- For the Site, see Ling: Learn Thai.
- Available both on the browser and as an iPhone App.
- I've found the initial page-load to be a bit slow in the browser (at least using Chrome), so anyone clicking the above link may need to be somewhat patient.
- Ling Introduction:
- Thailand is home to over 68 million people. Known as the land of smiles, the kingdom has become a popular tourist destination, currently one of the most visited countries in the world. Thailand is well known for its beautiful islands, beaches and nature. Its cuisine is also internationally renowned for its unique flavors and fresh ingredients.
- The official language, Thai, is the native language of 36 million people, with 44 million speaking it as a second language. Due to its size, there is some variation in the dialects spoken across the country. The Thai language is closely related to the neighboring Lao language, but less so with Burmese or Khmer. Thai uses its own unique script, consisting of 44 consonants and 15 vowels. There are traditionally no spaces between words and little to no punctuation used. Spoken Thai makes use of aspirated (said with a puff of air) and unaspirated consonant sounds, as well as a tone system similar to that used in China.
- If you plan to come to Thailand, being able to speak the language will greatly improve your stay. English and other foreign languages are not very prominent outside of the main tourist areas, so if you plan to do some exploring in Thailand, you should definitely prepare yourself by learning some Thai. For Thai food fans, learning Thai will also grant you access to many more traditional Thai recipes.
Text Colour Conventions (see disclaimer)
- Blue: Text by me; © Theo Todman, 2025
- Mauve: Text by correspondent(s) or other author(s); © the author(s)