As a kid, as a cheap source of amusement, I remember blocking off my ears intermittently so I'd only catch the second, third or fourth word of a conversations. Depending on what was being said/heard, this could create the most bizarre and entertaining dialogues. I don't know, is there a name for that?On some days, my Thai listening skills are much like this...which is kind of nice, because on others, I may as well stick my fingers in my ears and just leave them there.
Great! I've just told my teacher I bathe under the bum gun, instead of the shower head.
Learning to read Thai is similar. So, I'm ecstatic when I can not only read a menu/sign/book, but can actually understand what I've read.
I have indigestion. I find a pharmacy and tell the lady my problem, but she doesn't *get it*. Luckily I've written it down...in ENGLISH TRANSLITERATION...doh! She can't read it, but I can say it correctly...this time. I buy Ga-wee-skon. I'm happy!
All languages borrow words, but I had no idea I have been surrounded with so many English words, written in Thai, until now. ฟรี F - R - EE ...Free! Oh, free, like in no charge! I tend to use signs and packaging as a handy, readily available learning tool.
Stop being so paranoid, she's talking about potatoes, not you.
I return to the apartment to discover I've just bought material from 'Joe's Fabric'...OK, yes, it was written in English too, but I really, truly didn't see that until later.
While out walking I stop to view a newly errected sign. I'm already being stared at because I'm the only persontwit not taking refuge from the relentless heat AT 7.00 PM!!!!! Silently sounding out the letters and words, it dawns on me I'm standing in front of 'Jim Electrics'. Just to draw some extra attention to myself, I pull out my camera and take a photo to add to my collection of loan words.
She says the price in English...but we don't quite catch it. I ask 'how much?' in Thai and she replies accordingly, in Thai. I pay, thank her and she laughs, because we don't understand English :)
Photos I'll probably never post, because my blastard memory card has decided it doesn't want to talk to my computer.
บ๊าย บาย (bye bye) for now.
Cheers!
สเมป
Further reading: English loanwords in the Thai Language
Rikker's posts on loanwords
Women Learn Thai
See what else we're up to at Cooee!
Great! I've just told my teacher I bathe under the bum gun, instead of the shower head.
Learning to read Thai is similar. So, I'm ecstatic when I can not only read a menu/sign/book, but can actually understand what I've read.
I have indigestion. I find a pharmacy and tell the lady my problem, but she doesn't *get it*. Luckily I've written it down...in ENGLISH TRANSLITERATION...doh! She can't read it, but I can say it correctly...this time. I buy Ga-wee-skon. I'm happy!
All languages borrow words, but I had no idea I have been surrounded with so many English words, written in Thai, until now. ฟรี F - R - EE ...Free! Oh, free, like in no charge! I tend to use signs and packaging as a handy, readily available learning tool.
Stop being so paranoid, she's talking about potatoes, not you.
I return to the apartment to discover I've just bought material from 'Joe's Fabric'...OK, yes, it was written in English too, but I really, truly didn't see that until later.
While out walking I stop to view a newly errected sign. I'm already being stared at because I'm the only person
She says the price in English...but we don't quite catch it. I ask 'how much?' in Thai and she replies accordingly, in Thai. I pay, thank her and she laughs, because we don't understand English :)
Photos I'll probably never post, because my blastard memory card has decided it doesn't want to talk to my computer.
บ๊าย บาย (bye bye) for now.
Cheers!
สเมป
Further reading: English loanwords in the Thai Language
Rikker's posts on loanwords
Women Learn Thai
See what else we're up to at Cooee!
