Learn to speak THAI... the TLFs way!

[stogie bear]

Wasn't sure where to put this but seeing as how it's only going to appeal to people who live here or spend quite a bit of time in Thailand then I figured that this would be the best place...

I've been very lazy when it comes to learning Thai. I can't even count and after 6 years that's quite shameful. But then again I don't want to get all mental and learn properly and I don't want to get a teacher to help me understand this strange and difficult language.

I've been all over the internet to find something to help me learn the basics but they either cost too much, or they are courses by enthusiastic farangs who haven't got a clue, or they teach things that nobody in the real world will ever need to know!

But just recently I came across some audio files and some pages on a website and decided to compile a site for most of us normal folks who don't need to know everything but would like to know something...

If you click on the link below you'll find out what I came up with...

The AsianTS.com guide to learning some basic Thai language!

As usual; please let me have your thoughts either good or bad...

Stogie Bear  

[daveduke007]

[Guest]

Cheers Mr. Bear, nice one  

[divertwo]

..great stuff...I've been studying on my own and this will add to it and confirm some of the phrases I've learned. With any language there are a few ways to say the same thing or ask the same question.....but what you have here is a great start as you say for beginners............

[Stewart]

been all over the internet to find something to help me learn the basics but they either cost too much, or they are courses by enthusiastic farangs who haven't got a clue, or they teach things that nobody in the real world will ever need to know!

But just recently I came across some audio files and some pages on a website and decided to compile a site for most of us normal folks who don't need to know everything but would like to know something...

Where is the section on shagging?

[stogie bear]

Where is the section on shagging?

I use sign language for that!

[Stewart]

(stogie bear @ May 27 2007,21:12)

Where is the section on shagging?

I use sign language for that!  

You use sign language, not soothing sultry words, for "I want to stick my tadger up your bottom, roger you silly, then cum all over your face"??

You have no class!

[jimslim]

excellent liked the page on dating
phom rak katoey mak mak

[Stewart]

The only section I can see that is relevant to the people on this forum is the shopping section

- That costs too much. An nan pang pai
- Can you lower the price? Lod raka dai mai

And for POL:

- Is that a real one? Pen kong jing mai

And for Smuttley:

- Do you have a bigger size? Mee kanad yai gwa nee mai

I would have thought that "1500 short time" would be a good addition!

[jadeite]

I took a brief look and was surprised it wasn't as simple as i could have been. For instance:

Would you like to join me?  -> Kun yark pai duay mai?

We all know Thai's already can say "go with you" in English and if speaking in Thai you probably have heard the subset of the thai method of just "pai duay" hundreds of times by now. The way this thing laid it out using 5 words instead of 2 is quite formal and not used in casual talk. You don't need so many of the extra words sprinkled in so many of these phrases (like khun, phom, chan) and in fact omitting them shows a more comfortable and intimate relationship with someone which in the bar scene is appropriate.

The phonetic spellings are better than average, but still could have been better. It spells dream as "fan" but it is pronounced "fun". Oh well.

So if you are looking for easy Thai, perhaps this isn't the best. But if you have the time to master it, good for you.

[PigDogg]

I like it.

I've been thinking about learning Thai for awhile now, even bought siome books that come with dvds or cds but somehow never got started.

Can't be that hard to get thru 11 lessons.

So I'll start the Stogie way; Thai for Grumpies!

[Guest]

(jadeite @ May 28 2007,02:16) I took a brief look and was surprised it wasn't as simple as i could have been. For instance:

Would you like to join me?  -> Kun yark pai duay mai?

We all know Thai's already can say "go with you" in English and if speaking in Thai you probably have heard the subset of the thai method of just "pai duay" hundreds of times by now. The way this thing laid it out using 5 words instead of 2 is quite formal and not used in casual talk. You don't need so many of the extra words sprinkled in so many of these phrases (like khun, phom, chan) and in fact omitting them shows a more comfortable and intimate relationship with someone which in the bar scene is appropriate.

The phonetic spellings are better than average, but still could have been better. It spells dream as "fan" but it is pronounced "fun". Oh well.

So if you are looking for easy Thai, perhaps this isn't the best. But if you have the time to master it, good for you.

Agreed but everyone has to start somewhere and the best place in my opinion is formal speach. Then you can learn the slang or colloquial speach later.

The thing about Thai is it is a tonal language so learning using transliteration is almost useless. If you are only an occasional visitor then just learn some phrases and answers to common questions. If you come more often the maybe better to learn properly.

[Guest]

Hey! This is really cool

Thanks Stogie Bear

[69billy]

How long have I been in here... or How long this been here...kapung cap...

[stogie bear]

I finished this site just over a week ago so you haven't missed much!