It gets better.
I'm slowly getting the Thai language. Our Khruu Poi Thai (Thai instructor) taught us the basic pattern in the Thai language - it's basically, Subject + Verb + Object.
For example, the Thai translation for "What is your name?" is "Khun Chuu Arai Krap?" and if we translate the latter in the English text it will sound like "You - To name - What Krap" which follows the Subject + Verb + Object pattern. Krap, on the other hand, is a polite participle injected at the end of every sentence by a male speaker (the female equivalent is Kha). Obviously, Krap and Kha are the Thai versions of our local po and opo.
And when you answer "Khun Chuu Arai Krap?", your response will be "Phom (or Chan for female) Chuu [your name] Krap (or Kha) - the answer will be similar to the question's pattern, albeit different in subject and object. "Just follow the pattern and you're good", words of advice from our Khruu Poi.
And one more thing, learning verbs in Thai is actually considerably "bearable." The verb structure in Thai is far easier than our language. When a foreigner actually has to exhaust his patience in teaching himself the difference between kumain, kumakain, and kakain (the Filipino equivalent of the past, present, and future tense of the proverbial tourists' word "to eat", in that order), the same foreigner only has to concern himself with learning one word - Khin. If he wants to express that he has already eaten, he will just proceed Khin with laew, or Khin laew. And if he relates that he will eat, he will preceed Khin with Ca (pronounced as Ja), or Ca Khin. Cool, right?
The game plan is on. I will have to learn a lot more Thai words in the coming weeks and apply the new vocabulary into constructed sentences. Eight more classes to go and I can consider myself a determined traveler in the Thai language. Nii Ca Sabai Cing Cing! This will be really really good!
But for now, let's order some pizza. I'm hungry or in Thai speak, Phom Hiw Krap!
Ad Agency: Bogle, Bartle, and Hegarty
Client: Google
Great post.Learning different languages is hard but fun.We were able to grasps the culture of every languages we translate.A lost in Thai translation or any translation should not hinder us to know exactly about one's history and culture.. Especially in the ever faster moving world of globalized business, successful information and technology transfer within multinational businesses can make the difference between win or lose.Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read your comment until now, fritz. Thank you and yes, I am enjoying my learning on the Thai language. Khob Khun Krap.
ReplyDelete