Impressions of communicating with Thais or English in Thailand
The Thai language is a complete riddle for us and a sickly puzzle. We didn’t even try to teach him, realizing that it would take months, if not years. But living in this country for six months, you want it or not, but you communicate with the locals. And more often you come across the fact that not everyone knows international English, even at a primitive level in the non-tourist part of the country. Why is there a level, just at least a few words from the area where a person works, and then they do not know. Do not throw stones at me, I know that in Russia it is still more sad with this, but the article is about Thailand.
Along with the fact that they don't speak English here, and one has to be content with the fact that a person knows at least a couple of words, here, as it turned out, even greater difficulty is the utter lack of understanding of local residents. Thais must be given their due, they are very attentive to people, sympathetic, smiling and often want to help with all their hearts, but they are so inept that sometimes you wonder!
Even if a person knows a few words in English, he does not understand from the first time (or from any time) what he is being asked about. Well, what, no matter how about food, can I ask first of all in a cafe, and in a condo hotel - no matter how about renting a room? And even if you play a whole performance of pantomime in front of him, even draw whole canvases, it does not catch up and that's it. No, well, I, of course, exaggerate, but very often Oleg and I just gave up, said salutary for them «OK», smiled and then figured it out on their own or scored. After all, it becomes very awkward in front of them, because the person sincerely worries that he cannot help and that he does not understand.
And don't be too naive: the fact that you know a difficult word in English does not mean that you can find out everything you would like. After all, this requires so many parameters to match. So that your Thai interlocutor also knows the same difficult word (at this stage everything usually ends, the vocabulary of ordinary locals is very limited). But if you are lucky, and the Thai knows this word, you also need to be able to pronounce it so that he can recognize and understand it! And, most importantly, so that now the Thai can, in turn, find the words to answer your question! Good luck!
Smiling is a common thing for Thais
And Thais also have such a stupid habit of nodding and saying yes, even if they completely did not understand what you asked them about. And you can repeat your question as much as you like in any variations and synonyms. But instead of modestly admitting that he does not understand, the Thai will agree with you to the last, trying in no way to give himself away that he has no idea what you want from him.
Smiling is a common thing for Thais
Smiling is a common thing for Thais
Smiling is a common thing for Thais
We read a lot, and we ourselves were faced with the fact that if one Thai does not understand English, another is in a hurry to help him, and to that - someone else. And a simple question can gather a whole unexpected council of people who sincerely want to help, which, of course, is very pleasant, although sometimes it becomes embarrassing. But all the same, such responsiveness and readiness to come to the aid of a neighbor and translate what is asked of him helps a lot. It's more difficult when there is no one else around ...
Even mannequins smile in Tae!
I have already come across such an interesting opinion on the Internet that if you yourself do not know English very well, and your Thai interlocutor has not gone very far from you, then sometimes it is easier to communicate with him in Russian using gestures than it is difficult to select and add English words into a clumsy sentence. They say this is because we speak Russian more emotionally and facial expressions are more lively. I can neither confirm nor deny this, tk. in a foreign country, the language does not dare to speak native Russian mov, so somehow I have never tried this way of communication.
In a conversation with one of the Thais, to their utter surprise, they found out that the Thai language, it turns out, is very simple! I can't even repeat a word when I hear it, but it turns out to be simple! This is explained by the fact that Thais do not notice all the many tones of their language from birth, which is understandable. This is us, almost like from the stage, every time we try «sing» their phrases are correct. But in Thai, everything is very simple with tenses, each of them is simply indicated by a special word, and the verb itself does not change.
Smiling and friendly Thais
Smiling Thai Dad
And with these tones, such incidents are funny! There is my favorite dish: Phad Thai. Well, it would seem, what is difficult? To our unassuming ear, Phad Thai sounds in Thai speech the same as in ours. But it was not there. I have often come across the fact that in a completely Thai cafe, where English is not spoken, I pronounced Phad Thai correctly, as it seems to me, causes a complete stupor in the Thai waiter, and either my notebook (cheat sheet how to communicate with Thais), or a more quick-witted English-speaking guest sitting next to each other. And he, to my complete surprise, pronounces the same Phad Thai in the same way, and, lo and behold, they understand him! «BUT! Phad Thai! Well, of course! And I think, what do they want from me?»
Smiling is a common thing for Thais
Funny nurses
I fell into a complete stupor when I asked the owner of the apartment in English if he had the Internet! Several times I uttered the word Internet, trying not even to intonate in any way in order to be better understood, but in the end I received the question that killed me: «It has something to do with the kitchen?»..
In general, we logically came to the conclusion that if we intend to live here for a long time (always), then it seems to me that it’s better to at least learn the basics of the Thai language. After all, we still live in their country, why should they speak English in their homeland? We are guests here, so we need to adapt.
Smiling and friendly police officer