Farang know too much

[BaaBaa.]

[lomuamart]

As a slight adjunct, but following on from that, Pete, my old French master used to say that once I started thinking in French (when I was over there), the language "battle" was nearly won.
How many of us who speak, read and write Thai think it as well when in conversation with Thais?
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"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

[Roel]

The brain activity that we refer to as "thinking" does not use language at all. Of course you need language to "translate" your thoughts or to make your thoughts clear to another person.
And when having a conversation language is inevitably involved because of the nature of a conversation: a way of using language.

But what you brains do all day automatically without you being aware of it does not involve the use of any language.

People who were born mute can think, no language needed.
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We are all living in 'the good old days' of the future.

[deepee]

My good Mrs has made it a non negotiable-" You have to speak Thai and correctly too"- she says I have to watch the news and those( stupid )soapies and take note. And all the family have been supportive too as I 've stumbled along with my learning.
One obvious advantage is the better prices you get when shopping in Thai. A couple of weeks back I was sent to the main market and had to pick up some "mang da" - those flying roach things, I only know what to call them that in Thai anyway but got the order done plus some other oddities.Don't quite know why but I used always get reasonable prices up until then but now seem to be on even better mates rates around the stalls . So me thinks that the locals do really support an 'alang speaking some Thai.
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The two hardest things in life are success and failure.

[lomuamart]

All I meant, Roel, was that if someone reaches the stage with a language where they start to think in it (even if only partly), then they're probably able to speak it pretty well.
Probably didn't explain it well enough. It's certainly not a prerequisite by any means, but I understood what the teacher was getting at.
If you're thinking (what am I going to do today?) surely you're doing so in a language.
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"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

[BaaBaa.]

[Nereus]

[margaretcarnes]

Like the 'brain theories' Roel and Lomu. I needed a Vodafone top up in Germany. Granted - my German is poor, but I CAN, with a little thought, manage 'twenty five.' So how did it come out as 'YeeSip-har euro bitte?'
Brain obviously over rode the language thought process there
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'If'n ya cain't say nuth'n nice, don't say nuth'n at all' Thumper.

[HHADFan]

[johnnyk]

Thinking in the new language is the eureka! moment but it takes quite a while immersed in the new language. Until that happens the competence is limited.

[buksida]

Yep that's about right, you can test it if you recall your dreams, what language are they in? Also when you see something what word comes to your brain first? For me it'll always be a Chang before an Elephant!
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Luctor et Emergo

[STEVE G]

Are you saying a Chang isn't a beer?

[BaaBaa.]

Theres a little clue on the Beer label Steve.



And guess what the Thai name for a Lion is................

[STEVE G]

If Thailand had as many beers as Belgium, I might have a chance of learning the language!

[buksida]

Beer is always a good place to start learning a language ... that and bad words of course!
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Luctor et Emergo