Comments on: Learning Thai is More Than a Study of Words & Grammar – Part 1 http://womenlearnthai.com/index.php/why-learning-the-thai-language-needs-to-be-more-than-a-study-of-words-and-grammar/ Expat making her way through the Thai language and culture Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:56:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Women Learning Thai… and some men too ;-) » Learning Thai is More Than a Study of Words & Grammar – Part 2 http://womenlearnthai.com/index.php/why-learning-the-thai-language-needs-to-be-more-than-a-study-of-words-and-grammar/#comment-1955 Women Learning Thai… and some men too ;-) » Learning Thai is More Than a Study of Words & Grammar – Part 2 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 01:05:27 +0000 http://womenlearnthai.com/?p=5560#comment-1955 [...] my last post, I talked about the fact that the Thai language is what is known as a HIGH context language. I [...] [...] my last post, I talked about the fact that the Thai language is what is known as a HIGH context language. I [...]

]]> By: Catherine http://womenlearnthai.com/index.php/why-learning-the-thai-language-needs-to-be-more-than-a-study-of-words-and-grammar/#comment-1631 Catherine Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:58:17 +0000 http://womenlearnthai.com/?p=5560#comment-1631 Ah, Paula being at the language school is perfect. I'll ask around here as I know quite a few expats working for Thai companies. And the British, well, I haven't figured them out either (although 'Watching the English' did have a lot of ah ha's :-) so I'll be looking forward to seeing what you come up with in the UK. Ah, Paula being at the language school is perfect. I’ll ask around here as I know quite a few expats working for Thai companies. And the British, well, I haven’t figured them out either (although ‘Watching the English’ did have a lot of ah ha’s :-) so I’ll be looking forward to seeing what you come up with in the UK.

]]> By: Tina http://womenlearnthai.com/index.php/why-learning-the-thai-language-needs-to-be-more-than-a-study-of-words-and-grammar/#comment-1630 Tina Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:22:05 +0000 http://womenlearnthai.com/?p=5560#comment-1630 Now that's an idea Cat. We could really have fun with this. I'm in England at the moment, so I can try and see what happens here... I'll ask Paula at the language school to notify me of any examples she experiences :-) Now that’s an idea Cat. We could really have fun with this. I’m in England at the moment, so I can try and see what happens here… I’ll ask Paula at the language school to notify me of any examples she experiences :-)

]]> By: Catherine http://womenlearnthai.com/index.php/why-learning-the-thai-language-needs-to-be-more-than-a-study-of-words-and-grammar/#comment-1628 Catherine Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:19:18 +0000 http://womenlearnthai.com/?p=5560#comment-1628 Tina, it is complex and great fun to think about at the same time. I'm going to try what you suggested in the coming weeks to see how it works. Not to intentionally upset anyone, but to see if I can get a minor response. And I'll ask my Thai teacher if that is what she is getting from me too. She's pretty aware of the differences so it'll be interesting. Tina, it is complex and great fun to think about at the same time. I’m going to try what you suggested in the coming weeks to see how it works. Not to intentionally upset anyone, but to see if I can get a minor response. And I’ll ask my Thai teacher if that is what she is getting from me too. She’s pretty aware of the differences so it’ll be interesting.

]]> By: Tina http://womenlearnthai.com/index.php/why-learning-the-thai-language-needs-to-be-more-than-a-study-of-words-and-grammar/#comment-1627 Tina Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:58:58 +0000 http://womenlearnthai.com/?p=5560#comment-1627 Hi Abbie, Martyn, Cat & anyone else following I’ve been pondering on the comments about some western cultures wearing just as much a mask with their “politeness”, as the Thais do with their “high context” language. It’s a complex subject, and one that I've tried to simplify in the article, using the most common expression as an example… mai pen rai was the most obvious example to use because it is so well known to many…and it causes so many frustrations… but it is just one example… I think the main difference between the high context language of the Thais and the “politeness” of westerners – is that the Thai people tend to expect you to understand what they really mean. As far as they are aware – they have communicated what they really mean – but in a different way. If you then behave in a way which demonstrates that you took their words literally, and actually didn’t understand them at all – they can actually get quite angry (if you’re close enough). With westerners we generally tend to totally hide what we really think, and wouldn’t expect someone to understand that although we said it was ok, it actually wasn’t ok at all… So if someone demonstrated that they had taken our words literally – we wouldn’t be so inclined as to get angry – more likely we would think that it was our fault for not communicating that there was in fact a problem… At least that’s my experience…(being English!), but I guess even western cultures can differ quite considerably. I hope that makes sense? Hi Abbie, Martyn, Cat & anyone else following

I’ve been pondering on the comments about some western cultures wearing just as much a mask with their “politeness”, as the Thais do with their “high context” language.

It’s a complex subject, and one that I’ve tried to simplify in the article, using the most common expression as an example… mai pen rai was the most obvious example to use because it is so well known to many…and it causes so many frustrations… but it is just one example…

I think the main difference between the high context language of the Thais and the “politeness” of westerners – is that the Thai people tend to expect you to understand what they really mean. As far as they are aware – they have communicated what they really mean – but in a different way. If you then behave in a way which demonstrates that you took their words literally, and actually didn’t understand them at all – they can actually get quite angry (if you’re close enough). With westerners we generally tend to totally hide what we really think, and wouldn’t expect someone to understand that although we said it was ok, it actually wasn’t ok at all… So if someone demonstrated that they had taken our words literally – we wouldn’t be so inclined as to get angry – more likely we would think that it was our fault for not communicating that there was in fact a problem…

At least that’s my experience…(being English!), but I guess even western cultures can differ quite considerably.

I hope that makes sense?

]]> By: Catherine http://womenlearnthai.com/index.php/why-learning-the-thai-language-needs-to-be-more-than-a-study-of-words-and-grammar/#comment-1617 Catherine Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:33:44 +0000 http://womenlearnthai.com/?p=5560#comment-1617 Good, I thought 'exciting' was correct. I go to your blog when I want a lift because you are always blowing me away. So I wasn't sure if I was projecting my own feelings. 'introverted/shy/anti-social' That is me totally and it is a problem. I'm past the point where I must do something to jerk myself out of it but I'm still here, being a hermit. Good, I thought ‘exciting’ was correct. I go to your blog when I want a lift because you are always blowing me away. So I wasn’t sure if I was projecting my own feelings.

‘introverted/shy/anti-social’

That is me totally and it is a problem. I’m past the point where I must do something to jerk myself out of it but I’m still here, being a hermit.

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