Comments on: [video] Another way to look at the 5 tones of Thai

By: lordgriggs1947

lordgriggs1947 — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:58:24 +0000

Outre anglais, je balbbutie en allemand, francais et espanol. I sight-read other Teutonic and Romance languages on the WWW. Ive the Google translator so that I can read two languages at one time. I'm a lecoglot.

By: Albert

Albert — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:27:39 +0000

There are several factors that determine the tone that every syllable will have. I don't think you can memorize them all in just a few hours. I'd say one needs a few months to read with the right tone more or less fluently. Stopping 3 seconds to think the tone for every syllable is not a "pass".

Have a look at those factors here: http://www.learningthai.com/tones/factors.html

There's an excellent tone trainer on that site I think, and some tests for you to prove that tones aren't so difficult.

http://www.learningthai.com/tones/quiz_low.htm
http://www.learningthai.com/tones/quiz_middle.htm
http://www.learningthai.com/tones/quiz_high.htm

By: Benny the Irish polyglot

Benny the Irish polyglot — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:07:04 +0000

Go for it!!

By: Benny the Irish polyglot

Benny the Irish polyglot — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:06:53 +0000

Great point Nicky! Teaching has helped me learn languages much quicker – it's something I may devote an entire post to some time
Glad you enjoyed the video!!

By: Benny the Irish polyglot

Benny the Irish polyglot — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:06:03 +0000

Obrigado Sophia. Gostei dos seus outros comentários também

By: Benny the Irish polyglot

Benny the Irish polyglot — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:05:02 +0000

I disagree – it might take 6+ more months for some people, but I have a secret weapon
The progress I've made up to recording the video is in about 10 hours study, since I was travelling around a lot in that first month. Once I go north to Chiang Mai, my rate of improvement will increase as I become more focussed and motivated.
I can already read tones from the script – it took me a couple of hours after reading the script generally. Don't know why you'd ever need 3 months for it; frankly it was WAY easier than the scary monster people described it to me as. I'll write a post about what I did soon enough.

By: Albert

Albert — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:11:03 +0000

Very clever! I liked the video, and I'm surprised of the quick progress you're making. I guess you found the right sources of information.

However, I think in 3 months you won't get passed the stage of recognizing and maybe getting to utter the tones correctly. Another thing is to know how to apply the tone rules to read, that would take you at least another 3 months.

It's interesting to follow your experiment anyway, keep up your work!

By: Lessons From Thailand | Location180

Lessons From Thailand | Location180 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:03:25 +0000

[...] The Thai language isn’t as difficult to learn as it seems, assuming you’re willing to work at [...]

By: SophiaMK

SophiaMK — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:30:40 +0000

Apenas um comentario geral, como uma Brasileira morando em Yorkshire, eu adoro seguir seu blog

Espero que tenha gostado do Brasil e nao tenha ficado com a péssima impressao que os 'gringos' tem quando passam só uma semana em Copacabana!

By: Spanish Jay

Spanish Jay — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:56:54 +0000

Cool video. Don't beat yourself up on the mistakes you make!
Have fun at the party.

By: Nicky Hajal

Nicky Hajal — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:44:17 +0000

Wow. I was in China 3 years ago and I'd forgotten just how amazing tonal languages are. It's awesome to think how the language one speaks affects their senses (and their perceptions). No doubt after more time hearing and practicing Thai, your ear will become more and more sensitive to the slight tone shifts.

I think you also bring up the idea that teaching is a great way to learn! Even if you didn't get it perfectly, I learned from you and you were able to look at your progress from a new perspective.

Thanks, Benny!

By: Benny the Irish polyglot

Benny the Irish polyglot — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:57:44 +0000

Yeah, I had an awesome week with you guys!! We'll meet up again for sure at some stage, you can bet on it. Thanks again for the help in the video When I get really busy and need to outsource some work to the Philippines, you'll be the first guy I ask for advice on what to do!!

By: Geoff

Geoff — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:33:09 +0000

Looks and sounds like your enjoying the place and the language Benny. I might learn some Thai now so that I can chat with the friendly folks at my favourite restaurant here in Sydney.

By: TropicalMBA

TropicalMBA — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:02:04 +0000

What a gas! I had a great time getting to know you Benny and look forward to following your adventures here on the blog and meeting again shortly.