Greg Gets Schooled: Linguist Stu Jay Raj Critiques a Thai Conversation Part 2 [S6.E60]
The Bangkok Podcast10 Loka 2023

Greg Gets Schooled: Linguist Stu Jay Raj Critiques a Thai Conversation Part 2 [S6.E60]

Please help us by taking our first Bangkok Podcast listener survey! Click here to get started, it only takes a few minutes. Everyone who fills it out will get 50,000 baht!*

This is the second part of Greg's interview with resident Thai language expert Stu Jay Raj, in which Stu critiques a conversation that Greg had in Thai with a co-worker. The two begin by discussing the unusual role that linguists have in digging deep into exactly why language works the way it does, something the average person never thinks about. He even contends most linguists could be on the autism spectrum!

As for specific advice, Stu begins a fascinating explanation that Thai doesn't really have a word that means 'yes' directly; the word 'chai' actually translates more closely to the English expression 'it is.' Hence, to indicate an affirmative response, Thais will simply repeat the verb used in a question. This fascinating difference with English is continued with a discussion of other ways to indicate agreement, with words that sound almost equivalent to a grunt in English. As always, the context and nuance dictate the appropriate meaning, and what us foreigners are taught in class is often an oversimplification of a complicated concept.

The lesson continues with more useful advice on improving your Thai. One thing for sure, there's a lot more going on in Thai conversations than is immediately apparent when you are just a basic speaker of Thai!

Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

*This is not even remotely true.

Jaksot(560)

Bangkok History Highlight: The Blue Diamond Affair [S8.E29] (Classic ReCast)

Bangkok History Highlight: The Blue Diamond Affair [S8.E29] (Classic ReCast)

Another classic recast! One of the craziest stories from recent Thai history. Continuing our series on interesting episodes in Thai history, this episode focuses on the infamous Blue Diamond Affair, I...

27 Tammi 29min

From NGOs to Employment Coaching: Helping Thais Find Their Purpose [S8.E28]

From NGOs to Employment Coaching: Helping Thais Find Their Purpose [S8.E28]

Ed interviews Thanita 'Ninar' Wongprasert, an old student of his and former guest on the show in 2018. On the earlier show she came on to talk about gay rights and same sex marriage in Thailand, and t...

21 Tammi 44min

Ed Ponders a New Class: Teaching Contemporary Thailand to Thais [S8.E27]

Ed Ponders a New Class: Teaching Contemporary Thailand to Thais [S8.E27]

Greg and Ed discuss Ed's new class at his Thai university: "Contemporary Thai Society in the Modern World." The guys have a laugh at the thought of a white guy from Ohio teaching young Thais about the...

13 Tammi 43min

Beer & Politics: Catching Up With MP Taopiphop Limjittrakorn [S8.E26]

Beer & Politics: Catching Up With MP Taopiphop Limjittrakorn [S8.E26]

Greg and Ed interview Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, a Thai Member of Parliament known for his advocacy in liberalizing Thailand's craft beer industry. The conversation takes place shortly after the dissolu...

6 Tammi 47min

Frenemies: The Long History Between Thailand & Cambodia [S8.E25]

Frenemies: The Long History Between Thailand & Cambodia [S8.E25]

Greg and Ed discuss the long, strange and complex history between Thailand and Cambodia in an attempt to shed some light on the tragic current conflict. Greg begins with some early history. The majori...

16 Joulu 202551min

What Changes Would Greg Make if He Was in Charge of Bangkok? [S8.E24]

What Changes Would Greg Make if He Was in Charge of Bangkok? [S8.E24]

On this show, Greg and Ed discuss what Greg would do if he was the boss man in charge of Thailand, echoing a similar show with Ed's plans earlier in the year. (Check out Season 7, Episode 54 if you ar...

9 Joulu 202534min

Don't forget the meetup!

Don't forget the meetup!

Saturday, Dec 6, 2025 at The Warehouse on Charoen Krung Road. Chec our FB page for more details.

3 Joulu 202536s

Making Bangkok Accessible for All: Khun Saba Keeps Fighting (Classic ReCast) [S8.E23]

Making Bangkok Accessible for All: Khun Saba Keeps Fighting (Classic ReCast) [S8.E23]

On this episode - a classic ReCast from season 3! - Greg interviews Khun Saba, a disabled rights activist in Bangkok. It's a topic near and dear to the Bangkok Podcast, because we want everyone to enj...

2 Joulu 202543min

Suosittua kategoriassa Yhteiskunta

olipa-kerran-otsikko
sita
siita-on-vaikea-puhua
kaksi-aitia
gogin-ja-janin-maailmanhistoria
i-dont-like-mondays
uutiscast
poks
antin-palautepalvelu
rss-nikotellen
kolme-kaannekohtaa
mamma-mia
yopuolen-tarinoita-2
aikalisa
rss-murhan-anatomia
meidan-pitais-puhua
rss-haudattu
rss-palmujen-varjoissa
isani-on-terapeuttiville
taskula-trishin