![]() The high number of vowels is due to most vowels having both a long and short version which are written differently. There are multiple instances of a number of letters (eg: there are 4 "s" letters). There are 44 consonants and 33 vowel shapes. There are somewhat complex system of rules to be mastered before one can determine the pronunciation and tone of each word. The Thai written language functions much like an alphabet, but is actually referred to as an abugida, which means that each consonant has an inherent vowel (unwritten). Try not to inflect your sentences in particular, any questions should be pronounced as flat statements, without the rising intonation (".yes?") typical to English questions. Meanings change based on the tone, but Thais are fairly used to hearing foreigners mangle their language and can often work out the correct tone based on context. Thai is a tonal language with five tones: Mid, Low, Falling, High, and Rising. It is reasonably accurate and does words and phrases. Since most people can get online easily, you are probably better off using an online dictionary - one good one is at Thai, and its use is free. Ban is actually pronounced Baan (a long vowel, and it means town or village). These are located in Ratchaburi and Udon Thani Provinces respectively. ![]() Name signs for villages can make for some real howlers - as in Ban Pong, Ban Dung being two of note. There is no bh or v in Thai, so Suvarnabhumi (Airport) is actually Suwannapoom). There are also cases where ch is written, but actually pronounced j - as in Kanchanaburi (Gaan jan a bu ree), Prachuap Khiri Khan (Bpra juap kee ree kan). P- bp (a unique Thai consonant pronounced like the p in "spit" T- dt (a unique Thai consonant pronounced like the t in "stop" So here is a rough idea of how to more or less correctly pronounce in Thai an English sign you will see over there. So for example: กัก (gag) is pronounced gak. Now if it is used at the end of a syllable, it actually is pronounced k, as above. This would appear to be the main reason why there is so much confusion about the pronunciation of ก (as an example).The correct pronunciation is g, as in English, but it is usually written k. g is pronounced k, d pronounced t, l pronounced n, b pronounced p etc etc. If another consonant is used to end a syllable, it must revert to one of these eg. ![]() Much of this has to do with the fact that Thai is a language of syllables which form words.Even though there are 44 consonants in Thai, a syllable can only end in 8 of these namely k, m, n, p, t, w, y, ng. Koh (as in Samui etc) - Gau - the "au" as in "caught" but shorter. Unfortunately, Thai to English transliterations are hopelessly inaccurate, and most phrasebooks, this one included, make the same mistake. How to correctly read Thai/English signs The northeast speaks a different language, the Isaan language, which is, with minor differences in vocabulary aside, virtually identical to Lao. There are several different dialects are spoken in the distinct regions of the country, namely the central, northern and southern dialects. Thai is member of the Tai-Kadai language family, just like Lao, with which the language is closely related. Thai (ภาษาไทย phaasǎa Thai) is the official language of Thailand and the native language of the Thai people around the world.
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