Why do many expats not bother to learn to read?

Thai language section, ask your language questions here.
Post Reply
RCer
Ace
Ace
Posts: 1294
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2016 12:48 pm

Re: Why do many expats not bother to learn to read?

Post by RCer »

Every country I've been in they are always pleased when you take the time to learn and use common courtesies like hello, thank you, etc.

They also delight in teaching you new words if only to watch you struggle with them. The main difficulty for native English speakers is the sentence structure.

Thailand is no different.
HHTel
Hero
Hero
Posts: 10816
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:44 pm

Re: Why do many expats not bother to learn to read?

Post by HHTel »

Our Sid is a movie star!

User avatar
JimmyGreaves
Legend
Legend
Posts: 2913
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:06 am
Location: HuaEireHin

Re: Why do many expats not bother to learn to read?

Post by JimmyGreaves »

sidthesloth wrote:
dtaai-maai wrote:Not everyone has the language ability you have presumably been gifted with.
JimmyGreaves wrote:Too bloody busy!!
Really? You're too busy to learn the language of the host country you've spent decades in?
Real question, what are you so busy doing? Have you actually considered how much time it would take?
Not your business why I'm too busy but I am. I do the best I can learning from interaction, if I wasn't too busy I would learn the conventional way!
Diplomacy is the ability to tell a man to go to hell so that he looks forward to making the trip
User avatar
Chazz14
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 248
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2014 10:55 pm
Location: Amphur Cha Am

Re: Why do many expats not bother to learn to read?

Post by Chazz14 »

Quoted by Mrs Chazz on too many occasions:

"When you speak Thai I no understand - when you speak English it's OK."

It's lucky I've got the patience of a Saint - not!!
User avatar
StevePIraq
Rock Star
Rock Star
Posts: 3043
Joined: Sat Jun 28, 2008 1:21 pm
Location: Ting Tong Land

Re: Why do many expats not bother to learn to read?

Post by StevePIraq »

Pointless to discuss this seen as the sloth will not expand on the original meaningless post
"Live everyday as if it were your last because someday you're going to be right." Muhammad Ali
sidthesloth
Amateur
Amateur
Posts: 49
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 6:31 pm

Re: Why do many expats not bother to learn to read?

Post by sidthesloth »

StevePIraq wrote:Pointless to discuss this seen as the sloth will not expand on the original meaningless post
what needs expanding?

grown men can't read traffic signs. personally, I would find that humiliating.
but this thread show it's not beyond these same illiterates to rationalise it away by arguing that their brains just aren't good enough
User avatar
Kraka's Dad
Guru
Guru
Posts: 787
Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2004 8:47 pm
Location: Wales UK

Re: Why do many expats not bother to learn to read?

Post by Kraka's Dad »

sidthesloth wrote:
StevePIraq wrote:Pointless to discuss this seen as the sloth will not expand on the original meaningless post
what needs expanding?

grown men can't read traffic signs. personally, I would find that humiliating.
but this thread show it's not beyond these same illiterates to rationalise it away by arguing that their brains just aren't good enough
They are saying their brains are different and not that they are not good enough or is it that your brain is not good enough to understand that !!

:cheers:
The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.
Takiap
Rock Star
Rock Star
Posts: 3550
Joined: Sun Apr 09, 2006 1:55 pm
Location: Bo Fai

Re: Why do many expats not bother to learn to read?

Post by Takiap »

Sidthesloth......



We are living in a society where people believe you can place a sticker on your car to convince imaginary guardian angels that your car is a different color; a society where people believe that dolls, bought at toy stores, can protect them from harm.

Now, if I could read, write, and speak fluent Thai, and I got into a conversation about such things, I have absolutely no doubt that it would end in a disaster.


For me, not being able to fully understand the Thai language is blissful; it allows me to live here without losing my sanity.


Anyway, my guess is that you are from the UK. A good sense of humor and a real wind-up merchant - love it. :thumb:
Don't try to impress me with your manner of dress cos a monkey himself is a monkey no less - cold fact
User avatar
Name Taken
Suspended
Suspended
Posts: 1025
Joined: Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:57 pm

Re: Why do many expats not bother to learn to read?

Post by Name Taken »

Takiap wrote:Sidthesloth......



We are living in a society where people believe you can place a sticker on your car to convince imaginary guardian angels that your car is a different color; a society where people believe that dolls, bought at toy stores, can protect them from harm.

Now, if I could read, write, and speak fluent Thai, and I got into a conversation about such things, I have absolutely no doubt that it would end in a disaster.


For me, not being able to fully understand the Thai language is blissful; it allows me to live here without losing my sanity.


Anyway, my guess is that you are from the UK. A good sense of humor and a real wind-up merchant - love it. :thumb:
:agree:
Me too.
I think seeing a sticker on a black car saying "This Car is Green" would confuse the heck out of me but I guess Thai people are used to these strange 'superstitions'.
Deep Blue
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 155
Joined: Tue Jun 23, 2015 1:05 pm

Re: Why do many expats not bother to learn to read?

Post by Deep Blue »

Takiap wrote:Sidthesloth......



We are living in a society where people believe you can place a sticker on your car to convince imaginary guardian angels that your car is a different color; a society where people believe that dolls, bought at toy stores, can protect them from harm.

Now, if I could read, write, and speak fluent Thai, and I got into a conversation about such things, I have absolutely no doubt that it would end in a disaster.


For me, not being able to fully understand the Thai language is blissful; it allows me to live here without losing my sanity.


Anyway, my guess is that you are from the UK. A good sense of humor and a real wind-up merchant - love it. :thumb:
Yeah, same here - since I moved here, I started reading about their politics and I get pissed-off, when probably it would be better for me not knowing or thinking about it, but I'm not wired that way.
User avatar
jimk
Amateur
Amateur
Posts: 46
Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2009 1:34 pm

Re: Why do many expats not bother to learn to read?

Post by jimk »

I must admit it has never occurred to me to learn to read and write Thai, and no, Sidthetroll, I don't feel the least bit humiliated. Just as I didn't feel humiliated at not learning to read and write in Arabic script when I lived in Iran, or in Chinese hieroglyphics when I lived in Hong Kong. But hey, I can top that. You'll be stunned to learn that I was born and raised in Scotland, but I can neither read, write nor speak Gaelic. Oh, the mortification! What's more, by remaining such an ignoramus I've had to forgo the right to look down my nose at people who don't read Thai, and who drink Chang beer, and socialise with Thai women who hate them -- but I'll just have to live with that.
handdrummer
Addict
Addict
Posts: 5389
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 11:58 am

Re: Why do many expats not bother to learn to read?

Post by handdrummer »

why learn a dead language?
sidthesloth
Amateur
Amateur
Posts: 49
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 6:31 pm

Re: Why do many expats not bother to learn to read?

Post by sidthesloth »

handdrummer wrote:why learn a dead language?
I think you'll find you'll be dead long before the Thai language

:guns:
User avatar
caller
Hero
Hero
Posts: 10977
Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 6:05 pm
Location: Hua Hin

Re: Why do many expats not bother to learn to read?

Post by caller »

jimk wrote:I must admit it has never occurred to me to learn to read and write Thai, and no, Sidthetroll, I don't feel the least bit humiliated. Just as I didn't feel humiliated at not learning to read and write in Arabic script when I lived in Iran, or in Chinese hieroglyphics when I lived in Hong Kong. But hey, I can top that. You'll be stunned to learn that I was born and raised in Scotland, but I can neither read, write nor speak Gaelic. Oh, the mortification! What's more, by remaining such an ignoramus I've had to forgo the right to look down my nose at people who don't read Thai, and who drink Chang beer, and socialise with Thai women who hate them -- but I'll just have to live with that.
The perfect response to a wind-up merchant.

Has Sid said if he speaks Thai and how he learnt? What his background is that enabled him to become so wise, or are we beginning to get to the end game?
Talk is cheap
User avatar
Dannie Boy
Hero
Hero
Posts: 12098
Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2010 8:12 pm
Location: Closer to Cha Am than Hua Hin

Re: Why do many expats not bother to learn to read?

Post by Dannie Boy »

caller wrote:
jimk wrote:I must admit it has never occurred to me to learn to read and write Thai, and no, Sidthetroll, I don't feel the least bit humiliated. Just as I didn't feel humiliated at not learning to read and write in Arabic script when I lived in Iran, or in Chinese hieroglyphics when I lived in Hong Kong. But hey, I can top that. You'll be stunned to learn that I was born and raised in Scotland, but I can neither read, write nor speak Gaelic. Oh, the mortification! What's more, by remaining such an ignoramus I've had to forgo the right to look down my nose at people who don't read Thai, and who drink Chang beer, and socialise with Thai women who hate them -- but I'll just have to live with that.
The perfect response to a wind-up merchant.

Has Sid said if he speaks Thai and how he learnt? What his background is that enabled him to become so wise, or are we beginning to get to the end game?
This is an extract from one of his quotes above
"Now, if I could read, write, and speak fluent Thai, and I got into a conversation about such things, I have absolutely no doubt that it would end in a disaster." so he's clearly not fluent in Thai, although pretty good as a windup merchant :thumb:
Post Reply