Communicate with Local Thai, Learn How to Speak Easy Way"Sawasdee Khrab" That is how we say hello in Thai. If you are a girl you will say "Sawasdee Kaa". When you are on holiday in Thailand, you will find many young people like me who can speak English. Most places you go to you won't have a problem. However, we like it a lot when we meet a foreigner who has tried to learn some Thai phrases.*Prefer to read some try this Beginning Lesson
In speaking politely, pay attention to the volume of your voice, and begin your conversation or request with a smile. Thailand is called "Land of Smiles." Remember: "Lose your cool, and you lose your case." Where appropriate, begin your request with, "Excuse me" in English or in Thai "khaw tote". Many Thais, especially in Bangkok and Chiang Mai (both commercial & popular city), speak some English. However, in speaking English to foreigners, it is best to speak slowly and clearly and in short phrases or single words, even pointing to objects in the immediate environment to get your point across. However, don't raise your voice if the person you are talking to does not respond. Instead repeat yourself in slow, simple English. And once you conclude your exchange, close it with a "Thank you" ---- in Thai "khawp khun khrahp" (for a male speaker) or "khawp khun kaa" (for a female speaker).
Spoken Tones and Basic Grammar: A striking feature of Thai is that it is a tonal language. Each syllable carries a distinct tone. Thai speech has 5 spoken tones. A change in syllable pitch level (high, mid, low) or contour (rising, falling) results in a change in tone and lexical meaning. For example, to come=maa [mid tone]; horse=maa [high tone]; dog=maa [rising tone]; to ride=khee [low tone] ; but excrement=khee [falling tone]. In brief, Thai, like English, is a Subject + Verb + Object [SVO] language.
However, unlike English, modifiers follow the nouns they modify. Questions (e.g., "yes/no"; "right") are asked by adding a question word or phrase at the end of an utterance or by employing "wh-words": what, who, when, why, etc. Counting is carried out with the use of classifiers: 'tua' for animals, 'khone' for people, 'jahn' for platefuls, 'ahn' for things in general, etc. Differences in tone are not shown. The best thing to do is to play the speeches and repeat them aloud until you have mastered them. If you spend 15 minutes a day to learn 5 words you will quickly have enough spoken Thai under your command. Even a few words and phrases will impress the Thais with your willingness to communicate with them in their own language and thereby promote a sense of mutual understanding and appreciation.
Should beware:
In official settings such as temples, government buildings, schools and universities, conservative dress is the appropriate attire. As in many European churches, tourists are barred from entering Thai Buddhists temples if they are wearing shorts; women cannot wear sleeveless blouses inside temple compounds. When meeting with officials or while at formal meetings, men wear long sleeve shirts and a necktie, and women dress in a conservatively as well.
Labels: All about Chiang Mai, Reccomend all attractive places to go and things to eat and join, Thailand
