you lose the opportunity.

EDIT: Also, be confident in your speech. I have a friend whose accent is diabolical. You'd think he was taught Thai from an Eskimo that learned it from a non-Thai speaking Brazilian Indian TFL teacher. But he speaks it confidently, slowly, and loudly....and he's understood. His hello sounds like saywaart-day-cap, but he gets away with it. He throws in tones that are nearly off the scale but he gets by pretty well due to his confidence.

[HeijoshinCool]

And to think, when I first came here, Lonely Planet advised that you did not have to "tone words correctly, Thais will always understand, and smile thanks that you spoke some Thai."