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[Singkong]

Does anyone know any mnemonic techniques for learning the Thai script? Anything at all that makes it easier to learn to read and/or write Thai would be useful.

I have have a good memory, but learning the Thai script without some kind of shortcut looks very daunting. I've heard that there are useful mnemonic techniques for learning the Japanese scripts (Katakana & Hiragana) in a book by Michael Rowley. I hope the same is true of Thai, whether it's on a website or in a book, or someone here has worked out their own system.

I hope somebody can help...


On a related topic... I'm also working on my own mnemonic system of learning Thai vocab, including tones, (but without the Thai script) and will post that soon. Does anyone know of any good mnemonic systems for vocab + tones, in case I'm reinventing the wheel? I've found two sites, which are handy but don't cover the tones:

http://web.singnet.com.sg/~tonym/thailang.html which lists about 80 words with similar English words.
also http://www.unforgettablelanguages.com/frames_a26.html which offers a course of 200 words, using an easy-to-remember scene for each word for US$10.

Cheers

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Sawatdee & G'Day Singkong:

Cute username!

I'm afraid there isn't too much out there in the way of mnemonics for Thai.

However ...

One of the best sites for learning Thai may be this one @ Northern Illinois University:

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Thai/default.htm (SE Asia Studies @ NIU)

And just for fun; you might enjoy this link, which uses Java applets:

http://www.ablume.com/ (AbcThai Software by Axel Blume)

You'll find a few more "learn Thai" links at the very bottom

of The Master Index Thailand in FAQ 12.

โชคดีครับ !

[sigmoid]

Learning to read Thai is not that difficult. It's a phonetic system just like the modified Roman script that we use for English.

People say things like "but there are 44 consonants!"

yeah, but two of them are obsolete and about a dozen are rarely used, although sometimes in common words. Thai people learn the Thai alphabet and they learn to read English and other languages, so why not me, you or any other Westerner?

The main mnemonic device that is employed is that each letter has a name which sometimes reminds you of the shape of the letter, but not always. You have to use your imagination for some.

Anyway, this link functions as a very useful dictionary. Type in the word, hit enter and then you get Thai script, Roman tranliteration and a series of definitions and phrases. Check it out.

http://www.thai-language.com/

Also, that one has sounds for many of the entries. Click on the speaker icon. Actually, pronunciation is the most difficult part.

Another link about the alphabet:
http://www.ancientscripts.com/thai.html

which includes two links at the bottom of the page:

http://www.learningthai.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_language

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

sigmoid:

Where did you find that AncientScripts.com website? That's cool.

I'm adding that one and the Wikipedia link to the Index this evening,

along with proper credit. Thank you for that !

[sigmoid]

[Sheep-Goats]

Thai has a built in setup to help you remeber the letters.

First letter, for example, is called "Gow Gai." Gow is the name of the letter. Gai means chicken, becasue the letter looks a lot like a chicken's head in profile. Gow Gai is one of the K consonats Thai has.

It's really not a hard system to pick up. I never put in any work at it and recognize and know the names of maybe 8 or 9 letters. I imagine a week or two of solid work and you'd have the alphabet down pretty pat.

Combining them into words is probably trickier, but you'd at least know the sounds. And the numbers. Not that that will keep you from being ripped off at Dream World, or anywhere else the ticket prices are in Thai and Arabic script.

[Henry_Cowell]

[Singkong]

Thanks people for the useful tips.

I'll keep watching the thread for any other words of wisdom.

Glad you like the username Kent. It makes Indonesians laugh (cuz it means cassava).

Singkong