Thailand Language For The Novice |
Though you will encounter many different dialects spoken in different areas when you visit hotels in Thailand, most of them involve a consistent small number of tonal inflections (rising and falling tones mixed with middles, highs and lows). People in western cultures usually have difficulty mastering Thai because of the tones used. Fortunately (for travelers and tourists), most signs throughout Thailand offer English as well as Thai. However, learning to appreciate the language and communicate with Thais in their official tongue will help to ingratiate you to the people you’ll meet. Communicating with Thais  When you visit Thailand, you’ll find that most Thais will appreciate any effort you make in trying to communicate with them using their native language. It matters less that you pronounce words incorrectly. They often understand that people from western countries find it very hard to use the tonal inflections of Thai effectively. Also, most of the Thais who have jobs with exposure to foreigners speak English (and in limited cases, Japanese, German and other languages) well. That being said, try to speak in Thai first. It’s an old language and the culture has used it for hundreds of years. Your effort will show respect for a culture with a proud history. Some words and phrases to get you going
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