How do I start learning Thai?

[john b]

Hi Simon, you question µ the pronunciation is dtor rather than thor thus giving dt in language. I'm still checking out the other word. John.

[simmorg]

Hi Simon, you question µ the pronunciation is dtor rather than thor thus giving dt in language. I'm still checking out the other word. John.

Thanks for your reply. I know that µ is pronounced "dt" in a word but on the Read with Manee section at http://www.learningthai.com/ the pronunciation of the name of the consonant itself sounds like "thor". I've looked at the alphabet song page at http://www.learningthai.com/gorgai_poem.htm and there the name of the consonant sounds like "dtor" when you click on the audio file so I think the Read with Manee audio file is wrong in this case. Ditto for ª where it sounds like "sor" on Read with Manee but "chor" on the alphabet song page. I was taking the pronunciation on Read with Manee as gospel and it turns out not to be the case.

By the way sorry for misinforming you but my name is actually Baz. I got an email account that isn't in my real name many years ago and I'm too lazy to change it.

[ILoveThaiMen]

Sawat-dee kaa :-)

dii-chan chue "Jessica" kaa
chan maa jaak yer ra man.

I hope I've write it correct, please let me know if I have written something wrong.

Hy :-)
I've began to learn Thai a few days ago.
It's very heard for me to learn Thai because I'm from Austria and I can't even speak English *lol* that good, as you can see.
I just wanna ask a few questions.

I only wanted to know what this sentences or words called in Thai, I'll write some words that I wanna know in Thai, please can you translate it for me? I'd be very thankfull.

Here are my words:
What's your favourite Song?
I'm Twenty years old.
I like you very much
Have you got any pets/animals?
Can you do me a favour? (I hope I've write it right) :-)
Leave me alone
I'm tired.
I go to bed now.
I'm very hungry
I have tow dogs called Tammy & Jimmy
I don't know
Maybe
Yes
No
Can I stay tonight?
Do you know what I mean?


I hope you can help me with this words.
I love Thailand and mostly I love Thailand music, I listen to "Clash", "potato", "Loso", Silly Fools" etc. I wish I had a thai friend so that he can teach me some thai :-)

Khorb khun

Best wishes,
Jessy

[David_Loves_Ubonwan]

Thanks for your reply. I know that µ is pronounced "dt" in a word but on the Read with Manee section at http://www.learningthai.com/ the pronunciation of the name of the consonant itself sounds like "thor". I've looked at the alphabet song page at http://www.learningthai.com/gorgai_poem.htm and there the name of the consonant sounds like "dtor" when you click on the audio file so I think the Read with Manee audio file is wrong in this case. Ditto for ª where it sounds like "sor" on Read with Manee but "chor" on the alphabet song page. I was taking the pronunciation on Read with Manee as gospel and it turns out not to be the case.

By the way sorry for misinforming you but my name is actually Baz. I got an email account that isn't in my real name many years ago and I'm too lazy to change it.

ª = Chor
« = Sor

David

[Riga]

Thanks for your reply. I know that µ is pronounced "dt" in a word but on the Read with Manee section at http://www.learningthai.com/ the pronunciation of the name of the consonant itself sounds like "thor". I've looked at the alphabet song page at http://www.learningthai.com/gorgai_poem.htm and there the name of the consonant sounds like "dtor" when you click on the audio file so I think the Read with Manee audio file is wrong in this case. Ditto for ª where it sounds like "sor" on Read with Manee but "chor" on the alphabet song page. I was taking the pronunciation on Read with Manee as gospel and it turns out not to be the case.

By the way sorry for misinforming you but my name is actually Baz. I got an email account that isn't in my real name many years ago and I'm too lazy to change it.

I guess that the problem is you are to concentrated on making connections between thai pronounciation and english transliteration.
The fact that there are many transliteration systems should be a sign of the difficulties that this issue impiles.
We have different perception of the sounds... A Thai person will notice every single change in the tone of your voice, which for you is not that easy to remark. On the other side you will notice other differences in pronounciation that will not be noticed by tha people.
The sounds you hear on web sites are "stressed" and not spoken naturally... They try to make us clear how the words should be pronounced, but I think that sometimes they are missleading because we don't get it the right way

[simmorg]

Sorry to bug people so much about Reading with Manee but I keep seeing things I don't understand. If they teach this to primary school kids and I don't get it then I have no chance of learning Thai.

I notice that Á and ¹ in lesson 1 are stated to be of low tone. And yet the word ÁÒ¹ÕÕÕ "manee" is said to be of mid tone. I think it should be low tone for "maa" and low tone for "nee". So what gives? Is this some grammar rule that I don't know about yet?

In lesson 4 a vowel or tone mark or something that looks like ç is shown above the consonant ¡. This gives the word a falling tone while ¡ is mid tone. I can't find the ç character in any list of the Thai alphabet I've seen including consonants, vowels and tone marks. Read with Manee basically introduced something new with no explanation at all.

I'm not sure if I should post questions like these in another thread or maybe start a new one.

Thanks for the comments on my previous posts.

[Riga]

Probably for a specific question you should start a new thread with a significant title. It helps to keep a certain order in the forum.

Sorry to bug people so much about Reading with Manee but I keep seeing things I don't understand. If they teach this to primary school kids and I don't get it then I have no chance of learning Thai.

I notice that Á and ¹ in lesson 1 are stated to be of low tone.
Be careful, it's probably said that those letter are from the low CLASS. Do not confuse consonant classes with tones. Consonant class will determinate (with tone marks) the syllable tone, accordingly with some rules (tone rules) that you can find here:
http://www.thai-language.com/ref/tonerules
And yet the word ÁÒ¹ÕÕÕ "manee" is said to be of mid tone. I think it should be low tone for "maa" and low tone for "nee". So what gives? Is this some grammar rule that I don't know about yet?

In lesson 4 a vowel or tone mark or something that looks like ç is shown above the consonant ¡. This gives the word a falling tone while ¡ is mid tone. I can't find the ç character in any list of the Thai alphabet I've seen including consonants, vowels and tone marks.
ç is a special symbol: you will find it over the first consonant of a syllable and it will shorten the vowel of the syllable, as you can read here:
http://www.learningthai.com/special_characters.htm
Read with Manee basically introduced something new with no explanation at all.

I'm not sure if I should post questions like these in another thread or maybe start a new one.

Thanks for the comments on my previous posts.

Don't give up. It only need some time, but you will sort it out.
If I did it, everybody would be able to do the same

[Skyrunner]

I took RIGA's word seriously : Don't give up. It only need some time, but you will sort it out. If I did it, everybody would be able to do the same.
I start learning with " Read with Manee" and I'd finished all 22 lessons and I learn to write at the same time. Now I can hear quite a lot of words from Thai onlive TV and YouTube Thai drama. I was exactly like you, it take me a long time to understand the tones, it's really hard, but as you continue to learn you will understand. Class room lesson is always different from street spoken. If you go back to grade 1 class and listen to the teacher you will too notice the different. Try to learn one character at a time until you feel that you can speaker naturally. I learn to say ¡Í ä¡è thousands of times and watch at the mirror to check on my tongue (go youtube and watch how Thai speak). download thai songs and drop them into your iPod and listen while you drive.
Read with Manee is a great lessons to learn Thai online in foreign country. I like the Exercise very much, I still come to review them, it really can help you to learn about the tone.
If you are serious in learning Thai, this is the great site, don't worry about the small mistake you may find here and there and remember RIGA say " Don't give up. . . .
Good Luck.
Skyrunner

[Pailin]

Someone mentioned on here a while ago this great tip: After studying through ».ó in Thai language school books, the Thai becomes much too metaphorical/structural for the farang learner and so students should try goin back down to ».ñ in other subjects.

It's great! I'm just here to share that... As my class is starting ».ó in Thai language, we've also decided to do a ».ñ science book. It's very helpful. The scientific principles are very basic...but we're not hear to learn science. The vocab is wonderful. Our first chapter was the human body...and while we knew all the body parts, we also got to learn about ailments like: Itchy Rashes, Hong Kong Foot, Rickets, etc. New vocab for us! Next week it is "The Animal Kingdom" and then "Plant Life" and on and on... a very helpful addition to our language learning.

[yeows]

I am so envious, Pailin. When will I be able to start formal ».ñ Thai lessons?

Btw, if you have the time, do share with us what you have learnt.