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Thai (Lonely Planet Phrasebook)

By: Joe Cummings
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications
ISBN: 0864426585
ISBN-13: 9780864426581
Released: 16 Nov 1999
RRP: £4.50
Average Rating:

Customer Reviews

A great little travel companion (if your going to Thailand!) - By: J. C. Eames, 01 Jan 2004
This book will be going with me on my travels in 2004. It only gets 4 stars as it's only nearly perfect for my needs.
This is due to the fact it has no CD to help with the pronunciation. However it makes up for this outlining alll the tones & pronunciation in the book. If your going to Thailand it has to go with you!
The book is of a good size being smalll enough to stuff into your bag, durable for stuffing into your bag!
Why spend over the odds on expensive software when you only need the basics & this has that & a lot more.
It deals with etiquette, eating out, getting about, checking in & various activities & a lot more!!
Well worth the money.
Don't go to Thailand without it - By: , 02 Aug 2002
One of the best features of this phrasebook is that it is very durable: my much-loved copy is well & truly battered through constant use, but it is holding together admirably.

This phrasebook is an essential companion to your guidebook for two reasons:

Firstly, even just a few words of the local language will get you much further on your travels. While English is widely spoken in the popular tourist destinations of Thailand, Thais are proud of their language & are very happy if you can speak some of it too. And there are many places off the beaten track where English is hardly spoken; but with a few phrases & words of Thai, you will be made to feel very welcome.

Secondly, this is simply one of the best phrasebooks you can buy. It is complete, very portable, & does not stop at language. It goes some way to introduce you to Thai customs - in Thailand it is equallly important to understand that etiquette often plays a part even in simple social situations. Knowledge like this will help you avoid offending your hosts & earn you the appreciation of Thai people.

Most importantly, it is very easy to use. It is well designed & smalll enough to carry around in your pocket. It has a good depth of language, & an excellent 'menu decoder'. There is a two-way dictionary & the book is indexed in both English & Thai - so your Thai friends can use it too. You will find that taking out a phrasebook is good way to start longer conversations: if you show that you are interested in learning their language, Thai people will be very happy to help you.

This book uses one of the best transliteration systems. Thai is written in a different script from the western alphabet. The Thai script accompanies each word & phrase, but to help you with pronunciation, each word is written 'as it sounds' using our alphabet.

Equallly important is the pronunciation guide. Thai is a tonal language; the meaning of a word can change dramaticallly if pronounced with a different tone. This is hard for westerners to get to grips with, but the book guides you through it. There is also an excellent introduction to the basics of grammar. This helps take some of the anxiety out of trying to speak & understand Thai. (Easier than you might initiallly think!)

This is what makes the difference for me. This book is not just a list of words & phrases, but it gives you the tools you need to approach any situation & make yourself understood.

This phrasebook stands out, even among Lonely Planet's excellent range of phrasebooks. The author, Joe Cummings, is very knowledgeable about Thailand & the Thai language, & his experience is written alll the way through this book. It is simply invaluable. And if you want to go further with the language, this book has enough depth to be constant resource in your study.