Hi so language

[thailiketoo]

I have found that most Thais make an almost instant decision to respect a person based on Thai speech.

You can get hi so language in a number of ways. 1. Born to an old money family. 2. Good education and really pay attention to your Thai teacher (if she speaks hi so Thai.) 3. Training for a job like news reader. And I suppose other ways.

In the US it doesn't work that way. John Kerry speaks Boston Brahmin.

It probably hurt him in the last election as many people thought he came off as a snob.

I mention the accents because America as Thailand and Britain all have class distinction based on Language among other things. I think however, language may be the most important determiner.

How can knowing this help you? If you have a problem with the bank or immigration or some official take a woman with you that speaks hi so Thai. The official will solve your problem because he has no way of knowing if she is really connected and failure to please her may mean he is in a world of hurt. Also works on the phone.

[jdinasia]

[thailiketoo]

Is it less a flame if you only post a dumb smiley? New rule eh?

[David48]

Is it less a flame if you only post a dumb smiley? New rule eh?

[David48]

OH ... just a wee question to the OP ... are you 100% proficient in the various dialects of Thai?

I'm not ... I'm flat out remembering 100 Thai words.

Just, as an authoritative figure on the subject through your OP ... I'm hoping your the best available?

Just that I don't see you posting much in Thai Language Forum ...

.

[A1Str8]

You are right. They are quick to judge based on speech. Thais are funny seriously. I haven't figured it out yet that they do so because they have truly convinced themselves that it makes one superior if s/he speaks in a certain way and uses certain words and expressions or they just like to ridicule themselves for believing that one is better than the other because s/he tries to act like that. There is no such thing as high society anyway. There are only people who have a bit more money but have no idea how to use it to do good and until they learn it they are nothing. But on the other side it's cool. I mean every circus needs clowns.

[Jasun]

I've seen it works in reverse too, hi-sos unrolling their 'r's in certain company so they don't come off smug.

[siladavid]

Thai people can tell where you from (family, area or society) by the way you speak or talk.

For example : I heard some women said here you go (In Thai "Ni Ngai") in a strong tone. That's really rude and sound bad to hear.

In the same way. Another lady said "NI Ngai" in a soft way. It can tell that she is from nice and educated family.

Hi-so or not Hi-so it's about mood and tone… To be honest

[thailiketoo]

Thai people can tell where you from (family, area or society) by the way you speak or talk.

For example : I heard some women said here you go (In Thai "Ni Ngai") in a strong tone. That's really rude and sound bad to hear.

In the same way. Another lady said "NI Ngai" in a soft way. It can tell that she is from nice and educated family.

Hi-so or not Hi-so it's about mood and tone… To be honest

Pronouncing words better more distinctly and the ability to pronounce more sounds and speech not mumbled.

You can almost watch the listener come to attention like in the military when meeting an officer.

[sustento]

This will get you started. When you've finished reading it you might want to do a little research on 'sakdina'. Thailand is slightly more complicated than you appear to believe.

http://www.learningthai.com/personal-pronouns.html

[Forethat]

Whether one wants to admit it, it's the same back in Blighty.

Even for the untrained ear it'd be slim task separating posh from proletarian listening to, let's say, Stephen Fry and Eric Bristow.

[Travel2003]

Thai people can tell where you from (family, area or society) by the way you speak or talk.

For example : I heard some women said here you go (In Thai "Ni Ngai") in a strong tone. That's really rude and sound bad to hear.

In the same way. Another lady said "NI Ngai" in a soft way. It can tell that she is from nice and educated family.

Hi-so or not Hi-so it's about mood and tone… To be honest

Really?

One can determine where one is from, based upon the dialect?

Joke aside,

Most countries have a more proper or official way to speak, and then all the variations of dialects, slang, street talk, etc.

[thailiketoo]

Thai people can tell where you from (family, area or society) by the way you speak or talk.

For example : I heard some women said here you go (In Thai "Ni Ngai") in a strong tone. That's really rude and sound bad to hear.

In the same way. Another lady said "NI Ngai" in a soft way. It can tell that she is from nice and educated family.

Hi-so or not Hi-so it's about mood and tone… To be honest

Really?

One can determine where one is from, based upon the dialect?

Joke aside,

Most countries have a more proper or official way to speak, and then all the variations of dialects, slang, street talk, etc.

Very easy sometimes only blocks apart and a different language.

[AYJAYDEE]

Thai people can tell where you from (family, area or society) by the way you speak or talk.

For example : I heard some women said here you go (In Thai "Ni Ngai") in a strong tone. That's really rude and sound bad to hear.

In the same way. Another lady said "NI Ngai" in a soft way. It can tell that she is from nice and educated family.

Hi-so or not Hi-so it's about mood and tone… To be honest

Really?

One can determine where one is from, based upon the dialect?

Joke aside,

Most countries have a more proper or official way to speak, and then all the variations of dialects, slang, street talk, etc.

not if the countries are large. there is no official dialect in america or canada.

[h90]

It is also what they say. Exact on the point or blablabla around.

[Travel2003]

Thai people can tell where you from (family, area or society) by the way you speak or talk.

For example : I heard some women said here you go (In Thai "Ni Ngai") in a strong tone. That's really rude and sound bad to hear.

In the same way. Another lady said "NI Ngai" in a soft way. It can tell that she is from nice and educated family.

Hi-so or not Hi-so it's about mood and tone… To be honest

Really?

One can determine where one is from, based upon the dialect?

Joke aside,

Most countries have a more proper or official way to speak, and then all the variations of dialects, slang, street talk, etc.

not if the countries are large. there is no official dialect in america or canada.

There is always a proper way to speak.

[thailiketoo]

Thai people can tell where you from (family, area or society) by the way you speak or talk.

For example : I heard some women said here you go (In Thai "Ni Ngai") in a strong tone. That's really rude and sound bad to hear.

In the same way. Another lady said "NI Ngai" in a soft way. It can tell that she is from nice and educated family.

Hi-so or not Hi-so it's about mood and tone… To be honest

Really?

One can determine where one is from, based upon the dialect?

Joke aside,

Most countries have a more proper or official way to speak, and then all the variations of dialects, slang, street talk, etc.

not if the countries are large. there is no official dialect in america or canada.

Canada, Toronto, BC, Newfoundland, Montreal. My gosh they speak French in Quebec. What do you mean there is no official dialect? In Quebec one speaks French and in Ontario one speaks English and on the West coast more like American.

[AYJAYDEE]

Thai people can tell where you from (family, area or society) by the way you speak or talk.

For example : I heard some women said here you go (In Thai "Ni Ngai") in a strong tone. That's really rude and sound bad to hear.

In the same way. Another lady said "NI Ngai" in a soft way. It can tell that she is from nice and educated family.

Hi-so or not Hi-so it's about mood and tone… To be honest

Really?

One can determine where one is from, based upon the dialect?

Joke aside,

Most countries have a more proper or official way to speak, and then all the variations of dialects, slang, street talk, etc.

not if the countries are large. there is no official dialect in america or canada.

Canada, Toronto, BC, Newfoundland, Montreal. My gosh they speak French in Quebec. What do you mean there is no official dialect? In Quebec one speaks French and in Ontario one speaks English and on the West coast more like American.

so what is the official dialect?

[AYJAYDEE]

Thai people can tell where you from (family, area or society) by the way you speak or talk.

For example : I heard some women said here you go (In Thai "Ni Ngai") in a strong tone. That's really rude and sound bad to hear.

In the same way. Another lady said "NI Ngai" in a soft way. It can tell that she is from nice and educated family.

Hi-so or not Hi-so it's about mood and tone… To be honest

Really?

One can determine where one is from, based upon the dialect?

Joke aside,

Most countries have a more proper or official way to speak, and then all the variations of dialects, slang, street talk, etc.

not if the countries are large. there is no official dialect in america or canada.

There is always a proper way to speak.

that is simply not true in america or canada and I'm sure many other large countries.

[transam]

Whether one wants to admit it, it's the same back in Blighty.

Even for the untrained ear it'd be slim task separating posh from proletarian listening to, let's say, Stephen Fry and Eric Bristow.

You haven't met me yet then.

[thailiketoo]

Really?

One can determine where one is from, based upon the dialect?

Joke aside,

Most countries have a more proper or official way to speak, and then all the variations of dialects, slang, street talk, etc.

not if the countries are large. there is no official dialect in america or canada.

Canada, Toronto, BC, Newfoundland, Montreal. My gosh they speak French in Quebec. What do you mean there is no official dialect? In Quebec one speaks French and in Ontario one speaks English and on the West coast more like American.

so what is the official dialect?

In Quebec it is a very old form of French. In Ontario it is an offshoot of the English language. On the West coast of Canada it sounds more like California English except ending sentences with eh.

[Neeranam]

Thai people can tell where you from (family, area or society) by the way you speak or talk.

For example : I heard some women said here you go (In Thai "Ni Ngai") in a strong tone. That's really rude and sound bad to hear.

In the same way. Another lady said "NI Ngai" in a soft way. It can tell that she is from nice and educated family.

Hi-so or not Hi-so it's about mood and tone To be honest

I don't think they can.

Isn't talking the same as speaking?

Also, this isn't hi - so language. I doubt many here have actually met a real Thai Hi-so.

[transam]

[thailiketoo]

Thai people can tell where you from (family, area or society) by the way you speak or talk.

For example : I heard some women said here you go (In Thai "Ni Ngai") in a strong tone. That's really rude and sound bad to hear.

In the same way. Another lady said "NI Ngai" in a soft way. It can tell that she is from nice and educated family.

Hi-so or not Hi-so it's about mood and tone To be honest

I don't think they can.

Isn't talking the same as speaking?

Also, this isn't hi - so language. I doubt many here have actually met a real Thai Hi-so.

I think there is agreement among most Thais that Yingluck when she came to office did not speak Thai very well. Ask a Thai speaker to point out someone who does.

[AYJAYDEE]

theyre both wrong

[wolf5370]

It is not only speech, but dress and demeanour as well. It also works with us lot to some degree - shaven, well dressed (at least tidily dressed) men stand a much better chance with Thai authority than hippie-look-a-likes or sporting shorts and wife-beater singlets.

It can be a disadvantage too. When my wife first came to the UK some 16 odd years ago after we wed, she found it hard to make Thai friends in the community. She attended college for EFL in London (she could speak some English and even taught basic English, but wanted to become fluent) and there were several Thais. She quickly had Indian, Egyptian, Sri Lankan, Eastern European and students from other nationalities, but found the Thais very offish (avoiding eye contact and answering only 'yes'/'no' when trying to break the ice etc). In the end she was paired with an older Thai lady in class, who she befriended. They remain friends to this day. The lady told her that they (the Thais in the class) thought she was hi-so and that she wouldn't want to socialise with them. My wife was not hi-so - she did attend good private schools and college (her father was a naval officer), but she was middle class (in her eyes at least). Her accent, dress and demeanour had set her apart even when she did not want it to - it became a barrier that took 6 months to breach.

[Travel2003]

theyre both wrong

So there is an correct/official way?

[AYJAYDEE]

theyre both wrong

So there is an correct/official way?

there is a big difference between grammar and dialect. your use of grammar was incorrect in both cases.

[jdinasia]

I saw that Neeranam was writing so waited ....... (not that I always agree -- but he has perspective)

1) There is no "Hi-So" Thai language hence my initial reaction

2) There is proper Thai which quite simply is not spoken my most Thai people on a daily basis, and rarely spoken outside of Central Thailand except in schools and government offices and large businesses.

3)There are various dialects in Thai but they are just that .. dialects. There are also a couple of other vocabularies used in different circumstances.

4) If you think that just having some random person that speaks "proper Thai" --- apparently referred to as Hi-So Thai in the OP is going to help give you a leg up on situations, you are likely mistaken. That being said, having someone who has had both the benefit of a good education and the experience in dealing with people in an official capacity may actually smooth things over in some cases. Simply being able to speak properly in and of itself just doesn't cut it.

If the OP was trying to say something like "if you want to be taken seriously in situations when dealing with business, government etc it is best not to use the Thai equivalent of a "southern drawl" or cockney rhyming slang ... isn't that rather obvious?

(as a side note --- dialects in the US/UK/Canada? who cares! and the chances are if you know any real Hi-So Thai people you will most probably not be speaking Thai with them )

[thailiketoo]

It has been touched upon but if you wonder how or why Thai people like or don't like you and your companions. A lot will depend on language. The whole Pygmalion thing.