Repeat after me - Please, I beg you! | Bangkok Post: lifestyle

Where to dine & chill out
What's on
- Arts & culture events
- Consumer fairs
Review
Women
Family
Arts
Music
Film
Food
Interview
Culture
Book
Charities
Horo
Games

Lifestyle > Family

Repeat after me - Please, I beg you!

The complications of communication in this country can test the mettle of even the most seasoned pro, but as Andrew Biggs has learned, sometimes it's better to lose the linguist angst

Published: 3 Feb 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Brunch

Does this happen to you, too? In Thailand, do you suddenly find yourself in situations where you think _ why? Why is this happening to me?

I just ordered a pizza. Actually it was three, and no, it's not because I'm prepping for that new Thai TV show that started last night called, of all things, Dance Your Fat Off.

(Haven't seen it yet but loved the pre-publicity: ''Fat people take to dancing to lose weight. Each week, the person who's lost the least amount of weight gets booted off.'' Looks to me like the bastard, sadly-deformed-at-birth child of Dancing With the Stars and The Biggest Loser. Expect a column out of it when I do get to see it.)

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Most Viewed

Cinemas refuse to cut ticket prices

Thailand's leading cinema operators, Major Cineplex and SF Cinema Group, insist they will hold ticket prices at current levels, and claim their popcorn is expensive because it is imported.

Forum

Your comments

anna
Post : 14
Send message

Discussion 4 : 04 Feb 2013 at 11.014
Post this to my Facebook
You need not use l'aticle indéfini "un" in front of your nationality Australien. Je suis Australien is proper. They can look at the spelling and infer you're a male person. Let's put it this way, it's difficult for Thai(s) to pronounce foreign words perfectly if it's their second or third language. It won't be a problem if they are taught properly at a young age by the native French or English speaker and not a Thai.
Like dislike 4 people liked / 2 people disliked this comment
thailife69
Post : 106
Send message

Discussion 3 : 03 Feb 2013 at 13.573
Post this to my Facebook
De luxe [duh-luhks, - loo ks]

Making the tongue in cheek more pronounced, it strikes me as odd as to why a linguist is asking such questions, could it be Mr. Vodka? It's very Victorian!

"Why is it that perfectly good English words get ripped to shreds when pronounced in Thai?"
For the same reason that perfect good Thai words get ripped to shreds when pronounced in English!

Did the Americans bastardise good English vowels or was it the English bastardising their own language. Try accepting American English as real English, it has not developed in 400 years.
Like dislike 9 people liked / 4 people disliked this comment
ricardo
Post : 159
Send message

Discussion 2 : 03 Feb 2013 at 12.292
Post this to my Facebook
Another good read. I await any topics on the BTS!
Like dislike 3 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
tpubon
Post : 7
Send message

Discussion 1 : 03 Feb 2013 at 08.071
Post this to my Facebook
Mr. Biggs, I thoroughly enjoy your articles.
Like dislike 10 people liked / 3 people disliked this comment