Thai Language, We Love Making It More Difficult
Why do so many Thai people say their own language is difficult? This lesson looks at how Thai culture has shaped the way Thai is used today. It covers a fear of making mistakes, strict school discipline, and a habit of keeping things hidden. You’ll hear about the gap between formal written Thai and the Thai found on Facebook and in comics. It also covers in-group languages like ภาษารู (phaa-sǎa ruu), teen slang, deliberate misspellings and mixing in English. You’ll also find out why some Thai companies now ask job applicants to use คะ (khá) and ค่ะ (khâ) correctly!
Thai Vocabulary:
ปิดบังซ่อนเร้น (bpìt-bang sôn-rén) – To conceal / keep hidden
ภาษาเฉพาะกลุ่ม (phaa-sǎa chà-phó glùm) – In-group language
สะกด (sà-gòt) – To spell
Listening to natural Thai on real-life topics like this builds your understanding of both the language and the culture behind it. Keep listening and keep learning!