Can anyone translate these two words, please:

jakaten (like a big grasshopper)

gathere (cross between a rat and a squirrel)

I just saw them in our garden, but my wife only knows in Thai

Thanks,

Owen

"jakaten" indeed sounds like a grasshopper.

Though a "j" as starting sound is not quite right.

It is a "t / dt" sound:

ตั๊กแตน -> takkataen (dtáka dtaen) -> grasshopper

Of course there are a lot of variations, so "big" why not (compared to home country?).

Often heard and seen (in the fry pan )

----------------------------------------------------

"gathere"

? Likely a "grà-dtae".

วงศ์กระแต -> wong kratae ( wong grà-dtae) -> treeshrew, indochinese ground squirrel

What the Thai variation is named in scientific notation? No idea.

All from the books. Never heard or noticed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupaiidae

Edited November 8, 201510 yr by KhunBENQ

Hi,

Thanks for your help.

As you write for grasshopper is probably correct - my hearing, unless there isan Uttaradit dialect.

'Big' because it was 3"-4" long (like a cricket), whereas in the UK they are an inch long. It landed on my hand and flew off, at least I didn't feelit jump.

I'm sure you are right about the other one as well.The picturelooks like it.

When I said 'gallot - squirrel' to my wife, she said, 'No,definitely not. Gra-dtae, not the same".

That's all I know.

Thanks again for your help.

Regards,

Owen

As well as the ตั๊กแตน (dtakadtaen) there is also the จักจั่น (Jakajan) which is a cicada. It makes a racket particularly in the evening. The female and male look different.

Your transliteration sits between the Thai pronunciation of these 2 insects.

Your wife is right. Kratae (treeshrew) is unrelated to Krarork (squirrel), quite different, both in appearance and taxonomy.

As you write for grasshopper is probably correct - my hearing, unless there isan Uttaradit dialect.

You hearing might be OK.

Uttaradit would not be Isan, but indeed leaving out an "r" or let it sound like an "l" is widespread.

If the pictures don't come close to what you have seen as a "mix of rat and squirrel" then I have no clue.

What I write are transcriptions "from the book". Does not say that your wife pronounces it identical.

Those transcription/what I heard q. are always tricky.

Listen to grasshopper:

http://www.clickthai-online.de/cgi-bin/playmp3.pl?150855

Listen to "kratae":

http://www.clickthai-online.de/cgi-bin/playmp3.pl?006021

Thanks both.

I listened to the pronunciation, but...

A man saying it in perfect Thai and my wife speaking Uttaradit...

It bears no relationship, but I am sure that we are talking about the same animals.

Thanks a lot, guys :-)

Owen