September 4, 2008
Thai Language Lessons
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Sorry 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
August 23, 2008
Thai Language Lessons
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Sorry for the delay in updating but last week was a busy week at work so you’re getting a double dose this week.
My third lesson (12th of August) was fairly straightforward; after handing in my homework (ชาวนา) and correcting that we continued through the school’s module 5 book. We read the 2 chapters on Bangkok กรุงเทพมหานคร as well as the chapter on Chiangmai เชียงใหม่. We spoke about life in Bangkok, work etc. Nothing that exciting.
One thing we did do was go through some vocabulary. I’ve always thought that my biggest weakness with the Thai language is my relatively small active vocabulary, so I asked during my second lesson for my teacher to help me with this. Her suggestion was to give me a few headings each week and have me come up with some vocabulary related to it. Not the most imaginative idea, but successful nevertheless.
This is what I came up with (mostly basic vocab, often included because I’m woried I might have forgotten it or forgotten how to spell it):
ตลาด Market/Market Place
การค้า การค้าขาย business,trade,commerce
ขนของ move things/load things
จัดของ arrange things (as in a market trader bringing and arranging their goods)
ต่อราคา v. bargain
พ่อค้า merchant,trader (male)
แม่ค้า market woman, female shopkeeper
ลูกค้า customer, client
การทำวิจัยตลาด market research
อัตราแลกเปลี่ยน exchange rate (drifting off topic now, I know)
กีฬา Sport
การพักผ่อนหย่อนใจ recreation, relaxation, amusement
การแข่งขัน competition, contest (think sports)
ประกวด contest, compete, contend (think beauty pageant)
ผู้ชนะ winner
ผู้แพ้ loser
รางวัล prize,award
ถ้วยรางวัล trophy,cup
เหรี่ยญรางวัล medal
ผู้ตัดสิน referee
ประตู goal (lit. door)
ลูกโทษ penalty
ตัวสำรอง sub
อาหาร Food
เปรี้ยว sour
หวาน sweet
ขม bitter
จืด tasteless
ปิ้ง v. toast
ทอด fry
ต้ม เดือด boil (the difference apparently is that the first you start from cold)
เตา stove
กะทะ frying pan
เน่า rotten, spoiled
สด fresh
บด crush, grind
คน stir
นึ่ง cook with steam
อากาศ Weather
ฟ้าร้อง thunder
ฟ้าแลบ lightning
สายฟ้า thunderbolt
ลูกเห็บ hail, hailstone
หมอก fog
การพยากรณ์อากาศ weather forecast
สูญเสียน้ำ dehydrate
ผิวเกรียมแดด sunburnt skin
อากาศพิษ polluted air, pollution
ชื้น humid
แห้งแล้ง be dry, arid
