ศาลาชุมนุม

[Geoff]

Hi all,
On my last visit to Thailand I spent a couple of days in Korat. Knowing this was the gateway to Isaan I mugged up on a couple of Isaan phrases. From I could gather from my basic central Thai, people seemed to be using a mixture of both central thai and Isaan. Anyone know if this the case? If so I assume there are no rules and you just have to learn what words are central Thai and which are Isaan. Thanks

[DonSena]

If you'd like a glossary of Isaan with standard Thai equivalents,
you might like to check out this site:

http://www.isan.clubs.chula.ac.th/lang/ ... n=list.php

How the syntax of Isaan compares with ST is yet another matter.

[Rick Bradford]

Wikipedia acknowledges that "Some say Tai Korat people speak a dialect which is halfway between Thai and Isan (Lao.)"

More details here

[bifftastic]

My wife is from Korat and admonishes me if I use any Isaan or Laos phrases with her! Where our house is there's a mixture of Northern Thai and Laos (which is what Pasa Isaan is closest to, I believe?)

She says the people in her country (Korat) don't speak Isaan or Laos, only Thai, so why am I speaking to her like that?

(it doesn't stop me from doing it, by the way!)