Letters 'kh' and 'ng' in Thai, asking for water, etc.

[Ratsima]

Ao vs. koh, I wonder if koh is one of those words that Thais can use with each other, but a farang is advised to be more polite? Would be good to know.

It might be the other way around, with koh considered to be more polite.

Incidentally, I think I will start using khrap and not khap, when I hear it spoken using the Thai 'r' which is almost an 'l' it it always sounds nicer.

The Thai language shift from "r" to "l" is fascinating to me. It's not uncommon for languages to experience such shifts, some of which have happened with great rapidity.

When I hear my wife talk, she almost always uses "ล" even though the word is spelled with "ร". For example, รับ (receive) always sounds like ลับ to me even though that's a completely different word.

[404cameljockey]

The Thai language shift from "r" to "l" is fascinating to me. It's not uncommon for languages to experience such shifts, some of which have happened with great rapidity.

When I hear my wife talk, she almost always uses "ล" even though the word is spelled with "ร". For example, รับ (receive) always sounds like ลับ to me even though that's a completely different word.

Thai linguists usually admit that the 'l' is from laziness. We have many examples in English too; language is fluid.

I aspire to your level of understanding, and know that I have to bite the bullet and read that gddmnd book and use the lessons. No Thai wife though!

[Ratsima]

Thai linguists usually admit that the 'l' is from laziness. We have many examples in English too; language is fluid.

I've often wondered whether or not it's a genuine shift or just a fad. Kind of like that annoying nasal (velum always open) fad that surfaced a while ago and which seems to have mercifully faded a bit.

I aspire to your level of understanding, and know that I have to bite the bullet and read that gddmnd book and use the lessons. No Thai wife though!

My wife knew a losing cause when she saw it and gave up helping me with Thai many years ago. We have a sort of tacit agreement that we won't discuss the Thai language. This has resulted in a more peaceful relationship.

I pronounce almost everything incorrectly. When she realized she'd never be able to get me to say things properly, she just stopped trying. I don't blame her.

Since I don't actually know any Thai people with whom I might converse, my conversational ability is pretty much zilch.

I can deal with baristas, 7Eleven clerks and waitresses, but that's about it.

[hhinner]

Ao vs. koh, I wonder if koh is one of those words that Thais can use with each other, but a farang is advised to be more polite? Would be good to know.

It might be the other way around, with koh considered to be more polite.

Incidentally, I think I will start using khrap and not khap, when I hear it spoken using the Thai 'r' which is almost an 'l' it it always sounds nicer.

The Thai language shift from "r" to "l" is fascinating to me. It's not uncommon for languages to experience such shifts, some of which have happened with great rapidity.

When I hear my wife talk, she almost always uses "ล" even though the word is spelled with "ร". For example, รับ (receive) always sounds like ลับ to me even though that's a completely different word.

Agree ขอ (kho) is more polite when requesting something, though there's no problem with เอา (ao). And khrap makes it polite anyway. Think kho = please, ao = I want, I (will) take.

Khrap is more usual than khap. Never heard khrap spoken as khlap.

นำ means either bring or take (to) and as such is usually used with an auxiliary verb: นำน้ำไป (take water (to)), นำน้ำมา (bring water).

[VincentD]

Both 'khor Naam plow' and 'ow Naam plow' can be used, 'khor' is more akin to asking for. A context of use would be if you're in a line at a counter and ask the server for water, the 'khor' is more appropriate. However, if you're seated at a table and the server asks for your order, you'd be more inclined to say 'ow Naam plow' in the context of an answer.
Both can be used, so don't worry..

[Ratsima]

That's interesting and pretty much corresponds with what I'd been told.

Oddly, the place where I hear "ow" most often is in line at the Amazon coffee shop that I frequent.

Fortunately, I'm such a regular customer that I don't have to say anything anymore.