Monday, April 18, 2005

Are you being served?

What a strange phenomenon! The more you have a good time, the less likely you are to use the computer, and so all the blogs become miserable! This deserves scientific investigation! What impact must the unhappy nature of Internet content be having on society?? ...

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Over the past few weeks I've witnessed a lot of heated arguments between Thai service staff and westerner backpackers. Here are a few common scenarios.

지난 몇 주 동안 서비스주는 타이 사람과 백팩하는 서양 사람과 사이 많은 열띤 논쟁을 눈앞에 보았다. 여기 몇 흔한 세나리오가 있다.

Firstly, the westerner asks a long, fast question and gets an answer to the question the Thai person thought was being asked, and the westerner gets annoyed that they have to ask again and the Thai person gets annoyed that they have to repeat themselves...

첫번째, 서양사람은 길고 빠른 질문하고서 타이 사람이 (다르게) 들은 질문에 대답하고 서양사람이 다시 한번 질문해야 할것이니까 짜증 내고서 타이사람이 반복해야 할것이니까 짜증 내고서...
Secondly, the westerner asks a question, the Thai understands and gives an answer in a strong and difficult-to-understand Thai accent which, although my ears can understand now I've been here a while, the other westerner can't, and so the westerner repeats what she or he thought was said and the Thai gets annoyed that they have to repeat themselves...

두번째, 서양사람은 질문하고서 타이 사람이 이해해서 강하고 이해하기 어려운 타이 말투로 대답하니까, 제 귀는 익혔지만 다른 서양사람이 이해 못 해서 (다르게) 들은 대답을 반복하고는 타이사람이 반복해야 할것이니까 짜증 내고서...

Thirdly, the westerner asks a question and gets an answer they didn't want/expect in the fairly abrupt-sounding Thai intonation and takes it badly...

세번째, 서양사람은 질문하고 원하지 않거나 기대하지 못 하는 대답을 받고 타이 말투 꽤 퉁명스럽게 들려서 나쁘게 받아들이고서...

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In language classes we're taught the importance of 'negotiating meaning', that is talking your way round language difficulties or differences...

Also, 'service mentality' isn't strong in Asia. Visitors should be aware of that and be more patient and more ready with their smiles.^^

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