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[TawtViet]

I have been in Japan for about 4 years now and am experiencing a living nightmare when it comes to my nerves. When the Japanese around me begin speaking, their nearly monotone speach causes me overwhelming stress. I realize I have to get out of here. Whenever I hear Chinese or Vietnamese being spoken ( a few live here), the changes in pitch are pleasant to my ears. I don't believe I have ever heard Thai. I am interested in the possibility of working in Thailand. I would like to know from some of you who have experienced Thai first hand if the native language has some rises and falls in pitch. Perhaps I have a unique problem with my nerves. I wouldn't want to go from one nightmare to another!
Thanks

[GreenDestiny]

[Sheep-Goats]

Thai is a Sino-Tiebetan, largely mono-syllabic tonal language (like Chinese). It has very soft consonantal stops and plosives and avoids other consonants that are often viewed as abrasive by non-native speakers learning another language (they have a very hard time producing either the very harsh American R or even harsher Mandarin R sounds, for example).

However, Thai has what's called a final particle. This is a one syllable utterance you add to the end of the sentence to indicate how it is that you think your speaking. This is usually done with tone in English, but in Thai it takes the form of:

khap/ka = I'm being polite
na = I'm being familiar but respectful
wa = You're my close personal friend and/or I'm being rude
ja = I'm speaking in a gentle way
mai = I'm asking a question (there are other ways to make questions, though)

This means that they say khap khap khap khap khap khap khap all damn day long.

Thai also has many set phrases for certian situations, and unlike English, the Thais see using the set phrase as a good thing to do rather than as an uncreative or boring thing to do (Japanese are similar in this reguard). It's impossible to go to dinner with a Thai and not get asked "Aroi mai?" (Delicious?!) and you'll hear the phrases "mot" (finished) "dai/mai dai" (can! / can't!) and "jing jing!?" (really?!) very often. If you're hanging out with a bunch of Thais who are friends with eachother and drunk, conversation often turns into them saying three or four words to eachother and then yelling "ee hia!" back and forth for ten minutes -- which basically means "you fucker!", though they're being friendly with it.

Because Thai is monosyllabic, listening to extended portions of Thai is fairly unpleasant as there's no variance in rhythm. Spoken Thai, I suppose, is the equivalent of bad house music.

[Klava]

I've been in Thailand only for 2 weeks and let me tell you, it was a pleasant change from hearing Chinese all the time. Chinese is a very aggressive language, it seems that they always yell at each other. While Thai was much softer but I wouldn't call it monotone. They have about 5 different tones. It seemed to me that their speech sounded very much like Indian rather than Chinese.

[sigmoid]

Well, I certainly wouldn't recommend teaching English in Thailand just to listen to people speak Thai.

As sheeps-goat points out spoken Thai is endlessly boring and repetitve and if you understand it to any degree the banality is overpowering. There are few things worse than listening to Thais jabbering excitedly and all at the same time about some triviality. Also, because it is tonal it often sounds like the people are whining.

Of course these things have more to do with the way the common people use the language - which is sometimes refered to as "market Thai"
than the language itself. It's exactly the way some people speak English in an annoying way.

Ultimately I think you will have this problem wherever you go.

[tedkarma]

Having lived in five "foreign" countries for a minimum of a couple years each - five years in one, and taught EFL in four of them, I have found Thailand to be the most comfortable. You can be in a large crowd - be the only foreigner - and won't even notice. I've never lived anywhere else where that would be true.

I don't know if it is so much the language sounds as just the situation you are in that is beginning to get on your nerves. I work/live in Korea seven months per year right now - and find their uptightness, and pushing and shoving, makes me quite weary. Though, I have to say that I find Japan much more mellow than Korea!

There is always a time when one should consider moving on - this may be your time to - at least - take a break from Japan. Personally, I can't think of a better place than Thailand.

[JezzaYouBeauty!!]

Tedkarma.....interesting stuff. Which countries have you been in? How would you rank them?

And for TawtViet, go to www.atimemedia.com, and you can listen to radio from bangkok. You'll hear plenty of Thai being spoken and sung there....

I used to study Thai at university, and have lived in Thailand on and off. I've got a good grip of the spoken and written language. I've always loved it and find to be a really easy, fun language to learn.....but that's just me.

I'm teaching English in Korea now. Hate the place.

Heading to Japan soon.

-Sawatdee khrap thuk Khon! (bye everybody!)

[tedkarma]

Jezza,

rating countries - hard to do as the motivation for being in each one - was quite different.

Botswana - taught business not EFL and managed a company. Fantastic, incredible - but was a Peace Corps volunteer (89-91) - wages sucked - BIG culture shock - but my first overseas job - never looked back.

Korea (first time) 2.5 years - good place to save lots of money - was able to make some good investments. Grew tired of it and the people/culture. Hate cold weather.

Taiwan - great compromise - couple years - saved a little less than Korea, but much better quality of life. Much nicer people - but sometimes a bit difficult to deal with some of the cultural aspects. Loved Chinese culture (Taiwanese anyway).

Saudi Arabia - five years - saved a ton, culture scuked, quality of life scuked. Taught mostly EFL, but also a few biz classes.

Thailand - couple years - taught some biz classes in BKK< mostly EFL, then a teacher trainer for a year. Best place in the world to live - but wages are terrible. Never taught anywhere - where so much was demanded for so little. Great students - great people. But then my home is on Phuket. Who could ask for more?

Korea - again - couple years to save some money to pay off my mortages from investments. Quite different from last time - different city - people have matured a lot - more pleasant students. Not sure how much of it is that I have changed too. But still - quality of life is mediocre at best. But able to work seven months - vacation five months and still save more than I would earn in a full year in Thailand.

BUT, I keep my home in Phuket and will return full time within one to two years.

All this - only my opinion.

This career has been very very good to me. I am also a big Thailand fan - but not if you have serious financial needs.

[TawtViet]

I appreciate the very informative responces concerning the language.
I'm as serious as the worst heart attack in recorded medical history when it comes to my problem. Perhaps it's a bit of a (certain-sounds-triggered) nerve disorder. If you rubbed a piece styrofoam and one of cardboard together you would soon see tears in my eyes begging you for mercy. My problem could also be related to stress overload here. There are countless reasons why I can't drum up respect for the Japanese.
Anyway, a big thanks everyone.

[JosephP]

Thailand is good in many ways. I particularily like the food, the weather and many of the people. Thailand can also grind a foreigner down with ridiculous bureaucracy, pollution (Bangkok especially) and horrendous drivers.
Choke dee.

[JezzaYouBeauty!!]

Hmm....good stuff Ted... You certainly answered my questions about where you been and stuff!

Yep...I've always felt Taiwan would be a good compromise place. Good middle ground.

And my heart lies with Thailand.

And I'm only in Korea at the moment, for the money...means to an end. Not really my kind of place.

Anyhow, soon, it'll be Japan for me. Luckily, in reference to TawtViet opening this thread, I don't have any nerve thing for the Japanese language.

By the way, TawtViet, good luck with whatever decision you make regarding languages and countries etc.

See ya guys.....

[Rice Paddy Daddy]