Talking Point
Posted By Admin on July 5, 2010
I recently read a short report in the newspaper that an education committee is about to recommend to the government that English should become a second official language in Thailand. Unfortunately little or no detail was given in the article about exactly what processes would be involved if this radical proposal goes to the next stage, and one can only speculate until a fuller explanation is provided.
Normally an official language means that formal documents can be written and are legally acceptable in this language. Often there is also an obligation to write all signs in both languages if two official languages exist. Asian countries that have English as an official language as well as their own national language include Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, The Philippines and Singapore.
Like most countries, Thailand has only one official language – Thai – with official documents and legally binding agreements being written in this language. However in practice, because of (a) the high number of non-Thai tourists and business and professional people visiting and staying in Thailand and (b) the large number of international business and professional transactions and communications taking place in the country, English is predominantly used as the common international language, as it is worldwide. For instance in Bangkok, street and direction signs, names of buildings and station names and signage in the BTS and MRT systems are written in both Thai and English.
My own opinion is that it would be a progressive step and helpful for the economy for Thailand to adopt English as a second official language, and endorsed as an acceptable alternative for non-Thais to use for official and legal purposes. I hasten to add that I do not think such a development would undermine the standing of the Thai language and also that non-Thai people living long term in Thailand should make an effort to learn and communicate to some extent in Thai.
At this stage we will have to wait and see whether the government will go ahead with the education committee’s recommendation. A further longer term question also arises: could there be a similar proposal to adopt Mandarin Chinese as an official language later this century?
I recently read a short report in the newspaper that an education committee is about to recommend to the government that English should become a second official language in Thailand. Unfortunately little or no detail was given in the article about exactly what processes would be involved if this radical proposal goes to the next stage, and one can only speculate until a fuller explanation is provided.
Normally an official language means that formal documents can be written and are legally acceptable in this language. Often there is also an obligation to write all signs in both languages if two official languages exist. Asian countries that have English as an official language as well as their own national language include Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, The Philippines and Singapore.
Like most countries, Thailand has only one official language – Thai – with official documents and legally binding agreements being written in this language. However in practice, because of (a) the high number of non-Thai tourists and business and professional people visiting and staying in Thailand and (b) the large number of international business and professional transactions and communications taking place in the country, English is predominantly used as the common international language, as it is worldwide. For instance in Bangkok, street and direction signs, names of buildings and station names and signage in the BTS and MRT systems are written in both Thai and English.
My own opinion is that it would be a progressive step and helpful for the economy for Thailand to adopt English as a second official language, and endorsed as an acceptable alternative for non-Thais to use for official and legal purposes. I hasten to add that I do not think such a development would undermine the standing of the Thai language and also that non-Thai people living long term in Thailand should make an effort to learn and communicate to some extent in Thai.
At this stage we will have to wait and see whether the government will go ahead with the education committee’s recommendation. A further longer term question also arises: could there be a similar proposal to adopt Mandarin Chinese as an official language later this century?
Talking point
14th July marks the national day of France, often called Bastille Day which started the French Revolution in 1789. About 30% of English vocabulary originates from the French language thanks to the French Norman invasion and conquest of England nearly a thousand years ago in 1066. Most of the remaining English words are sourced from Germanic and Scandanavian languages – people from north European countries occupied England for several hundred years before the French arrived.
As a general rule, basic and everyday words in English come from this north European origin – for example day, hand, think - while more advanced vocabulary used in education, law, government, religion, science and the arts – for example library, parliament, consider – is derived from French. In both cases the words have usually changed a little and become distinctively English in both spelling and pronunciation.
However, there still exists quite a long list of French words and expressions that are regularly used in English and which also retain their French spelling and often the French accent signs.
A list of commonly used French words and expressions used by native English speakers follows - food and drink, fashion and diplomatic terms forming a large component.
literally: on the card or on the menu – in restaurants refers to ordering individual dishes rather than a fixed-price meal
a before-meal drink
a person attached to an embassy
a classical type of dance
a beautiful woman or girl
have a good trip!
a sweet bun
a coffee shop (also used in French for “coffee”).
c’est la vie!
“That’s life!”; or “Such is life!” It is sometimes used as an expression to say that life is harsh but that one must accept it.
a diplomat left in charge of day to day business at a diplomatic mission.
a car driver
stylish
an official communication
a hotel desk manager
fashion (usually refers to high fashion – haute couture)
a thin sweet or savoury pancake eaten as a light meal or dessert
a crescent-shaped bread made of flaky pastry
the layout and furnishing of a room
a cream and chocolate icing pastry
on the way
literally “entrance”; the first course of a meal (UK English); used to denote the main dish or course of a meal (US English).
a person who undertakes and operates a new business enterprise or venture
“false step” : violation of accepted, although unwritten, social rules
fiancé/e
a man/woman engaged to be married
an overpowering event, an act of God (often appears in insurance contracts)
a type or class, such as “the thriller genre”
a type of motor racing, literally “Great Prize”
appetiser before the main course of a meal
an offence against a sovereign power
liaison
a close relationship or connection
a general sense of depression or unease
a part or function of a person in a situation or an actor in a play
Talking Point
As you probably know, the Fourth of July is Independence Day in the USA which celebrates the Declaration of Independence from British rule in 1776. Since this date,
the English language has divided into British English & American English.
While basically the same language there are definitely clear differences, mainly in pronunciation, spelling and vocabulary.
Pronunciation is usually very different, and there are many different regional accents in both America and Britain. If you want to compare the differences, listen to both an American and English film soundtrack, or audio CD or tape, or television programme or news.
There are a few differences of grammar and spelling, and rather more differences of vocabulary and idiom. Modern British English is heavily influenced by American English, for example through movies / films, with the result that some of the differences are disappearing, with the American English word being used on both sides of the Atlantic.
Spelling
A number of words end in –or in American English and –our in British English, for example harbor and harbour. Some words end in –er in American English and –re in British English, for example center and centre Many verbs which end in –ize in American English are usually spelt in British English with –ise, but may be spelt with –ize. Some common words with different forms are:
American British
analyze analyse
catalog catalogue
center centre
check cheque (issued by a bank)
color colour
defense defence
jewelry jewellery
pajamas pyjamas
practice practise (verb)
program programme
tire tyre (on a wheel)
traveler traveller
whiskey (Scotch) whisky; (Irish) whiskey
Vocabulary
The following is a list of common American English words and their British equivalents:
American British
airplane aeroplane
apartment flat
bus coach (long distance)
busy engaged (telephone)
cab taxi
can tin
candy sweets
check bill (in a restaurant)
cookie biscuit
crazy mad
dumb stupid
elevator lift
eraser rubber
fall autumn
faucet tap
first floor ground floor
flashlight torch
flat (tire) puncture, flat tyre
french fries chips
garbage rubbish
gas(oline) petrol(eum)
highway, freeway main road, motorway
intersection crossroads
mad angry
mail post
mean nasty
movie film
one-way (ticket) single (ticket)
pants trousers
(potato) chips crisps
railroad railway
raise rise (in salary)
rest room toilet
round trip return (journey / ticket)
sidewalk pavement
sneakers trainers / sports shoes
stand in line queue
stingy mean
store shop
subway underground
truck lorry
two weeks fortnight
vacation holiday(s)
windshield windscreen (on a car)
zee zed (the name of the letter ‘z’)
Enjoy the celebrations on 4th July and be sure to practice / practise your American or British English on this special day!
Talking Point
Now that the wet season has well and truly started in Thailand, this week’s topic will focus on some common English expressions relating to rain.
A) Types of rain
A shower or showers – a short period or short periods of rain. Showers can be light or heavy and may also be scattered.
Drizzle – very light rain falling in fine drops.
A cloudburst or a downpour or torrential rain – very heavy rain.
A thunderstorm – rain accompanied by thunder and lightning.
Hail - rain that falls as balls of ice or hailstones.
A rainbow – an arch of seven colours that you can sometimes see when it is raining.
B) Expressions describing heavy rainfall
It’s pouring / It’s pouring down / It’s pouring with rain.
It’s bucketing down / It’s chucking it down / The heavens have opened.
It’s raining cats and dogs!
C) An old saying about rainbows
There’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
D) After the rain
It has stopped raining / It has cleared up.
E) Clothes for rainy weather or rainwear
A raincoat – often called a mackintosh or mac.
Wet weather gear or oilskins – a waterproof jacket and trousers.
A souwester – a large waterproof hat, usually worn by sailors in stormy weather.
Galoshes – rubber shoes which you wear over your ordinary shoes.
Wellington boots or wellies – long rubber boots.
F) For the car
A windscreen wiper – a car part used to clear away the rain from the front window.
G) Pronunciation practice
A famous traditional sentence to help perfect the ai sound is:
The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain.
Practise saying (or singing) this!
Talking Point
In view of the current news in Bangkok, this week’s Talking Point will cover some of the vocabulary frequently used by English language television reporters and newspaper journalists to describe recent events in the city.
demonstrate (verb); demonstration (noun); demonstrator (noun – person)
When people demonstrate, they gather somewhere or march to show their opposition to something or their support for something.
Examples:
Angry taxi drivers gathered in Paris yesterday to demonstrate against the rise in petrol tax.
Airline staff will hold a demonstration in London next week as a protest against staff cut-backs.
Ten demonstrators were arrested by the police last night for breaking the windows of nearby shops.
disperse (verb); dispersal (noun)
When a group of people disperses or when someone disperses them, the group splits up and the people leave in different directions.
Examples:
The crowd dispersed in an orderly fashion after the day’s demonstration at 6.30 p.m.
The police ordered the dispersal of the crowd.
dissolve (verb); dissolution (noun)
When a parliament is dissolved, it is officially ended.
Examples:
The Queen of England formally agreed to the Prime Minister’s request to dissolve the parliament.
The Prime Minister said that the dissolution of the parliament would enable a new general election.
elite (noun and also adjective)
The most powerful, rich and professionally successful people in a nation’s society – usually a combination of people with inherited position and wealth and people who have reached this status through their own personal ambition and achievements. The term the establishment has a similar meaning.
Example:
The elite are at the top of the social pyramid and are often regarded as controlling the nation’s affairs as well as holding enormous wealth.
high velocity bullet (noun)
High velocity (= speed) bullets are gun bullets that are faster and more powerful than standard ammunition.
Example:
The Royal Navy used rifles with high velocity bullets to stop the pirates from hijacking the ship.
rally (noun)
A rally is a large public meeting that is held to show support for something such as a political party.
Example:
Next Sunday the Environment Party will hold a rally in Hyde Park to promote their policies.
surrender (verb and noun)
If you surrender, you stop fighting or resisting someone or something, and agree that you have been beaten.
Example:
The two terrorists failed in their attempt to bomb the police station and surrendered to the police who outnumbered them.
Talking Point
This week we continue the explanation with examples of some of the vocabulary frequently used by English language television reporters and newspaper journalists to describe recent events in the city.
barricade (verb and noun)
A barricade is a line of vehicles or other objects placed across a road or open space to stop people getting past.
Examples:
Some areas of the city have been closed off by barricades set up the demonstrators.
The demonstrators barricaded streets with bamboo fences.
coup d’etat (noun)
When there is a coup d’etat, a group of people seize power and control in a country.
Example:
The coup d’etat was carried out by the army and the government was forced out of office.
fort (noun)
A fort is a strong building or place with a wall or fence around it where soldiers can stay and be safe.
Example:
The fort was situated at the top of the hill, which provided the soldiers with a good view of the streets below.
grenade (noun)
A small bomb that can be thrown by hand or fired from a launcher.
Example:
A grenade exploded at the entrance of the bank, causing serious damage to the building.
protest (verb and noun); protestor (noun – person)
To protest means to say or show publicly that you object to something.
Examples:
1,000 truck drivers took to the streets to protest against the higher fuel tax.
The students staged a peaceful protest to show their opposition to the increased university fees.
A number of protestors were arrested by the police for blocking the road.
riot (verb and noun); rioter (noun – person)
When there is a riot, a crowd of people behave violently in a public place.
Example:
The demonstration turned into a riot, with the crowd smashing shop windows and burning cars.
Talking Point
This week we continue the explanation with examples of some of the vocabulary frequently used by English language television reporters and newspaper journalists to describe recent events in the city.
barracks (noun – singular and plural)
A barracks is a building or group of buildings where soldiers or other members of the armed forces live and work.
Example:
The army barracks houses 500 soldiers and is located two kilometres from the centre of the town.
curfew (noun)
A curfew is a law stating that people must stay inside their houses after a particular time at night.
Example:
The government announced that they would impose a curfew between 10 p.m to 5 a.m. and that citizens would have to be off the streets during these hours.
disband (verb)
If someone disbands a group of people, or if the group disbands, is stops operating as a single unit.
Example:
The right wing faction of the party agreed to disband and to conform in future to the party’s central policies.
faction (noun)
A faction is an organised group of people within a larger group, which opposes some of the ideas of the larger group and fights for its own ideas.
Example:
The left wing faction of the Labour Party was opposed to the Prime Minister’s proposal that the Post Office should be privatised.
retreat (verb and noun)
If you retreat, you move away from a place or someone.
Examples:
The enemy soldiers were outnumbered and retreated quickly.
The General ordered his troops to retreat because the opposing army was advancing with a large number of tanks.
sentry (noun, plural – sentries)
A sentry is a soldier who guards a camp or a building.
Example:
The sentry noted the identification details of visitors to the airforce base before allowing entry.
Talking Point
This week we continue the explanation with examples of some of the vocabulary frequently used by English language television reporters and newspaper journalists to describe recent events in the city.
compromise (noun)
A compromise is a situation in which people accept something slightly different from what they really want, because of circumstances or because they are considering the wishes of other people.
Example:
The government’s policy of compromise is not popular with everybody in the country.
compromise with (verb)
If you compromise with someone, you reach an agreement with them in which you both give up something that you originally wanted.
The government, which was initially opposed to any wage increase, compromised with the unions by agreeing to half of their demands.
compromise oneself (verb)
If someone compromises themselves, they do something which causes people to doubt their honesty, loyalty, or moral principles.
Example:
Some employees of the company compromised themselves by accepting secret payments from suppliers.
in camera (adverbial phrase of place)
If a trial is held in camera, the public and the press are not allowed to attend.
Example:
This morning’s court hearing was held in camera.
stand-off (noun)
A stand-off is a situation in which neither of two opposing groups or forces will make a move until the other one does something, so nothing can happen until one of them gives way.
Example:
The strike continued because there was a stand-off between the government and the unions.
ultimatum (noun)
An ultimatum is a warning to someone that unless they act in a particular way within a particular time limit, action will be taken against them.
Example:
The police issued an ultimatum to the terrorist group to surrender by midday.
Categories: Talking Point
Comments
Leave a Reply
Please note: Comment moderation is currently enabled so there will be a delay between when you post your comment and when it shows up. Patience is a virtue; there is no need to re-submit your comment.