DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post

**EsAllCams** · 09-21-2012, 03:10 PM

Well of course whatever is said here is going to be a sweeping generalisation, but I guess that's what is being asked for

What I think is that Thai people really enjoy when you speak Thai. Even if you are horrible, the fact that you are trying to speak and have tried to learn raises their bar of respect for you... You aren't just there to live off the Thais and expect them to know English and help you, you are trying to help yourself

On the other hand, in Bangkok (as that is the area I am most familiar with) many people (especially younger people) know some English so it is fairly easy to get by with little Thai. I still think you should try out your Thai though. For example you could say "hong nam yuu nai" but have horrendous pronunciation such that they wouldn't understand. Then you could revert to English and say "where is the bathroom" and then they would probably be able to understand (either by English or by putting two and two together)...

Just my advice ... It's always fun to practice that Thai!

09-21-2012, 03:10 PM	#9
EsAllCams Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 420 Senior Member	Well of course whatever is said here is going to be a sweeping generalisation, but I guess that's what is being asked for What I think is that Thai people really enjoy when you speak Thai. Even if you are horrible, the fact that you are trying to speak and have tried to learn raises their bar of respect for you... You aren't just there to live off the Thais and expect them to know English and help you, you are trying to help yourself On the other hand, in Bangkok (as that is the area I am most familiar with) many people (especially younger people) know some English so it is fairly easy to get by with little Thai. I still think you should try out your Thai though. For example you could say "hong nam yuu nai" but have horrendous pronunciation such that they wouldn't understand. Then you could revert to English and say "where is the bathroom" and then they would probably be able to understand (either by English or by putting two and two together)... Just my advice ... It's always fun to practice that Thai!
	Quote