Thai Langauge
Thai is one of the oldest languages in East and South-East Asia. It is a monosyllabic language which uses five tones (high, mid, low, rising, and falling tone) to alter the meaning of a single syllable. This makes it rather tricky to learn for most Westerners used to speaking non-tonal languages.
The Thai script, introduced by King Rham Khamhaeng in 1283, consists of 44 consonants and 48 vowels, and is of Sanskrit origin.
Words and Phrases
When being polite the speaker ends his or her sentence with 'khrap' (for men) or 'kha' (for women). khrap and kha are also commonly used to answer 'yes' or to show agreement.
In the following examples tones are represented by colours (High, Mid, Low, Rising, Falling)
English
Thai
I
Phom (men)Deechan (women)
NoNo? - Isn't it?
Mai chaiMai - Chai mai
You
Khun (for peers)Thaan (for elders)
Good
Dee
Thank you
Khawp Khun (khrap/kha)
Like
Chawp
Hello
Sawatdee (khrap/kha)
Hello Paul
Sawatdee (khrap/kha) Khun Paul
Understand
Khao jai
I understand
Khao jai (khrap/kha)
Don't understand
Mai khao jai
I don't understand
Mai khao jai (khrap/kha)
Excuse meSorry
Kor tot
I'm sorryExcuse me please
Kor tot (khrap/kha)
Today
Wan nee
John is going today
Khun John pai wan nee
Tomorrow
Prung nee
Go tomorrow
Pai prung nee (khrap/kha)
Yesterday
Meua waan
Good
Dee
How much
Tao rai
How much is this
Nee tao rai (khrap/kha)
Where
Tee nai
Where is the bathroom
Hong naam tee nai (khrap/kha)
When
Meu arai
Go to Pattaya when
Pai Pattaya meuarai (khrap/kha)
This
Nee
Bathroom
Hong naam
Go
Pai
I'm not going
Mai pai (khrap/kha)
Soure:http://www.amazing-thailand.com/Lang.html
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
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