Lesson 4
September 4, 2008 2:15 am Thai Language LessonsSorry for the delay again, but I’ve been busy at work. I’ve got some time off now so you’ll see a few updates over the next couple of days.
In my lesson two weeks ago we started by continuing with the module old book. I suggested the chapter on Buddhism in Thailand, not so much because I’m interested in it (I’m certainly not religious), but rather because it’s one of those issues that, like it or not, comes up frequently in daily life here. We talked and, for the most part, agreed with each other. This lead into the choice of homework assignment “ความเชื่อของผม” (My Beliefs).
After this, because my teacher had asked me if there was any other material that I’d be interested in studying, we looked at the preface to พันธ์หมาบ้า (Mad Dogs and Co.) written byชาติ กอบจิตติ Chart Korbjitti in 1988. An English translation of the book can be found over at www.thaifiction.com. Edit: Thanks to Rikker for correcting my previous mistake re Chart Korbjitti’s SEA Write win.
The preface to the book was basically an warning for all the bad language, violence etc in the book. He relates the story to previous experiences from his teenage years and comments that whilst he doesn’t wish to apologise for his work, he doesn’t suggest imitating it either.
The story, despite being fiction is based on events and people from his youth, some of whom have passed away. There were one or two words and phrases which I liked so I’ll include them here.
วัยรุ่น [ADJ] teenage; adolescent; boyish; girlish; juvenile; immature; young
วัยคะนอง [N] wild age; age of high-spirits years
เสียชีวิดไปไม่ถึงวัยอันควร died before their time
คนที่อยู่ข้างหลัง the people left behind
September 7th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Hi, Ben. Nice website and blog.
One quick note: Chart has won two SEA Write awards, but not for that book. He won in 1982 for คำพิพากษา and in 1994 for เวลา.
And in fact, thaifiction.com has translations of all three. Pretty cool.
Keep up the blogging!