33 replies to this topic

[Ken]

Hi forum,
I hear this discussion a lot, some friends of mine think all signs, even shops should have the sign in Thai and have a translation in English. What do you think?
I am sure it would be easier for me, but I think it should be the other way around, many stores here in English have no translation in Thai. Why do we always push for Thailand to me more like the west?

[ROY]

English? Why? Better yet....learn how to read Thai.

[ROY]

Ken, on 08 March 2010 - 10:59 AM, said:

Hi forum,
I hear this discussion a lot, some friends of mine think all signs, even shops should have the sign in Thai and have a translation in English. What do you think?
I am sure it would be easier for me, but I think it should be the other way around, many stores here in English have no translation in Thai. Why do we always push for Thailand to me more like the west?

We...?? We who? That same old predictable clannish 'expat' crowd?

[Bonki]

Ken, on 08 March 2010 - 10:59 AM, said:

shops should have the sign in Thai and have a translation in English. What do you think?

Who will pay the tax which is levied on English signs?
Will your friends be willing to pay it?

[Reaper]

Lets change Thailand and ship out all the Thai people too.
I think Thailand has been good enough to provide all the signs they have today.

[Skippy]

Ken, on 08 March 2010 - 10:59 AM, said:

Hi forum,
I hear this discussion a lot, some friends of mine think all signs, even shops should have the sign in Thai and have a translation in English. What do you think?
I am sure it would be easier for me, but I think it should be the other way around, many stores here in English have no translation in Thai. Why do we always push for Thailand to me more like the west?

Maybe you need new friends.

[Goddess me]

Who need English sign?? If they want to live here, should try not to make everything like home because it just can't.
English here is not the first language. So if you live in Thailand, should learn Thai.

[ROY]

Goddess me, on 09 March 2010 - 12:17 PM, said:

Who need English sign?? If they want to live here, should try not to make everything like home because it just can't.
English here is not the first language. So if you live in Thailand, should learn Thai.

Consider the source, Goddess. This mindset derives instinctively from indoctrinated self-importance, culturally-centred, and illusional superiority complexes.....historically, quite obvious from the Anglo-American circle.

[Alonzo]

But I thought the world revolves around me, so please change the signs

[Frank P. Schneidewind]

If signage becomes bilingual in Thailand, it will sport Chinese. That cares for their masters!

You're just a money generating bunch without real significance. More advanced countries have bilingual road signs and in-store signage for generations.

Malaysia and Singapore ever since their independence from British rule.
Cambodia introduces English aggressively, eradicates French entirely!
Laos also starts dumping French signs and replaces with English.

Just Thailand thinks they can get by with their medieval script ........then again, they wonder why an Olympic committee never gave them a second glance, when they bid for international mega-events

[ROY]

Frank P. Schneidewind, on 09 March 2010 - 09:42 PM, said:

If signage becomes bilingual in Thailand, it will sport Chinese. That cares for their masters!

You're just a money generating bunch without real significance. More advanced countries have bilingual road signs and in-store signage for generations.

Malaysia and Singapore ever since their independence from British rule.
Cambodia introduces English aggressively, eradicates French entirely!
Laos also starts dumping French signs and replaces with English.

Just Thailand thinks they can get by with their medieval script ........then again, they wonder why an Olympic committee never gave them a second glance, when they bid for international mega-events

One has to consider what 'more advanced' might be, Frankie. And further more, has lead me to believe you can't read Thai, nor wish to.

[Goddess me]

Frank P. Schneidewind, on 09 March 2010 - 09:42 PM, said:

If signage becomes bilingual in Thailand, it will sport Chinese. That cares for their masters!

You're just a money generating bunch without real significance. More advanced countries have bilingual road signs and in-store signage for generations.

Malaysia and Singapore ever since their independence from British rule.
Cambodia introduces English aggressively, eradicates French entirely!
Laos also starts dumping French signs and replaces with English.

Just Thailand thinks they can get by with their medieval script ........then again, they wonder why an Olympic committee never gave them a second glance, when they bid for international mega-events

Don't you know we have bilingual road signs and don't you know that we're the only country in SE region that never be colonized by "more advance" countries. We held Asian games which is a mega-events for many times in history and I don't think one of the reason Thailand failed Olympic bidding just because this English display stuffs. All these signs things don't take much time to install, do they?

[Bonki]

Goddess me, on 10 March 2010 - 03:26 PM, said:

don't you know that we're the only country in SE region that never be colonized by "more advance" countries.

Yes, but do you know why Thailand was never colonized?

[Damo]

Didn't they pay them off? Or offer land?

[Frank P. Schneidewind]

Bonki, on 10 March 2010 - 05:54 PM, said:

Goddess me, on 10 March 2010 - 03:26 PM, said:

don't you know that we're the only country in SE region that never be colonized by "more advance" countries.

Yes, but do you know why Thailand was never colonized?

I did that research long ago, but that answer I'm eagerly awaiting

[Tyson]

I believe they were not technically colonized because the British and the French did not need too, as Thailand modernized its society and needed some neutral ground and both agreed not to colonize Thailand.

[Tyson]

Damo, on 10 March 2010 - 06:34 PM, said:

Didn't they pay them off? Or offer land?

I thought that's what happened to New Zealand, they got paid to be colonized. Or it was another country around there.

[ROY]

Bonki, on 10 March 2010 - 05:54 PM, said:

Goddess me, on 10 March 2010 - 03:26 PM, said:

don't you know that we're the only country in SE region that never be colonized by "more advance" countries.

Yes, but do you know why Thailand was never colonized?

Yet, that's still under considerable debate. Depends on what era we might be talking of....as present day Thailand borders was largely stolen. That's another book, though.

[ROY]

Frank P. Schneidewind, on 10 March 2010 - 06:38 PM, said:

Bonki, on 10 March 2010 - 05:54 PM, said:

Goddess me, on 10 March 2010 - 03:26 PM, said:

don't you know that we're the only country in SE region that never be colonized by "more advance" countries.

Yes, but do you know why Thailand was never colonized?

I did that research long ago, but that answer I'm eagerly awaiting

Needs more careful and deeper research..

[Frank P. Schneidewind]

When the Brits bought Penang in 1785, one could swim to Thai territory across the channel there. Today, it's a 3 hour drive over a great Malaysian highway to get back into Thailand, after you land with the ferry in Butterworth.
You drive across the most fertile land of Malaysia and richest agriculture (oil palms, rubber, rice) for a couple hundred of Kilometers - before you reach the border today.