onirbansharma

I try not to use difficult or long words, when I speak with TGs, but I speak "normal" English. When I write to them, I recently started using "baby English", and it seems to be understood a lot better. I feel like an idiot though, and it feels like I am doing them a disservice. They will never learn real English if everyone does that, but they will probably never learn anyway.

What are your thoughts, and what do you do?

Makes me cringe

I know a few who are masters in Thinglish 5555555555555555555555

I used to speak Tinglish to TG's, but I try to be normal with my GF.

I am often surprised at how she understand quite large, not often used words, while more common slang goes right over her head.... It shouldnt surprise, but it does.

Obviously it largely depends on the language skills the girls has...no need to resort to baby speak....better to use simple and efficient english, spoken concisely...half the time I don't understand wtf some guys are trying to say to their "dates"

I see this a lot, not just with TG's but with meany people who are speaking to someone who is not a native English speakers. I worked with many Mexicans in America and most people spoke baby talk to them, even mimicked their accent as if that would help them understand. I do think this is doing them a disservice. If they don't understand speak slowly, enunciate, or try a different approach. How are they to learn otherwise?

even mimicked their accent as if that would help them understand.

I can understand dumbing down your vocab when talking to thai's but what the heck is that mimicking all about? truly ridiculous ...apparently the reasoning is that the TG can understand it better! some people are deluded
Would you speak to people from any other country in the same way that they speak -of course you wouldn't. It makes me cringe.

I can understand dumbing down your vocab when talking to thai's but what the heck is that mimicking all about? truly ridiculous ...apparently the reasoning is that the TG can understand it better! some people are deluded
Would you speak to people from any other country in the same way that they speak -of course you wouldn't. It makes me cringe. actually, i think it comes naturally
you ever hear a hearing impaired person speak?
when they speak they are speaking as they hear it

so i would imagine that your natural inclination is to speak as the person you are conversing with is
after my wife and became serious i have always tried to speak properly to her
but it is instinctual to want to speak as she is. initially you have to make an effort to not speak tinglish

Depends on the girl. Some girls I don't need to talk 'baby' but some I do. I actually saw 2 farangs talking 'baby' to each other too... both were British too. 555

English is not my first language..
My first language is dutch, and I speak reasonably good English, speak some French, German and Kiswahili as well..
I have never minded people speaking slowly and clearly to me in a language I am less comfortable in..
Speaking loud does not help in itself, but people tend to speak slower and clearer when they speak loud..555

I think it is difficult for those who speak only one language, to realise which words are easy and which words are difficult to understand.
So if they choose to speak like speaking to a baby.. It is still an effort to make you comfortable with their language..
And I don't think this will block the learning of the language.. On the contrary, it makes it easier to respond, knowing that you will not be judged on your pronounciation..

Only thing I do mind, is when people who can (or I wrongfully asume they can, or should) speak proper english, speak in their local slang, accent or dialect...
Does not matter if they are English, American, Aussies or Thai (starting to speak Lao in my presence..).. This I quallify as just being impolite..

It's even better when you hear a couple of guys talking Tinglish and there are no Thai's around .... 5555

I see this a lot, not just with TG's but with meany people who are speaking to someone who is not a native English speakers. I worked with many Mexicans in America and most people spoke baby talk to them, even mimicked their accent as if that would help them understand. I do think this is doing them a disservice. If they don't understand speak slowly, enunciate, or try a different approach. How are they to learn otherwise? This is what I do when I speak to them. I would feel too much like an idiot otherwise, but I found out that it is different when I write to the same people. I met a TG last time who was really good at English. She even knew some basic grammar, but when I write to her, it seems much more difficult for her, and that is when I started dumbing it down. If she misunderstands me when I write proper English, that is not good either, and this particular girl has lived in Phuket for 10 years, so I am not sure she will learn much more

all depends on the relationship, i think
i am not going to take the time out to care too much if my next bar fine is speaking proper english

but i want my wife to and comprehend written english as well so i take the time out to write properly and let her figure it out

all depends on the relationship, i think
i am not going to take the time out to care too much if my next bar fine is speaking proper english

but i want my wife to and comprehend written english as well so i take the time out to write properly and let her figure it out

Your wife lives and works in an all english environment, so I understand your desire to perfect her English..
But Paul, had the glove been on the other hand, and you had decided to stay in Thailand, would you had put the same pressure on yourself, mastering the Thai language?

I really try to keep my english the same, especially with the mrs, only way she will learn I guess, although I can say my english is'nt the best, some of the words she comes out with, does give me a laugh..... she seems to be using 'zip it' a lot, god knows where she got that from 5555

Its the voices that I hear people coming out with when talking to anyone foriegn that cracks me up, deffo a few masters in LOS.

Plus reeling off some slang in close conversation can keep them guessing.

Your wife lives and works in an all english environment, so I understand your desire to perfect her English..
But Paul, had the glove been on the other hand, and you had decided to stay in Thailand, would you had put the same pressure on yourself, mastering the Thai language?

100%
it is a requirement of my own to understand Thai if we are going to live in Thailand
i don't want to live in a country and not know the language
now, how those results will go, i can't tell ya but i will be a serious student when the time comes prior to moving there

Makes me cringe

I know a few who are masters in Thinglish 5555555555555555555555

Agree 100% here. A lot of guys think it is 'cute' to talk this way and have the girls speak bg english. They will learn what you teach them.

It's even better when you hear a couple of guys talking Tinglish and there are no Thai's around .... 5555

yeah what`s that about? 555

Marc26 - how's your French after 6+ years in bilingual Canada? 555!

I speak English stripped of unnecessary words "and, the, etc" and confusing qualifiers.

IME a lot of TGs who had minimal schooling can't read Thai properly, let alone English.
To me, conversational English is more important for occupational purposes than Grammar and Writing.

Marc26 - how's your French after 6+ years in bilingual Canada? 555!
if i lived in Quebec, i'd worry about reading the other side of the pop can 555
fortunately i don't have to

Marc26 - how's your French after 6+ years in bilingual Canada? 555!

I speak English stripped of unnecessary words "and, the, etc" and confusing qualifiers.

IME a lot of TGs who had minimal schooling can't read Thai properly, let alone English.
To me, conversational English is more important for occupational purposes than Grammar and Writing.

Well, if that works for you, do it. But, are you doing the girls any favor? If that's the way you talk, that will be the way they talk.
When I talk to my wife. I say 'where are you going', or 'what are you going to do', not 'where you go', or 'what you do'.
Now she speaks correct English and can converse with just about any English speaker without sounding like a child.

There doesn't need to be two separate ways of speaking, one for English speakers and one for Thais.

^^^ wot Bill says- I hate Thaiglish- very condescending and demeaning in MY opinion.

^^^ wot Bill says- I hate Thaiglish- very condescending and demeaning in MY opinion.

but it is a balance also
sometimes you need to, to be understood

Marc26 - how's your French after 6+ years in bilingual Canada? 555!

I speak English stripped of unnecessary words "and, the, etc" and confusing qualifiers.

IME a lot of TGs who had minimal schooling can't read Thai properly, let alone English.
To me, conversational English is more important for occupational purposes than Grammar and Writing.

More important than grammar and writing??!?! Woottt!!

So I'm off the hook now?..

If they don't understand speak slowly, enunciate, or try a different approach.

Excellent advice .

I have worked with numerous different nationalities and in hospitals it is vital that they understand exactly what they are being told.

I have witnessed doctors giving important instructions (drug dosages etc) and had staff reply "yes doctor" and then turn to me and ask "what did he just say ?".

If I am unsure if they understand something I will get them to repeat it back to me !

I've never been able to cope with MY FRIEND ME & MY FRIEND YOU................am sitting here confused 5555555555555555

More important than grammar and writing??!?! Woottt!!

So I'm off the hook now?..

Your "hook" has always bin spelin 555!

Well, if that works for you, do it. But, are you doing the girls any favor? If that's the way you talk, that will be the way they talk.
When I talk to my wife. I say 'where are you going', or 'what are you going to do', not 'where you go', or 'what you do'.
Now she speaks correct English and can converse with just about any English speaker without sounding like a child.

There doesn't need to be two separate ways of speaking, one for English speakers and one for Thais.

So do you need to start every sentence with so?
Or You Know?
Or finish with but?
Or just sayin'? Or You know?

When they are learning from scratch?

I agree 100% with speaking slowly, clearly and enunciating - instead of loudly, sing song toning and juxtaposing verbs and nouns.

And then there's Thaiglish on the phone 555!

So do you need to start every sentence with so?
Or You Know?
Or finish with but?
Or just sayin'? Or You know?

When they are learning from scratch?

I agree 100% with speaking slowly, clearly and enunciating - instead of loudly, sing song toning and juxtaposing verbs and nouns.

And then there's Thaiglish on the phone 555!

????? If this is a joke, I missed it..

No.
Yes.
Teaching your partner English is no joke Bill.
Just make sure we leave out the all the unnecessary colloquialisms.

I think there is a cultural aspect as well..
English (or most other western languages) is a very direct and confronting language for Thai..
By simplifying the language into Thenglish, it becomes softer, less confronting.. and even tonal in the same way as Thai..

onirbansharma

Monday, March 18, 2013

Phuket - Do you speak/write "baby English" with TGs?

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