Kao's many meanings

[Ratsima]

After learning that Thai was one of the world's most difficult languages to learn, I didn't feel so bad about my inability to learn it. Also, it's difficult to learn a language at age 75+.

Thai shouldn't be hard to learn. The grammar is not complex. There are no tenses to figure out and no complicated verb conjugations. The spelling is mostly regular and largely phonetic. The script looks daunting, but is really not that complicated. The tones are hard to fathom for someone who comes from a language that uses tones in a different way. (We use tones in English, just not as a distinguishing feature for words.)

So, why is it so hard? Why can so many people around the world learn English, which is complicated, irregular and wildly diverse, while those of us who have spent time, money and effort to learn Thai have failed so miserably?

I have a theory which I'm sure would be wildly derided, so I won't expound on it, but it has to do with how Thais deal with less-than-perfect spoken Thai.

[HHTel]

[migrant]

I have a theory which I'm sure would be wildly derided, so I won't expound on it, but it has to do with how Thais deal with less-than-perfect spoken Thai.

Aww c'mon share!

[Ratsima]

Perhaps. I just got back to the hellhole of Korat after a delightful week in Cha Am. I need some time to unwind.

[handdrummer]

After learning that Thai was one of the world's most difficult languages to learn, I didn't feel so bad about my inability to learn it. Also, it's difficult to learn a language at age 75+.

Thai shouldn't be hard to learn. The grammar is not complex. There are no tenses to figure out and no complicated verb conjugations. The spelling is mostly regular and largely phonetic. The script looks daunting, but is really not that complicated. The tones are hard to fathom for someone who comes from a language that uses tones in a different way. (We use tones in English, just not as a distinguishing feature for words.)

So, why is it so hard? Why can so many people around the world learn English, which is complicated, irregular and wildly diverse, while those of us who have spent time, money and effort to learn Thai have failed so miserably?

I have a theory which I'm sure would be wildly derided, so I won't expound on it, but it has to do with how Thais deal with less-than-perfect spoken Thai.

In my case, along with age, the type of hearing loss I have makes it difficult to discern the pitch. I think Pete Townsend, from the Who, has the same problem. He has to use a tuning gauge to tune his guitar and has difficulty distinguishing notes. I can hear the difference between B and Bb, but can't hear which one is higher or lower. Not good for learning Thai.

Re, "less than perfect spoken Thai," it gives the ego-driven Thais something to gloat about.

[Ratsima]

I also have trouble with discerning pitch. As a kid people asked why I only used one note when singing. Now it’s why do I only use one tone when speaking Thai.

[pharvey]

Always thought it was "Gao" And was told there was a saying - "The white man eats white rice", literally "Gao, gao, gao, gao, gao".... !! Yep, sure it's wrong, but.......

[HHTel]

คนขาวกินข้าวขาว
Khn k̄hāw kin k̄ĥāw k̄hāw

[Ratsima]

Always thought it was "Gao" And was told there was a saying - "The white man eats white rice", literally "Gao, gao, gao, gao, gao".... !! Yep, sure it's wrong, but.......

This is another problem with Romanizations of Thai. When the initial consonant is "ก", which is voiced, it's still often written with a "kh" which is unvoiced. Guaranteed to confuse.