Naam Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 gecko Please cite specific examples to back up your assertion that you have read a bunch of "drivel, bragging and ignorant" comments on this thread. please note that i have used the plural of thread in my claim after reading a lot of dribble, bragging and ignorant assumptions in threads concerning mastering the local language... but there's also enough drivel in this thread which would justify using the singular. at least half a dozen threads exist on Thaivisa repeating the same old drivel -you can't be happy in a country who's domestic language you don't speak, -if you don't speak Thai you are just lazy or deaf and dumb, speak Thai... -...and prices drop, -...to understand the culture, -...that's why Thais respect me, -...to chat with cute ladies, -...or your wife will not let you contract any utility service, the list goes on and on and on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gecko123 Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 gecko Please cite specific examples to back up your assertion that you have read a bunch of "drivel, bragging and ignorant" comments on this thread. please note that i have used the plural of thread in my claim after reading a lot of dribble, bragging and ignorant assumptions in threads concerning mastering the local language... but there's also enough drivel in this thread which would justify using the singular. at least half a dozen threads exist on Thaivisa repeating the same old drivel -you can't be happy in a country who's domestic language you don't speak, -if you don't speak Thai you are just lazy or deaf and dumb, speak Thai... -...and prices drop, -...to understand the culture, -...that's why Thais respect me, -...to chat with cute ladies, -...or your wife will not let you contract any utility service, the list goes on and on and on Naam: I was under the impression that you were at least bi-lingual. If that's true, I have to assume that at some point in your life you recognized the benefit of learning a second language. I just don't get your condescending attitude towards those who have recognized the benefits of learning Thai. Personally, I think you're in serious need of an 'attitude adjustment.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dageurreotype Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Not needing to hire an expensive Court translator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
off road pat Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Speaking reasonably Thai get you the right food in the restaurants, the right treatment in Hospitals, giving the right explanations to the mechanics to repair your car, you can understand people who talk about you, helps you to avoid most rip off's,....you can explain in shops what you really look for,... when my wife and I are in non Thai speaking company we can say things to each other nobody understand, (just a couple words is enough for not to be impolite...) The opposite is also true, when we are in Thai Company, we can speak a few words in my Foreign Language to each other to make things clear..... Before I met my wife, getting great girls was easier when I spoke Thai, and very often for free....or almost free...! It was often more interesting not to speak Thai but listen to the girls talk....I learned a great deal by this.....!! I speak, read and Wright, several languages and it has only been a very positive thing in my life.....getting some international news is often more interesting or more complete in non English languages....!... Speaking Thai can help you make the right friends,...and appreciate Thais and Thailand a lot more,....! So, ??? nothing but positive things,....... Best regards, Off Road Pat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mousehound Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 As there are no disadvantages to learning any language why would you not make the effort? And to the poster who stated the only Thai (he) has learned to date is: "Horng naam you tee nai", I would state that this is a pretty useful beginning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naam Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 gecko Please cite specific examples to back up your assertion that you have read a bunch of "drivel, bragging and ignorant" comments on this thread. please note that i have used the plural of thread in my claim after reading a lot of dribble, bragging and ignorant assumptions in threads concerning mastering the local language... but there's also enough drivel in this thread which would justify using the singular. at least half a dozen threads exist on Thaivisa repeating the same old drivel -you can't be happy in a country who's domestic language you don't speak, -if you don't speak Thai you are just lazy or deaf and dumb, speak Thai... -...and prices drop, -...to understand the culture, -...that's why Thais respect me, -...to chat with cute ladies, -...or your wife will not let you contract any utility service, the list goes on and on and on Naam: I was under the impression that you were at least bi-lingual. If that's true, I have to assume that at some point in your life you recognized the benefit of learning a second language. I just don't get your condescending attitude towards those who have recognized the benefits of learning Thai. Personally, I think you're in serious need of an 'attitude adjustment.' to be precise. my mother tongues (plural) are French and German, i am fluent in English, Spanish and Arabic and i claim i can converse in additional half a dozen languages at least as good, most probably better, as some of the posters claim the are able to communicate in Thai. since a few years i am studying Farsi and Urdu, i can read both languages without any problems but my understanding is still only rudimentary, i.e. by far not enough understand the subtleness of the ancient poetry written in these two languages. important is the fact that i care a flying fàrt what you or anybody else thinks about my attitude because that's exclusively my business. do i have to emphasise that i am neither interested in Thai poetry nor in conversing with any Thais whom i don't meet because basically i live like a hermit but 'slightly' more comfortable? next! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Communicating with the people of the country where their first language is Thai. It's a no brainer really don't you think? it would be a no-brainer if there were people who'd be able discussing topics which i am interested to discuss. unfortunately... Obviously, people who make such generalized racial comments don't make the effort to learn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huawei Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 If you have children you must stop speaking Thai at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacky54 Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Being able to show off on TV, and feel superior to those who just cannot be bothered with a primitive language useless outside the border? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gecko123 Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 (edited) to be precise. my mother tongues (plural) are French and German, i am fluent in English, Spanish and Arabic and i claim i can converse in additional half a dozen languages at least as good, most probably better, as some of the posters claim the are able to communicate in Thai. since a few years i am studying Farsi and Urdu, i can read both languages without any problems but my understanding is still only rudimentary, i.e. by far not enough understand the subtleness of the ancient poetry written in these two languages. important is the fact that i care a flying fàrt what you or anybody else thinks about my attitude because that's exclusively my business. do i have to emphasise that i am neither interested in Thai poetry nor in conversing with any Thais whom i don't meet because basically i live like a hermit but 'slightly' more comfortable? next! Are you seriously trying to tell me that NONE of the reasons people cited for learning Thai on this and similar threads motivated your language study? Maybe you're a person who has more of a purely aesthetic interest in studying language, but most people are motivated to learn other languages (at least in part) for the social opportunities this affords. That's the general theme of what people seem to be saying here, and I think that should be respected. Anyway, this thread has remained uncharacteristically positive, and I don't want to hijack it by debating this with you any further. Edited July 20, 2015 by Gecko123 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djayz Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 (edited) It's important if you live in Thailand, probably less important if you spend a few weeks a year here and completely unimportant if you're just a tourist here for a week or two. Edited July 20, 2015 by djayz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarryP Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 If you have children you must stop speaking Thai at home. Agree. But then hindsight is 20/20. Been there and screwed up handsomely. Still speak to my son in Thai. Apologized to him many times for not speaking English at home, but he says it does not bother him that his English is not fluent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remi080 Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Well i thank god i did lern it as i had to go to court 2 times against my ex, so yeah speak thai in court was good as they respected the culture i am living in, so fighting for my rights did sure get a good turn becouse of this. Now i lern to write thai as well, becoz i need it for my job, pfff this is not funny though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gecko123 Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 If you have children you must stop speaking Thai at home. Agree. But then hindsight is 20/20. Been there and screwed up handsomely. Still speak to my son in Thai. Apologized to him many times for not speaking English at home, but he says it does not bother him that his English is not fluent. I wouldn't beat myself up about this. My wife didn't speak English, so it was natural to speak Thai at home. I tried to teach my step-daughter Thai, but probably because of my teaching style, these sessions didn't always go well. I decided that a warm, stress-free, loving home environment was more important than foreign language skill development. I still think this was the right call. Her English language skills learned from school are reasonably good. I can live with that compromise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevemercer Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Sure it is an advantage to speak Thai. But I'm not sure us lazy, ignorant and geriatric sods who have failed to learn Thai are necessarily missing out. There are over 100,000 Thai living legally or illegally in my home country (Australia). Most speak indifferent English and don't seem interested in experiencing fully what Australia's 'culture' has to offer (swimming in surf beaches, hiking, outdoor living, cosmopolitan dining etc). They are at their happiest getting together with their Thai friends, eating Thai food and talking Thai. The only Australia activity many seem to enjoy are the casinos and pokies. Why are they in Australia? Because they can live a better lifestyle which basically boils down to more opportunities to make money. Similarly, there are may reasons why expats. might want to live in Thailand. Most just want a better lifestyle becasue they get more bang for their buck in Thailand. I think relatively few have come to fully immerse themselves into the culture, learn all about 'thainess' and to go native. For myself, yes, I want to learn Thai, but I don't think I'm missing out in the meantime. So what if expats huddle together with their mates and talk English and their Thai sucks. If you thought you could only fully enjoy yourself/experience life in Thailand if you spoke the language, then, maybe we would stay in an English-speaking country. My wife will deal with issues needing Thai and I'll deal with issues needing English. We do it as a team. I don't think I've been put to any disadvantage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smotherb Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Being able to speak thai is important for 2 things, dealing with rogue police and for random dinner table chat. Thats it really. I think most thais prefer it when they think farangs are 'fresh' and dont speak thai (especially potential dates) I really can't understand the apparent objection to learning Thai. Certainly, there are more reasons than dinner chat of handling police--finding what you want in the market, understanding the repairman, having a conversation and actually understanding, or greater business and job opportunities all come to mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muffy Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 I don't speak Thai and don't want to , I have an advantage , I am very smart . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1FinickyOne Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Simply the joy of communicating wherever you are… and thai are often quite funny… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 (edited) I was under the impression that you were at least bi-lingual. If that's true, I have to assume that at some point in your life you recognized the benefit of learning a second language. I just don't get your condescending attitude towards those who have recognized the benefits of learning Thai. Personally, I think you're in serious need of an 'attitude adjustment.' to be precise. my mother tongues (plural) are French and German, i am fluent in English, Spanish and Arabic and i claim i can converse in additional half a dozen languages at least as good, most probably better, as some of the posters claim the are able to communicate in Thai. since a few years i am studying Farsi and Urdu, i can read both languages without any problems but my understanding is still only rudimentary, i.e. by far not enough understand the subtleness of the ancient poetry written in these two languages. important is the fact that i care a flying fàrt what you or anybody else thinks about my attitude because that's exclusively my business. do i have to emphasise that i am neither interested in Thai poetry nor in conversing with any Thais whom i don't meet because basically i live like a hermit but 'slightly' more comfortable? next! . You are certainly not fluent in English if you think the red above is correct. Ever heard of the perfect tense? Since/for ? This is what 12 year olds learn at school here. Edited July 20, 2015 by Neeranam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villagefarang Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 (edited) I am simply speaking from my own experience. I am guessing that 80 to 90 percent of my life experiences over the last 40 years would never have occurred if I did not speak Thai and I have a hard time imagining what they would have been replaced with. I very much doubt I would be in Thailand today without those experiences. I can understand people rationalizing the situation they are in and feeling satisfied with the life they have chosen to live but having seen Thailand from both sides of the language equation, I know I could not live happily in a place where I did not speak the language. you are speaking from your perspective which is influenced by having a Thai wife, most probably Thai inlaws and living in an area where English is not as easily available as it is in tourist areas. our perspective is completely different and our decision to live in Thailand is based on purely rational and (as opposed to yours) not emotional reasons without any desire to see Thailand from different sides. i respect your views but i also expect that my/our views are respected. that's why it gives me great pleasure to act as advocatus diaboli after reading a lot of dribble, bragging and ignorant assumptions in threads concerning mastering the local language and its perceived advantages. I am not sure your tone is one of respect and it most likely falls short of eliciting respect from others. You may derive great pleasure from acting as the Devil’s Advocate but I feel your efforts are misplaced on this topic. I am also not sure I appreciate my perspective being depicted as irrational and emotional. I would probably prefer thoughtful, deliberate and practical. I had been living in Bangkok for 20 years and had my own relationship with Thailand before I got around to getting married for the first and only time and yes she is Thai. She speaks English now but didn't at the time. I lived in central Bangkok for 30 years before moving somewhere English is not easily available. I still found Thai opened many doors for me in Thailand. My western educated Thai friends who spoke excellent English still preferred to speak Thai with me and appreciated not being forced to exclude the majority of the people in the room. I probably wouldn’t have been in the room to begin with if I hadn’t spoken Thai. Edited July 20, 2015 by villagefarang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wow64 Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 You can say hello. Sent from my c64 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 (edited) Communicating with the people of the country where their first language is Thai. It's a no brainer really don't you think? it would be a no-brainer if there were people who'd be able discussing topics which i am interested to discuss. unfortunately... Sour grapes. How incredibly arrogant... incredibly arrogant judgment... A year ago or so a man stopped to speak to me when I was cutting my hedge. He was the brother of neighbour and retired university lecturer. We spoke at length about the use of Sanskrit and Pali in Thailand, we spoke of religion, politics and philosophy. If I remember correctly, you hire gardeners so I guess you don't meet other while doing it, but do you never go to the garden centres to buy trees etc? I think you are a hermit because you are embarrassed to go out because you are illiterate. I've seen it with a few old guys who can speak many other languages. One friend lived here for many years and spoke 7 languages fluently yet asked me to tell his driver to turn left as his wife wasn't there. This was no ignorant guy and when he was in the CIA, he learned fluent Russian in 6 months. He was even US Embassy First Secretary but decided Thai was beneath him. He was even awarded the Order of the White Elephant etc and died in his beloved Thailand yet refused to learn how to speak with the locals. Edited July 20, 2015 by Neeranam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy chef 1 Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Nice topic but sadly I've just had to read too many times ...to shag the local village queen for almost free... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulldozer Dawn Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Sure it is an advantage to speak Thai. But I'm not sure us lazy, ignorant and geriatric sods who have failed to learn Thai are necessarily missing out. There are over 100,000 Thai living legally or illegally in my home country (Australia). Most speak indifferent English and don't seem interested in experiencing fully what Australia's 'culture' has to offer (swimming in surf beaches, hiking, outdoor living, cosmopolitan dining etc). They are at their happiest getting together with their Thai friends, eating Thai food and talking Thai. The only Australia activity many seem to enjoy are the casinos and pokies. Why are they in Australia? Because they can live a better lifestyle which basically boils down to more opportunities to make money. Similarly, there are may reasons why expats. might want to live in Thailand. Most just want a better lifestyle becasue they get more bang for their buck in Thailand. I think relatively few have come to fully immerse themselves into the culture, learn all about 'thainess' and to go native. For myself, yes, I want to learn Thai, but I don't think I'm missing out in the meantime. So what if expats huddle together with their mates and talk English and their Thai sucks. If you thought you could only fully enjoy yourself/experience life in Thailand if you spoke the language, then, maybe we would stay in an English-speaking country. My wife will deal with issues needing Thai and I'll deal with issues needing English. We do it as a team. I don't think I've been put to any disadvantage. Wow. So you never go anywhere without your wife. What a sad existence you must live here. Or am I missing something, you do go out without your wife but every single person you encounter speaks English. What part of Thailand do you live in? And how exactly are you a team? Oh wait, your wife deals with every aspect of your life in Thailand and you pay the tab. And you speak English when you go out with your expat friends, while your wife sits there bored out of her head. Go team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naam Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 I am simply speaking from my own experience. I am guessing that 80 to 90 percent of my life experiences over the last 40 years would never have occurred if I did not speak Thai and I have a hard time imagining what they would have been replaced with. I very much doubt I would be in Thailand today without those experiences. I can understand people rationalizing the situation they are in and feeling satisfied with the life they have chosen to live but having seen Thailand from both sides of the language equation, I know I could not live happily in a place where I did not speak the language. you are speaking from your perspective which is influenced by having a Thai wife, most probably Thai inlaws and living in an area where English is not as easily available as it is in tourist areas. our perspective is completely different and our decision to live in Thailand is based on purely rational and (as opposed to yours) not emotional reasons without any desire to see Thailand from different sides. i respect your views but i also expect that my/our views are respected. that's why it gives me great pleasure to act as advocatus diaboli after reading a lot of dribble, bragging and ignorant assumptions in threads concerning mastering the local language and its perceived advantages. I am not sure your tone is one of respect and it most likely falls short of eliciting respect from others. You may derive great pleasure from acting as the Devil’s Advocate but I feel your efforts are misplaced on this topic. I am also not sure I appreciate my perspective being depicted as irrational and emotional. I would probably prefer thoughtful, deliberate and practical. I had been living in Bangkok for 20 years and had my own relationship with Thailand before I got around to getting married for the first and only time and yes she is Thai. She speaks English now but didn't at the time. I lived in central Bangkok for 30 years before moving somewhere English is not easily available. I still found Thai opened many doors for me in Thailand. My western educated Thai friends who spoke excellent English still preferred to speak Thai with me and appreciated not being forced to exclude the majority of the people in the room. I probably wouldn’t have been in the room to begin with if I hadn’t spoken Thai. what part of my you are speaking from your perspective... our perspective is completely different... is it you don't understand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naam Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 I was under the impression that you were at least bi-lingual. If that's true, I have to assume that at some point in your life you recognized the benefit of learning a second language. I just don't get your condescending attitude towards those who have recognized the benefits of learning Thai. Personally, I think you're in serious need of an 'attitude adjustment.' to be precise. my mother tongues (plural) are French and German, i am fluent in English, Spanish and Arabic and i claim i can converse in additional half a dozen languages at least as good, most probably better, as some of the posters claim the are able to communicate in Thai. since a few years i am studying Farsi and Urdu, i can read both languages without any problems but my understanding is still only rudimentary, i.e. by far not enough understand the subtleness of the ancient poetry written in these two languages. important is the fact that i care a flying fàrt what you or anybody else thinks about my attitude because that's exclusively my business. do i have to emphasise that i am neither interested in Thai poetry nor in conversing with any Thais whom i don't meet because basically i live like a hermit but 'slightly' more comfortable? next! . You are certainly not fluent in English if you think the red above is correct. Ever heard of the perfect tense? Since/for ? This is what 12 year olds learn at school here. you are boring little man and it seems your English is lacking. since sɪns/ preposition, conjunction, & adverb preposition: since; conjunction: since; adverb: since 1. in the intervening period between (the time mentioned) and the time under consideration, typically the present. examples: We've played better since you joined the team. He has had two jobs since he graduated. He hasn't ridden a bike since he was a boy. They haven't won a championship since Truman was President. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 (edited) No need for the insults and frankly quite arrogant trying to tell a native speaker how to speak. I have been studying Farsi for a few years. Using since here is wrong - NO FLUENT English speak would ever say "since a few years" https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-m_for-since.htm Isn't it time you dropped in something to let us know how much money you have? Edited July 21, 2015 by Neeranam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naam Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Communicating with the people of the country where their first language is Thai. It's a no brainer really don't you think? it would be a no-brainer if there were people who'd be able discussing topics which i am interested to discuss. unfortunately... Obviously, people who make such generalized racial comments don't make the effort to learn. now the race card is pulled from the sleeve because i can't find any Thai person who is interested to discuss with me topics of my interest. this calls for the "most ridiculous comment of the day" award Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naam Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 to be precise. my mother tongues (plural) are French and German, i am fluent in English, Spanish and Arabic and i claim i can converse in additional half a dozen languages at least as good, most probably better, as some of the posters claim the are able to communicate in Thai. since a few years i am studying Farsi and Urdu, i can read both languages without any problems but my understanding is still only rudimentary, i.e. by far not enough understand the subtleness of the ancient poetry written in these two languages. important is the fact that i care a flying fàrt what you or anybody else thinks about my attitude because that's exclusively my business. do i have to emphasise that i am neither interested in Thai poetry nor in conversing with any Thais whom i don't meet because basically i live like a hermit but 'slightly' more comfortable? next! Are you seriously trying to tell me that NONE of the reasons people cited for learning Thai on this and similar threads motivated your language study? Maybe you're a person who has more of a purely aesthetic interest in studying language, but most people are motivated to learn other languages (at least in part) for the social opportunities this affords. That's the general theme of what people seem to be saying here, and I think that should be respected. Anyway, this thread has remained uncharacteristically positive, and I don't want to hijack it by debating this with you any further. please note that i don't belong to "most of the people" and i abhor "social opportunities". and if you don't want to discuss with me the topic any further just stop quoting my postings and refrain from commenting them. as simple as that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 to be precise. my mother tongues (plural) are French and German, i am fluent in English, Spanish and Arabic and i claim i can converse in additional half a dozen languages at least as good, most probably better, as some of the posters claim the are able to communicate in Thai. since a few years i am studying Farsi and Urdu, i can read both languages without any problems but my understanding is still only rudimentary, i.e. by far not enough understand the subtleness of the ancient poetry written in these two languages. important is the fact that i care a flying fàrt what you or anybody else thinks about my attitude because that's exclusively my business. do i have to emphasise that i am neither interested in Thai poetry nor in conversing with any Thais whom i don't meet because basically i live like a hermit but 'slightly' more comfortable? next! Are you seriously trying to tell me that NONE of the reasons people cited for learning Thai on this and similar threads motivated your language study? Maybe you're a person who has more of a purely aesthetic interest in studying language, but most people are motivated to learn other languages (at least in part) for the social opportunities this affords. That's the general theme of what people seem to be saying here, and I think that should be respected. Anyway, this thread has remained uncharacteristically positive, and I don't want to hijack it by debating this with you any further. please note that i don't belong to "most of the people" and i abhor "social opportunities". and if you don't want to discuss with me the topic any further just stop quoting my postings and refrain from commenting them. as simple as that. I think yo have low self=esteem. It might be beneficial to admit the language is too difficult for you to learn. You wouldn't be alone and it is certainly better than the alternative reasons you quote for not learning. Does your wife speak Thai, or make an effort? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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