ambivalent experiences

[iGotNoTime]

All those languages! After some time you would begin to either lose your hearing, or even easier lose your interest in putting forth an effort. I mean after so many different flavors of ice cream most people will just stick with vanilla the rest of their life right? I would think that after that much exposure everything would seem very bland and boring.

I am not being negative, more so just curious.

[trangam]

About the 'respect thing' there are some people who cannot easily pick up a language like most... unless they go through classes. They have a certain block and do not mean otherwise. I have known some...

Actually, I have travelled a lot across my own country with every place having different languages. I never felt lost and always feel I can 'communicate' with people even though I cannot speak the language at times. While many of my friends often go into a shell when entering a world that does not speak their known or native language.

Just a thought I carry...

[FaranginPhetch]

Trangam, I feel the same as you, When I want or need something special I have better luck just going to get it without the help of my wife, I have better luck at being understood than with her help and she is Thai.

Maybe the reason that we feel more comfortable than most is due to so much traveling for so many years. I always seem to be comfortable no matter where I go.

[David_Loves_Ubonwan]

You know I have often wondered about that very concept. No offense to the Brits here, but the British have a reputation for being pompous and a bit haughty about English being their language and everyone else not knowing proper English. So with that said, I have always wondered why Americans seem so accepting of people making attempts at English.

I think you mean the English there not the British. Most fellow Welsh people, even those that don't speak anything but English, in my experience realise we are borrowing a language.

I have spent a long time travelling over the years and quickly learnt that when speaking to a non native English speaker somethings are better understood with the words in the wrong order. I often get asked "Where do you come from? We know you are not English because we understand you too well!".

David

[SiamJai]

there are some people who cannot easily pick up a language like most... unless they go through classes. They have a certain block and do not mean otherwise.

I know what you mean, Trangam. I think our brains are wired in a way that everyone has this 'block' in some aspects of life. For instance, I'm OK with languages, but I have difficulty with math.

The problem comes when people use this 'block' as an excuse for a shortcoming. When I decided to become a scientist, I didn't tell my professors 'oh, but I have this innate difficulty with math, please go easy on me'. Instead, I sat down on my ass, and put extra effort into my calculus and stats studies to keep up with the others. It worked: no-one could tell from my grades that I'm less able in math than in other subjects.

Now, when one is hopping from country to country, there is no need to learn the language and culture of each. However, the matter is entirely different, when it comes to living in a foreign land on the long term. Only through language can one gain a true understanding of the innermost workings of a culture. Without it, one is confined to a very narrow and shallow worldview. Therefore it's ironic, but not surprising, that the most fervent complaints about expat life usually come from people who barely speak the native tongue after decades of living there.

iGotNoTime: thank you for your kind words of appreciation, the feeling is mutual. Although America didn't impress me, learning its language was one of the best things happened to me. It opened my life to a vast expansive world, filled with interesting people and ideas - including those of Thailand. I wouldn't be able to learn Thai now, if I didn't learn English beforehand. At that time, I had my fair share of naysayers, but I chose to ignore them and just went ahead with the goal in mind. I'll do the same now, and I suggest it to all who take a real effort to learn Thai.

[Betti]

I would say motivation is also a key factor besides aptitude. I'm pretty good at languages, but I haven't been able to learn more than three because English is just so convenient, I have the feeling it makes learning other European languages almost superfluous, at least for educated, well-travelled young people - unless one actually lives in another country. this has simply made me lazy. and now this is striking back. I feel motivated but despite being a teacher and linguist, I just don't have an ass for sitting down and suffering and learning the boring way, though I know I should. it is also kinda difficult after 9 hours of pretty intensive working Mon-Fri, my brain is rather numb, as my posts also reflect it luckily, I can pick up a lot of Thai from the two-year-olds at school, and from the teachers speaking to the two-year-olds; you can imagine my pronunciation and especially my vocabulary the reading practice for the four-year-olds is also quite useful. my colleagues find my Thai very funny, but it is a nice motivating setting, as they speak very little English. so, motivation helps me out for the time being, I'll see how the situation develops later. and of course there is always the consolation that Thai is much easier than Chinese: that language defeated me completely.

[iGotNoTime]

Ooops David I am very sorry, yes I meant the English.

SiamJai I don't agree, though you expected me to I am sure. LOL

I even expected myself to agree, but put more thought into it. When I was growing up, I delivered newspapers to about 100 houses for extra money. When I went to collect there was an old man in his seventies that only smiled and handed me a $10 bill never accepting the change. The man waved at me every morning, as he did the whole village. He let all the kids pet his little dog as he walked her everyday. He even gave candy to kids as they came home from school. One cold morning he gave me a cup of hot chocolate and spoke. I could not understand a word he said.

It turns out he was from Italy, and the only English anyone ever heard him speak was hello, goodbye and thank you. As we got older the neighborhood gang of 12 year olds spread toilet paper all over the neighborhood. But his house was avoided, not by my say, but the entire group didn't want to do it to him, he was too nice. My friend's parents after we all got punished complimented us on leaving the nice man's house alone that day. They said it doesn't matter if he can't speak English, he has a very good heart and does not cause anyone any trouble at all.

I don't know his story as far as travel mileage, but my point is... Well you all get my point. But the difference I think is age. If someone is ending up in a spot, as long as they are a good person and make that evident all should be ok. But if we are talking about a 30 year old person who wants to live in a place I do feel they should adapt their lifestyle to become more like those around them out of respect, or if nothing else out of gratitude.

[rcalaimo]

America has many pockets of culture where other languages are used instead of English. You just don' t come across them unless you find yourself in those areas.
In a way, it is similar to what is being said in this topic. In other countries there are people who just associate with people who speak their language and avoid the native language.
Why? Probably because of familiarity. People tend to flock together as other species do.
In Hawaii , most government information is printed in 5 languages so people will understand the information.
Personally, I think learning the new language gives a much better experience.

[Bagwan]

I'm sorry but this cannot possibly be true. How many Thai's are there that can't speak Thai?
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Practically all the inhabitants of the 3 most southerly provinces of Thailand for a start. Then there are the hill people of the Far North.

My thai is with a distinct Isan accent. Even the country's CEO (for want of a phrase) complains that people in BKK don't understand him.