The perfect reason for NOT learning Thai.

[beenitseenitdoneit]

Most of us who have even contemplated relocating and settling in Thailand, must have considered at some point, that it might be a good idea, beneficial even, to learn the Thai language.
Against this I could give you a hundred good reasons why you shouldn't, even to the extent that there are even occasions whereby it can prove not only to be a disadvantage in being able to speak the language, but could also act to your detriment.

But I don't want to get into the arguments of the pros and cons, rather to address those that go on to make this extreme sacrifice, in being proficient in the Thai language.

This happens to me every day, sometimes even several times a day.
Whereby Thais have to interact with one another, and it totally amazes me the sheer lengths they will go to not to do so.
Somewhere along the line, perhaps in their upbringing or their experiences at their local schools, somebody has instilled and indoctrinated into them that they should never, I repeat never, ask a question.
Asking questions is simple verboten, in doing so it seems you are effectively losing face.

The most recent classic example of this is where I go to order two new replacement mattresses for existing beds that I have, from two different companies.
One is under guarantee, and the other is brand new.
One is for upstairs, the other downstairs.
No doubt you have probably guessed already what has happened.
Yes the upstairs replacement mattress has gone on the wrong bed down stairs.
Thankfully this error has been spotted after the first delivery, so now the second delivery is being requested to to resolve the error of the first.
Not a problem you are thinking, but this replacement mattress that has already been delivered literally weighs a ton, and would take at least four strong people to carry it upstairs.
So it spite of choosing the the new mattress for downstairs herself, with a different manufacturers label, to be delivered by a different company, my good Lady still went ahead and instructed that the wrong mattress should go on the wrong bed.
Why because she could simple not ask those concerned.

Now perhaps there are those amongst you that are thinking, forget about changing the mattresses how about changing the lady.
But as my previous lady quite rightly observed, perhaps the next one will be worse.

The point I am trying to make here is, that in learning the Thai language is a completely waste of time, because even the Thai themselves cannot communicate with each other in it.
After 18 years of living in Thailand, I have never found the inability of being able to speak the language a problem, however I have daily experiences whereby I can see there are huge communication issues amongst the Thai themselves.

Let the flaming commence.

[Rancid]

To each their own. Personally I can speak conversational Thai, not fluent, and have always found it invaluable. My wife mind you can't speak English.

[crickets]

Maybe its best you dont understand what they are saying about you sometimes. I can understand about 35% of it and can tell you they can very rude in front of you. I have learnt to let it go as u feel thais have a far more inferior society. A friend used to call them savages. I believe they are still in the fuedal ages.

[krisb]

Well you made your bed, now lay in it.

[richard_smith237]

My Wife's friends (100% Thai) Children all go to International Schools - They are fluently bilingual in Thai and English.

When playing with each other they all talk not in Thai but in English. I have supposed that this is due to English being a more specific, accurate and efficient language.

That said: Not learning Thai will always be a hinderance, regardless of someone else not communicating properly, you will always need to.

[chuang]

Sleep well...

[chrisinth]

As you already understood the problem about the possible mix-up, if you spoke Thai could you not have explained it to the delivery people? Surely you wouldn't have been worried about losing face in the confrontation?

It would certainly have saved space on the forum about a trivial complaint because of your inability to understand the interaction that was going on.

Just another excuse for not understanding the language of your host country IMHO.....................

Perhaps the delivery men should have spoken English or the tongue of your native country, that would make things easier, eh?

[ATF]

Your wife is a numpty. She told them where to put the mattresses and then was too embarrassed to explain that she had screwed up and I bet you were lording it over her saying how can these people be so stupid blah blah blah.

Learn to speak Thai and do everyone a favor, after 18 years you have no excuse unless you're retarded.

[KunMatt]

Since learning to understand conversational Thai I now have the pleasure of listening to my wife and her friends/family all constantly talk about how much they paid for everything and what is the best iPhone or tablet that is currently out, for hours on end, every time they meet up.

It was better before I realised how shallow, immature and petty they all are.

[robblok]

Since learning to understand conversational Thai I now have the pleasure of listen to my wife and her friends/family all constantly talk about how much they paid for everything and what is the best iPhone or tablet that is currently out, for hours on end, every time they meet up.

It was better before I realised how shallow, immature and petty they all are.

Maybe you just married the wrong lady and because you did not speak Thai before you never found out.

[watcharacters]

As you already understood the problem about the possible mix-up, if you spoke Thai could you not have explained it to the delivery people? Surely you wouldn't have been worried about losing face in the confrontation?

It would certainly have saved space on the forum about a trivial complaint because of your inability to understand the interaction that was going on.

Just another excuse for not understanding the language of your host country IMHO.....................

Perhaps the delivery men should have spoken English or the tongue of your native country, that would make things easier, eh?

That much effort replying to a post you think was a waste of space?

[KunMatt]

Since learning to understand conversational Thai I now have the pleasure of listen to my wife and her friends/family all constantly talk about how much they paid for everything and what is the best iPhone or tablet that is currently out, for hours on end, every time they meet up.

It was better before I realised how shallow, immature and petty they all are.

Maybe you just married the wrong lady and because you did not speak Thai before you never found out.

Maybe, but then no matter where I go I hear the exact same conversations all over Thailand, so maybe it's not just my wife's family.

[robblok]

Since learning to understand conversational Thai I now have the pleasure of listen to my wife and her friends/family all constantly talk about how much they paid for everything and what is the best iPhone or tablet that is currently out, for hours on end, every time they meet up.

It was better before I realised how shallow, immature and petty they all are.

Maybe you just married the wrong lady and because you did not speak Thai before you never found out.

Maybe, but then no matter where I go I hear the exact same conversations all over Thailand, so maybe it's not just my wife's family.

Maybe, just like back home here when I am out i hear people discussing the theory of relativity and the origins of species. Just like back home everyone is always highly intelligent and discussing the most important things.

The moment my wife comes back and talks with me we discuss the sense of life and after that I query the dog on dark matter and his views.

Has it ever occurred to you that most conversation in any language is about what you just described ? Light stuff, seldom will people discuss harder stuff and I doubt you could follow it in Thai (or maybe you can I know I cant)

[StreetCowboy]

Since learning to understand conversational Thai I now have the pleasure of listen to my wife and her friends/family all constantly talk about how much they paid for everything and what is the best iPhone or tablet that is currently out, for hours on end, every time they meet up.

It was better before I realised how shallow, immature and petty they all are.

Maybe you just married the wrong lady and because you did not speak Thai before you never found out.

Maybe, but then no matter where I go I hear the exact same conversations all over Thailand, so maybe it's not just my wife's family.

I'd quite like to get a new phone. Perhaps you could give me some advice from what you have learned.

I'm really interested in long battery life when running GPS.

As for the OP; I don't think it was lack of communication ability that stopped the OP's wife asking the second delivery team to swap the mattresses round - it was probably shyness at asking people to do work beyond their remit. If the OP had been able to speak Thai, he could have used the "ignorant-of-thai-manners, demanding-foreigner" card and used his brass neck to ask the second delivery team to move the mattresses. Then, perhaps, he could have rewarded them with a box of Chang to encourage them to go the extra mile for foreigners in the future.

SC

[KunMatt]

Since learning to understand conversational Thai I now have the pleasure of listen to my wife and her friends/family all constantly talk about how much they paid for everything and what is the best iPhone or tablet that is currently out, for hours on end, every time they meet up.

It was better before I realised how shallow, immature and petty they all are.

Maybe you just married the wrong lady and because you did not speak Thai before you never found out.

Maybe, but then no matter where I go I hear the exact same conversations all over Thailand, so maybe it's not just my wife's family.

I'd quite like to get a new phone. Perhaps you could give me some advice from what you have learned.

I'm really interested in long battery life when running GPS.

No no no, the best phone here doesn't come down to which one has the best battery life or can run the latest version of iOS or Android. Those are just extra features that nobody cares about. The best phone in Thailand is whatever costs the most.

Same with cars. If your salary is only 15k a month then of course you are gonna want to buy a brand new car which costs more than 1.5 million and get a loan which is 100% of your salary for the next 10 years. Total sense.

As for the OP, I don't see how that is a good example of not speaking Thai being beneficial. If he could speak Thai then he could have resolved or avoided the problem altogether. Sounds like he should learn some everyday Thai to make up for his wife's lack of common sense.

[luk AJ]

Since learning to understand conversational Thai I now have the pleasure of listen to my wife and her friends/family all constantly talk about how much they paid for everything and what is the best iPhone or tablet that is currently out, for hours on end, every time they meet up.

It was better before I realised how shallow, immature and petty they all are.

Maybe you just married the wrong lady and because you did not speak Thai before you never found out.

Maybe, but then no matter where I go I hear the exact same conversations all over Thailand, so maybe it's not just my wife's family.

Maybe, just like back home here when I am out i hear people discussing the theory of relativity and the origins of species. Just like back home everyone is always highly intelligent and discussing the most important things.

The moment my wife comes back and talks with me we discuss the sense of life and after that I query the dog on dark matter and his views.

Has it ever occurred to you that most conversation in any language is about what you just described ? Light stuff, seldom will people discuss harder stuff and I doubt you could follow it in Thai (or maybe you can I know I cant)

can I have the E mail of your dog? I am still puzzled how exactly the event horizon near the center of a black hole influances the space/time..

[transam]

Learn to speak Thai and do everyone a favor, after 18 years you have no excuse unless you're retarded.

Fink thats me............ ..................

[uptheos]

Almost everyone on TVF is fluent in Thai...................

................until you meet them.

Even those who have been in Thailand a month.

[thailiketoo]

Downside of learning Thai is that you get to hear what the majority of Thai people talk about on a daily basis: the most inane, trivial conversations and gossip that I've ever heard in my life. Yes, you can become totally fluent in Thai with a lot of work, but then what are you going to talk about? When I reached a level where I could understand 75% or so of what I heard around me, I completely lost interest in the language.

I saved my dogs (best friend) life because I could tell the Thai vet what was wrong with her and she got the correct medication and survived. I didn't completely lose interest in her life because she was a Thai dog.

My dog has a vocabulary of 36 words in English and 22 in Thai. My dog is smarter than most of you fellows I have no doubt and loyal and she works 24/7 for food and love. She has saved the my life (or at least from severe bodily harm/pain) 5 times in the past two years.

My advice (not that anyone cares) 1. If you want a friend get a dog. 2. Learn Thai so you can communicate with your Thai dog and it's doctor.

[AYJAYDEE]

there is no rational arguement for such inane, infantile logic like that! your poor, poor wife!

[transam]

Almost everyone on TVF is fluent in Thai...................

................until you meet them.

Even those who have been in Thailand a month.

Well it does go with the half Chinese wifey toooooo..............

[SoiBiker]

So you're saying it would be better if your wife didn't speak Thai?

[uptheos]

Almost everyone on TVF is fluent in Thai...................

................until you meet them.

Even those who have been in Thailand a month.

Well it does go with the half Chinese wifey toooooo..............

You mean the half Chinese hi-so wifey with doctorates from Harvard and Oxford

[transam]

Almost everyone on TVF is fluent in Thai...................

................until you meet them.

Even those who have been in Thailand a month.

Well it does go with the half Chinese wifey toooooo..............

You mean the half Chinese hi-so wifey with doctorates from Harvard and Oxford

Weeeeeeeeeeeell, I didn't mention that as I didn't want to bring my wifey into the topic.. ........

[luk AJ]

Downside of learning Thai is that you get to hear what the majority of Thai people talk about on a daily basis: the most inane, trivial conversations and gossip that I've ever heard in my life. Yes, you can become totally fluent in Thai with a lot of work, but then what are you going to talk about? When I reached a level where I could understand 75% or so of what I heard around me, I completely lost interest in the language.

I saved my dogs (best friend) life because I could tell the Thai vet what was wrong with her and she got the correct medication and survived. I didn't completely lose interest in her life because she was a Thai dog.

My dog has a vocabulary of 36 words in English and 22 in Thai. My dog is smarter than most of you fellows I have no doubt and loyal and she works 24/7 for food and love. She has saved the my life (or at least from severe bodily harm/pain) 5 times in the past two years.

My advice (not that anyone cares) 1. If you want a friend get a dog. 2. Learn Thai so you can communicate with your Thai dog and it's doctor.

I get the impression a dog is the crucial link for improved communication with your thai wife. We need to explore in which extend this very unique observation can be used to improve communication in general. You see not all posts are rubbish

[thailiketoo]

Downside of learning Thai is that you get to hear what the majority of Thai people talk about on a daily basis: the most inane, trivial conversations and gossip that I've ever heard in my life. Yes, you can become totally fluent in Thai with a lot of work, but then what are you going to talk about? When I reached a level where I could understand 75% or so of what I heard around me, I completely lost interest in the language.

I saved my dogs (best friend) life because I could tell the Thai vet what was wrong with her and she got the correct medication and survived. I didn't completely lose interest in her life because she was a Thai dog.

My dog has a vocabulary of 36 words in English and 22 in Thai. My dog is smarter than most of you fellows I have no doubt and loyal and she works 24/7 for food and love. She has saved the my life (or at least from severe bodily harm/pain) 5 times in the past two years.

My advice (not that anyone cares) 1. If you want a friend get a dog. 2. Learn Thai so you can communicate with your Thai dog and it's doctor.

I get the impression a dog is the crucial link for improved communication with your thai wife. We need to explore in which extend this very unique observation can be used to improve communication in general. You see not all posts are rubbish

I also switched her phone from Samsung text to talk to google text to talk as it is much clearer and has three speeds. An interesting test is asking your wife to say synthetic; my dog can't say it either.

[mikemac]

Downside of learning Thai is that you get to hear what the majority of Thai people talk about on a daily basis: the most inane, trivial conversations and gossip that I've ever heard in my life. Yes, you can become totally fluent in Thai with a lot of work, but then what are you going to talk about? When I reached a level where I could understand 75% or so of what I heard around me, I completely lost interest in the language.

I saved my dogs (best friend) life because I could tell the Thai vet what was wrong with her and she got the correct medication and survived. I didn't completely lose interest in her life because she was a Thai dog.

My dog has a vocabulary of 36 words in English and 22 in Thai. My dog is smarter than most of you fellows I have no doubt and loyal and she works 24/7 for food and love. She has saved the my life (or at least from severe bodily harm/pain) 5 times in the past two years.

My advice (not that anyone cares) 1. If you want a friend get a dog. 2. Learn Thai so you can communicate with your Thai dog and it's doctor.

I get the impression a dog is the crucial link for improved communication with your thai wife. We need to explore in which extend this very unique observation can be used to improve communication in general. You see not all posts are rubbish

I also switched her phone from Samsung text to talk to google text to talk as it is much clearer and has three speeds. An interesting test is asking your wife to say synthetic; my dog can't say it either.

When I feel like a laugh I ask my wife to say "oil", actually we both get a good giggle out of it. She sounds like she has had an allergic reaction to something and her tongue has swollen to three times the normal size.

And as far as the op goes, is it just me or have other members noticed these guys with very few posts clocked up posting comments that are just begging for attack ?

Perhaps they are trolls on "L" plates.

[nisakiman]

I don't get the OP's 'not wanting to question' the delivery men. My wife has no hesitation in asking questions or, if she wanted something like a mattress moving, asking the guys to do it. All very politely and nicely, of course, but I don't think 'face' comes into it.

As to learning the language, if/when I move here, I will certainly try to get some Thai under my belt. I live in Greece, and I know for a fact that my ability to deal with most things in the language makes life one hell of a lot easier, particularly when dealing with people in the government, even if they know how to speak English. The fact that I've made the effort to communicate in their own language (even though my Greek is not really very good) tends to make them much more inclined to help, rather than hinder. They see it as a compliment and as respect. I would have thought that the same would apply in Thailand.

[TPI]

Since learning to understand conversational Thai I now have the pleasure of listen to my wife and her friends/family all constantly talk about how much they paid for everything and what is the best iPhone or tablet that is currently out, for hours on end, every time they meet up.

It was better before I realised how shallow, immature and petty they all are.

Maybe you just married the wrong lady and because you did not speak Thai before you never found out.

Maybe, but then no matter where I go I hear the exact same conversations all over Thailand, so maybe it's not just my wife's family.

The Thai prohibition on asking questions extends to directions when travelling, which counter at the airport, is that benzine you're putting in my car, are you sure that's what the doctor prescribed?

[TPI]

I don't get the OP's 'not wanting to question' the delivery men. My wife has no hesitation in asking questions or, if she wanted something like a mattress moving, asking the guys to do it. All very politely and nicely, of course, but I don't think 'face' comes into it.

As to learning the language, if/when I move here, I will certainly try to get some Thai under my belt. I live in Greece, and I know for a fact that my ability to deal with most things in the language makes life one hell of a lot easier, particularly when dealing with people in the government, even if they know how to speak English. The fact that I've made the effort to communicate in their own language (even though my Greek is not really very good) tends to make them much more inclined to help, rather than hinder. They see it as a compliment and as respect. I would have thought that the same would apply in Thailand.

no!