Thais with impeccable handwriting.

[sipi]

My hand writing is terrible, as are most of my friends. I have trouble reading my own writing at times.

My wifes hand writing is perfect, as are her friends. Actually, I have never seen a Thai with bad writing. The older Thais have very tidy writing. Even the younger ones that like to add the odd artistic squiggle or trendy floral design to their writing have lovely articulate script. Hand written receipts from the local hardware shop could be framed.

Is it because of their fine dexterity? Their education? Or some other reason?

[pgrahmm]

A long alphabet....Concise schooling - one thing they are very firm on....And possibly limited keyboard usage for school...

It's beautiful to see and watch being written....Our 8 y/o is drilled constantly on it.....It's demanded.....

My left handed scrawl has always been terrible - and much worse since keyboards.....

[Gecko123]

A lot of times when people handwrite something out for me, they ask if I can read Thai.

I usually joke that I can read Thai, but I can't read their handwriting.

That usually gets a laugh.

On the other hand, my Thai handwriting, if I do say so myself, is quite legible.

Edited December 3, 2015 by Gecko123

[pgrahmm]

A lot of times when people handwrite something out for me, they ask if I can read Thai.

I usually joke that I can read Thai, but I can't read their handwriting.

That usually gets a laugh.

On the other hand, my Thai handwriting, if I do say so myself, is quite legible.

DSCN6097.JPG

That sucks Gecko.....

You don't have lousey handwriting so obviously not qualified to add anything to this topic.....

Go practice being sloppy again - then come back with a better report !!!!!

[stoneyboy]

A lot of times when people handwrite something out for me, they ask if I can read Thai.

I usually joke that I can read Thai, but I can't read their handwriting.

That usually gets a laugh.

On the other hand, my Thai handwriting, if I do say so myself, is quite legible.

DSCN6097.JPG

So it is,but your choice and use of a camera is somewhat questionable.

Your legible Thai writing skills are let down by your lesser skills,a trait that is prominent the world over by folk from all backgrounds and walks of life.

[Gecko123]

A lot of times when people handwrite something out for me, they ask if I can read Thai.

I usually joke that I can read Thai, but I can't read their handwriting.

That usually gets a laugh.

On the other hand, my Thai handwriting, if I do say so myself, is quite legible.

DSCN6097.JPG

So it is,but your choice and use of a camera is somewhat questionable.

Your legible Thai writing skills are let down by your lesser skills,a trait that is prominent the world over by folk from all backgrounds and walks of life.

Thank you, Stoneyboy, for reminding me of the importance of staying humble.

[yellowboat]

Patience and a love for aesthetics are traits Thais can be proud of .

[Shiver]

For me I think it is lack of use for a few decades since a keyboard arrived in front of me. I think cursive English would be very shoddy these days and look like a 4 year old wrote it. Thai hand writing (Thai & English) is usually much better than what I could do.

[tolsti]

I have found that since swapping back to a fountain pen my handwriting has improved greatly. No more Biros or gel pens for me.

[eldragon]

It's bc it's not their writing system and they don't know what they can get away with, so they have to make it as legible as possible for fear that others won't be able to read it. Ask those same people to write in Thai and you will see something that looks like your English. Conversely, Thais tell me my Thai handwriting is immaculate. Same reason applies. I have no idea what corners I can cut whilst remaining legible, so I try to make it perfect.

[pgrahmm]

I have found that since swapping back to a fountain pen my handwriting has improved greatly. No more Biros or gel pens for me.

Must be a righty.....

[kinmaew]

Its the circles like you go round and round like most of us have for the last 20 years or so over there.

I do like the hand writing I was told my Thai writing was "Better than Thai" but that was just one person who said that. I really hate the commercial printed one which makes ror rua like an S GRRRRR

[pgrahmm]

My hand writing is terrible, as are most of my friends. I have trouble reading my own writing at times.

My wifes hand writing is perfect, as are her friends. Actually, I have never seen a Thai with bad writing. The older Thais have very tidy writing. Even the younger ones that like to add the odd artistic squiggle or trendy floral design to their writing have lovely articulate script. Hand written receipts from the local hardware shop could be framed.

Is it because of their fine dexterity? Their education? Or some other reason?

Jeez Sip - looks like you and I are the only 2 here that don't write perfectly.....I'm left handed - what's your excuse?

[sipi]

My hand writing is terrible, as are most of my friends. I have trouble reading my own writing at times.

My wifes hand writing is perfect, as are her friends. Actually, I have never seen a Thai with bad writing. The older Thais have very tidy writing. Even the younger ones that like to add the odd artistic squiggle or trendy floral design to their writing have lovely articulate script. Hand written receipts from the local hardware shop could be framed.

Is it because of their fine dexterity? Their education? Or some other reason?

Jeez Sip - looks like you and I are the only 2 here that don't write perfectly.....I'm left handed - what's your excuse?

Just plain lazy lol.

[BlindMagician]

OP: your friends are terrible? Do they bully you? Chuckle chuckle.

[SoiBiker]

My handwriting is dreadful. I think I actually write slightly better in Thai, probably because I have to think about what I'm writing rather than just scrawl away like I do in English.

[sipi]

OP: your friends are terrible? Do they bully you? Chuckle chuckle.

I have bad writing and even worse grammar.

[asdecas]

Beautiful handwriting, in whatever script, is a result of schooling. Like it or not, such skills are acquired through the long and repetitive process of practice.

It used to be that handwriting was taught in schools in the UK. Proof of this can be seen in cursive script of letters, envelopes and documents that have come down to us from Victorian and Edwardian times.

That discipline, beyond a basic ability to form alphabetic shapes, has long since disappeared in the State schooling system. However, in China, Japan and in Thailand too to some extent, calligraphy is still regarded as a worthwhile, and indeed legitimate, form of artistic expression.

[Tom Cahill]

Beautiful handwriting, in whatever script, is a result of schooling. Like it or not, such skills are acquired through the long and repetitive process of practice.

It used to be that handwriting was taught in schools in the UK. Proof of this can be seen in cursive script of letters, envelopes and documents that have come down to us from Victorian and Edwardian times.

That discipline, beyond a basic ability to form alphabetic shapes, has long since disappeared in the State schooling system. However, in China, Japan and in Thailand too to some extent, calligraphy is still regarded as a worthwhile, and indeed legitimate, form of artistic expression.

They do have nice writing. I have found that Thais excel in things we've degenerated out of. Maybe we're over developed. They're also good at things like making intricate things out of wire, glass and plastic. Some of their meth amphetamine pipes are highly skillfully made, so they're fusing glass and plastic together which seems almost impossible, but it's perfect; bird traps and cages, and all sorts of other things.

The language here's limiting though. This has a knock on effect on their overall IQ, as they can't access info. we would be able to and they can't articulate complex ideas as there aren't the words to do it. This is why even ones who don't speak English at all, do speak English when it comes to computer complexities, engines, and that kind of thing. The Koh Tao trial's forensic report is in English as they can't translate in into Thai.

On the writing. In the old days we used to have to put the swirls on the letters that keeps them in line. In Thailand, they have to generally include right angles and circles in every letter, which keeps it in line much better. It is very hard not to write very carefully if you are writing their confusing script.

Hand writing's a really important thing. I am always complimented on mine, but am not as good since using a type writer. If I have to write something to look good, I will take time over it, but it's so rarely that I have to do this that I see the art will die out. The idea that presentation's not all about expensive labels and vulgar broadcasting of wealth is related to this as well. Writing in a good style is a weapon, and maybe as they love weapons more than lying, stealing, making up silly stories, skiving and vandalising their own houses through chronic mess making, they will remain adherents to this important life skill.

[soundtrack]

Can I join the club of friends with a terrible handwriting ? Sometimes i cannot even read what i wrote.....

As for Thai is the same as for other languages like Japonese, Arab and Chinese... At school they learn how to write their languages as a matter of art and pride. They run into contest for the best performance on writing.

And I find their writing beautiful

[islandguy]

Learning to write in Thai it seemed to me that the complexity of the letters individually and the the great number of letters demanded a clearer style so as to make out the difference between one letter and the next. I understood then why my staff carefully sharpened their pencils to a fine point first thing each morning.

[Gecko123]

They do have nice writing. I have found that Thais excel in things we've degenerated out of. Maybe we're over developed. They're also good at things like making intricate things out of wire, glass and plastic. Some of their meth amphetamine pipes are highly skillfully made, so they're fusing glass and plastic together which seems almost impossible, but it's perfect; bird traps and cages, and all sorts of other things.

The language here's limiting though. This has a knock on effect on their overall IQ, as they can't access info. we would be able to and they can't articulate complex ideas as there aren't the words to do it. This is why even ones who don't speak English at all, do speak English when it comes to computer complexities, engines, and that kind of thing. The Koh Tao trial's forensic report is in English as they can't translate in into Thai.

On the writing. In the old days we used to have to put the swirls on the letters that keeps them in line. In Thailand, they have to generally include right angles and circles in every letter, which keeps it in line much better. It is very hard not to write very carefully if you are writing their confusing script.

Hand writing's a really important thing. I am always complimented on mine, but am not as good since using a type writer. If I have to write something to look good, I will take time over it, but it's so rarely that I have to do this that I see the art will die out. The idea that presentation's not all about expensive labels and vulgar broadcasting of wealth is related to this as well. Writing in a good style is a weapon, and maybe as they love weapons more than lying, stealing, making up silly stories, skiving and vandalising their own houses through chronic mess making, they will remain adherents to this important life skill.

Incredibly patronizing post.

Thai meth pipes are skillfully made? I'll defer to your expertise on this matter.

You are conflating adoption of English technical vocabulary with IQ. Every language in the world adopts English language technical vocabulary. I agree that in some ways English is a more precise language, but the idea that complex ideas can't be expressed in Thai is ludicrous.

You do have a flair for writing. Sad to see such talent wasted composing such mean-spirited racist drivel.

Edited December 4, 2015 by Gecko123

[swissbie]

A lot of times when people handwrite something out for me, they ask if I can read Thai.

I usually joke that I can read Thai, but I can't read their handwriting.

That usually gets a laugh.

On the other hand, my Thai handwriting, if I do say so myself, is quite legible.

DSCN6097.JPG

Your handwriting looks very nice, but it also appears as the handwriting from a student. Thais who write fast, normally do it in a nearly unreadable style (at least for me), for example doctors write their prescriptions as bad as everywhere in the world. The longer i used to write Thai, the less nice it looked like. So now i can't join the club of the beautiful handwriters anymore.

[NoshowJones]

Having taught in both Prathom and Mattayom classes, I can confirm that some children have excellent hand writing,

and a very small minority of students have poor handwriting, the rest are sort of in between.

[Baerboxer]

FB_IMG_1449052804883.jpg

A long alphabet....Concise schooling - one thing they are very firm on....And possibly limited keyboard usage for school...

It's beautiful to see and watch being written....Our 8 y/o is drilled constantly on it.....It's demanded.....

My left handed scrawl has always been terrible - and much worse since keyboards.....

Agree with you. My wife's writing is beautiful, Thai and English. She makes my daughter practice both very strictly.

I'm a southpaw too, and thankfully, most read my exam scripts at various levels, although gawd knows how.

Good job for computers!

[sipi]

A lot of times when people handwrite something out for me, they ask if I can read Thai.

I usually joke that I can read Thai, but I can't read their handwriting.

That usually gets a laugh.

On the other hand, my Thai handwriting, if I do say so myself, is quite legible.

DSCN6097.JPG

Actually Gecko. I had a wee chuckle at the dog-ears on your reference books.

That takes me back a few years.

"South East Asia on a shoestring", ver 1. Was that '78? I had Lonely Planet and Fodders (Foders?).

[pgrahmm]

My hand writing is terrible, as are most of my friends. I have trouble reading my own writing at times.

My wifes hand writing is perfect, as are her friends. Actually, I have never seen a Thai with bad writing. The older Thais have very tidy writing. Even the younger ones that like to add the odd artistic squiggle or trendy floral design to their writing have lovely articulate script. Hand written receipts from the local hardware shop could be framed.

Is it because of their fine dexterity? Their education? Or some other reason?

Can tag along also drawing and painting - crafts like fruit carving & paper flowers....

My wife can sketch a face/likeness that is close to the vendors that are around....Also oils and water paintings in different styles.....Something she's had an interest in since a child.....

Our 15 y/o is not as accomplished but does well with drawing/painting.....The 8 y/o can sketch her favorite cartoon characters pretty darn well.....Or about anything her imagination/mood brings out.....

I would guess a lot of this is from the discipline of learning/writing Thai script.....There's a symmetry

here.....

A lot more gifted than in the west, as it hasn't had time to die out yet....

Anyone else notice the same?

[sawadee1947]

these kind of Thai letters you can't write quickly and fast as we do. Try it and you will agree...

[Gecko123]

A lot of times when people handwrite something out for me, they ask if I can read Thai.

I usually joke that I can read Thai, but I can't read their handwriting.

That usually gets a laugh.

On the other hand, my Thai handwriting, if I do say so myself, is quite legible.

DSCN6097.JPG

Your handwriting looks very nice, but it also appears as the handwriting from a student. Thais who write fast, normally do it in a nearly unreadable style (at least for me), for example doctors write their prescriptions as bad as everywhere in the world. The longer i used to write Thai, the less nice it looked like. So now i can't join the club of the beautiful handwriters anymore.

Please feel free to post a sample of your handwriting which has progressed past the "student" phase.

Please also feel free to post a sample of you speaking/reading aloud Thai here: Audio/video examples of TVF members speaking Thai

Edited December 4, 2015 by Gecko123

[tolsti]

I have found that since swapping back to a fountain pen my handwriting has improved greatly. No more Biros or gel pens for me.

Must be a righty.....

Yes, as was my father however both my sister and mother are (were) lefties.