Introductions

Hello Everyone! 

This first blog entry (and probably the next few) is dedicated to my three amazing years in Thailand that, alas, is coming to an end.

During this time I have been updating my family back home in a regular newsletter, written in Afrikaans*, my native tongue. But I have since made so many wonderful friends from across the globe that I have decided to a lingo-leap of faith, sharing my personal thoughts in English**.

English writing has always been part of my day job in technical/environmental and lately humanitarian writing, and as my professor Johann taught me decades ago: good journalism is never adulterated with personal opinion. So, please bear with me – I hope to find my literary feet - eventually.

While we’re on the subject, let’s focus this posting on language.

For me this little statue
 on the grounds of the
 Grand Palace embodies
 how I view Bangkok:
 a city with attitude! 

I love Thailand, the people, the climate, the culture, the food, the skytrain in Bangkok. But oh man, The Language is a nightmare! The script is beautiful but try to make sense of an alphabet with 22 vowels, 44 consonants and each word potentially having five different pronunciations, in sentences  written without spacing between the words! I’m serious! I am doing my utmost, but when the words for ‘beautiful’ and ‘bad luck’ sound 99,999% similar to the non-Thai ear, can you imagine the potential response you will get in using the wrong one? The words for ‘glass of water’ and ‘fish sauce’ is also similar, resulting in serious confusion when I ask for a glass of fish sauce with my meal! The difference between the words for breast milk and cow milk is said to be a slight variance in pronunciation. The list of examples is endless. 

What a wonderfully interesting, confusing experience I have been having these last three years, don’t you think?!

I love Thai people, their gentle disposition, politeness, and their often quirky use of the English language.  I have sympathy with that - I am not a native speaker myself! 


During my first year as an English Conversation teacher in the far north of the country, I always encouraged the students to at least try –“ your English is better than my Thai, so come on, give it a go.” To no avail; Thai culture is excessively fearful of losing face. As a result, Thai people’s English is rather poor compared to many of their counterparts in Asia. I read the following in the Bangkok Post, stated by a prominent academic: "At school they learn to conform, to be obedient and to memorise... The be all and end all of the Thai system is to pass exams.” How unfortunate. So much untapped potential.

Part of my job as Communications Manager for World Vision Thailand, is English editing. I was recently asked to edit a piece (translated from Thai to English by who know whom) that dealt with our office’s security measures. In case of fire, this is what the unfortunate employees have to do: If a fire. Objects or objects suspected dangerous part-time job in addition to notice security guards. And then to notify the following people in each cell phone immediately. Phone number of each person is equipped to provide all employees know where the layers are seen easily in the office.

Huh?  Yes, that was my reaction too. Yes, I had to edit that. I smell Google Translator.

No, this photo has nothing to do with the subject
under discussion. It merely shows what an
 amazing time I've been having here in
 the Land of Smiles! 

Relax, my intention is definitely not to ridicule my fellow Thais. I adore them. I have had the most remarkable Thai colleagues and friends, and I will always remember them all with love and fondness. Thailand has been my home for three years. I understand their frustrations with the English language all too well!

I also find the word confusions very entertaining. For some reason there is a mix-up between the meanings of ‘children’ and ‘students’. When, as I teacher, I was asked how many students I had and replied that I am often overwhelmed by the 500 in my care, people reacted in shock. Until I realised they were merely enquiring about my brood of two back home.

Or the confusion between ‘beach’ and ‘beast’. Can you imagine how interesting this could turn out! I once attended a church service where I initially couldn’t figure out what the translator was talking about – “golly” and “Paris” just did not fit into the flow of the message. Until I realised she meant to say “godly” and “perish”. 

Oh, how I will miss all of this!

Scrubbing those boots for the next journey,

Renate

*Those interested in reading these newsletters (yes, in Afrikaans), please refer to the Archive (when I’ve figured out how to upload them!).

**This is a blog, not a language test, so if my punctuation or language is not to your liking, you should either stop reading or sit back and enjoy the ride (and its grammatical glitches) with me.