infinity11 Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 I am asked this numerous times on a day to day basis mostly from thais.Often times before i can even finish what it is i am saying.Sometimes i don't answer and just wait only to find out yes they did hear me loud and clear after all. But they still insist on asking; huh?Cultural thing no doubt.Any insights.?If anything, Thais are curious and noisy but this one is beyond any logic or reason and more than annoying in my lesser moments and moods. You can blame me but i speak much clearer than most and have been told so. I have been told once they ask huh? so they can be sure what you are saying. I think it might have to do with the 'lazy' and 'question' culture but that does not sound so nice. (sorry)Maybe more on that last statement later. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Huh ?, say again..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mooner Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Can anyone decipher this post? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skint Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Too much American TV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sustento Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krisb Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Your saying they reply 'huh'? to make you repeat yourself, but they already understood the first time. Right? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nidieunimaitre Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Can anyone decipher this post? yes, I can. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardened Spanker Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 I think you mean the "Urgh" sound that Thais make and it signals an agreement,obviously to the speaker,you hear it all the time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nidieunimaitre Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 (edited) can anyone decipher this post? Edited December 17, 2013 by nidieunimaitre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sustento Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 can anyone decipher this post? Yes, I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nidieunimaitre Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 can anyone decipher this post? Yes, I can. And if I would ask "Can anyone explain the connection between your post and the OP", your answer would be.... let me guess... eeuuhhh.... Some people have original ideas, others just imitate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forethat Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Huh ?, say again..... Come again ...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sustento Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 can anyone decipher this post? Yes, I can. And if I would ask "Can anyone explain the connection between your post and the OP", your answer would be.... let me guess... eeuuhhh.... Some people have original ideas, others just imitate. You're making as much sense as the OP... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayned Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 a rai wa! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benalibina Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 a rai wa! Sie woi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post simon43 Posted December 17, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted December 17, 2013 (edited) As another poster commented, are you sure they are not saying 'ugh' or 'er' ? That is Issan for 'yes' or 'go on'. So it means the listener is agreeing with you... Edited December 17, 2013 by simon43 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daoyai Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Hard to mistake "eur" for huh?,,,, I have noticed this also, my take is that due to the nature of Thai language,(tonal and descriptive) misunderstandings are common, that is why people often repeat back to you what they understood you to say, just to make certain. I noticed when listening to locals converse, not uncommon to hear "huh?" then a repeated phrase. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Gsxrnz Posted December 18, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted December 18, 2013 (edited) I think the Op has a point. Many Thais do not fully understand a Falang speaking Thai the first time around. I think it's a combination of the fact that despite the fact we think our Thai is fluent, it actually isn't, plus they are not used to hearing foreign accented Thai. This may be compounded in two ways; if in a tourist area where the Thai knows some English, they are expecting to hear English and are tuned to it - when we speak Thai they are caught napping and frequently require a repeat. (I suffer the same in reverse - when a Thai speaks Thai to me and I'm not "in the zone", I have to ask for a repeat. Almost invariably I knew what they said but just wasn't prepared for it.) Secondly, If in a non tourist area they may have never heard a Falang speak Thai so our accent/lack of fluency totally throws them. Thais are just not used to hearing non-Thai speak their language. Unlike we Europeans who hear accents as varied as broad Glaswegian to sing-song Swedes speaking English and we can understand it. I try to get them tuned in by doing the usual hello, how are you, it's warm/cold today in Thai, and then pre-cede any further conversation by addressing them as Pee/nong/loong etc. This usually gets them in the "expecting non-fluent Thai" zone as opposed to "oh bugger, I hope he uses English words I understand" zone. Edited December 18, 2013 by Gsxrnz 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeThePoster Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Yup, definitely the hub of huh. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewrooney Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Wait, what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackr Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 can anyone decipher this post? Yes, I can. And if I would ask "Can anyone explain the connection between your post and the OP", your answer would be.... let me guess... eeuuhhh.... Some people have original ideas, others just imitate. You're a barrel of laughs, eh... I bet your wife is stoked. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willyumiii Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 I think you mean the "Urgh" sound that Thais make and it signals an agreement,obviously to the speaker,you hear it all the time. I have often wondered how to spell that one in English...your's is as good as any I have thought of. Thanks...I guess! lol 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robblok Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 As another poster commented, are you sure they are not saying 'ugh' or 'er' ? That is Issan for 'yes' or 'go on'. So it means the listener is agreeing with you... Yes that is what i was thinking about too, as far as i know its not real polite but among friends normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim armstrong Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Wait, what? Yes, I think they are saying - what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StreetCowboy Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 can anyone decipher this post? Yes, I can. Can cannot. Bottle can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sustento Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 can anyone decipher this post? Yes, I can. Can cannot. Bottle can. Can can. Bottle cannot. No can open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RikDao Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Secondly, If in a non tourist area they may have never heard a Falang speak Thai so our accent/lack of fluency totally throws them. Thais are just not used to hearing non-Thai speak their language. Unlike we Europeans who hear accents as varied as broad Glaswegian to sing-song Swedes speaking English and we can understand it. Wow, you can understand Glaswegian? Impressive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mugg Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 May I try ? You see my grandma had a short leg and then when the fire broke out she ran she ran. Well that only made the glass eye fall out. So she ran in circles because that is what you do with a short leg. I hope that helps you doo doo heads.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mancub Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 May I try ? You see my grandma had a short leg and then when the fire broke out she ran she ran. Well that only made the glass eye fall out. So she ran in circles because that is what you do with a short leg. I hope that helps you doo doo heads.. Hope it's not hereditary ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noikrit Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 May I try ? You see my grandma had a short leg and then when the fire broke out she ran she ran. Well that only made the glass eye fall out. So she ran in circles because that is what you do with a short leg. I hope that helps you doo doo heads.. Hope it's not hereditary ! Or contagious ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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