When a word paints a thousand pictures

Recently, another volunteer shared with me the following advice she received on speaking Thai: "Speaking Thai can feel a lot like singing.  So if you're not singing, you're probably not speaking Thai."

It doesn't always sound like music to my ears, that's for sure. But what she was alluding to are the tones associated with each word in the Thai language.  Tones that are extremely important when speaking.  Tones that rise, fall, are high, low, or flat.  Tones, when executed incorrectly, can and will completely change the meaning of a word.  Completely. 

So, if you thought that would be tough, enter the sounds between sounds.  What I mean by this are words like dtambon. Dtambon is the word for village.  The DT sound falls somewhere, you guessed it, between a D and a T.  I haven't quite found out where just yet, but I'm working on it.  Same for G and K.  As well as B and P.  The word for fish is bplaa.  If you pronounce it with a hard B sound, no one will understand you.  If you pronounce it with a hard P sound, guess what?  No. One. Will. Understand. You.  You get my point. 

And that's what today's blog is about:  Misunderstandings and mispronunciations.  (Things are about to get slightly vulgar.  You've officially been warned.)

Lesson One:  Kuai vs. Gluai 

 

Gluai: pronounced with a sound between G and K and a rising tone.  Gluai means "Banana." 

 

Kuai: pronounced using a harder K sound and a flat tone.  Kuai is the vulgar word for "Penis."

 

Yep, you read that right.  Now, my village has a school called Banana Canal School or - in Thai - Rong Rien Klong Gluai.  It pains me to think just how many times I've pointed at one of my students and asked "You're from Penis Canal School, right?"  Not to mention that I'm terrified to tell anyone that I like to eat bananas.   

 

 

Lesson 2: Naam dtok vs. Naam dtot

 

Naam dtok:  Pronounced with a soft K at the end and a low tone.  Naam dtok means "Waterfall."

Naam dtot:  Pronounced with a soft T at the end and a low tone. Naam dtot translates to "Water Fart."

Villager:  "Salah!  Would you like to go see the waterfall this weekend?"

Sarah: "Oh yes!  I love water farts!"

No one has yet to take me to the waterfall. 

 

Lesson 3: Key vs. Key

Key: Pronounced with a hard K and a low tone.  Key means "to Ride."

Key: Pronounced with a hard K and a rising tone.  Key means "to Shit." 

How many times have I shit my bike all over the village?  How many times have I shit all over my bike?  I don't know.  But I bet my co-workers could tell you.  Between this and the water farts, it's no wonder everyone always thinks I have diarrhea.