Intercultural communication assignment topic thailand communication

HANOI OPEN UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF TOURISM INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION ASSIGNMENT TOPIC: THAILAND COMMUNICATION Instructor: Mr Pham Quang Long Class: A5K29 Group: 09 Group member: Nguyen Thi Thom Hoang Ha Anh Dao Mai Chi Nguyen Mai Huong Pham Thi Thuy Anh Tran Huyen Trang Do Tra Dan Hanoi, 2023 TABLE OF CONTENTS MAIN CONTENTS I GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THAILAND .1 Geography History .1 Languages General characteristics of Thailand .3 II VERBAL COMMUNICATION CHARACTERISTICS IN THE THAILAND CULTURE Thailand greeting culture: .4 How to address Thai people in communication Thailand doesn’t tend to say “no” Thais tend to like humor Thais usually have soft voices 6 Topics should not mention in communicating with Thai people III NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION CHARACTERISTICS IN THAILAND CULTURE Eye contact Physical contact Personal space Gestures Facial expression IV ADVICE AND SUGGESTION ABOUT MANNERS IN THAILAND CULTURE In public areas In Thailand’s houses 10 In the meals .10 In communication 12 REFERENCE MATERIALS 12 MAIN CONTENTS I GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THAILAND Geography Thailand is in the middle of mainland Southeast Asia Totaling 513.120 km², Thailand is the 50th-largest country by total area, and the 3rd largest in Southeast Asia, after Indonesia and Myanmar The land border is 4,863 km long with Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Malaysia The nation's axial position influenced many aspects of Thailand's society and culture It controls the only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore It has an exclusive economic zone of 299,397 km2 History Thai are descended from a much larger group of Tai-speaking peoples The latter are found from extreme northeastern India in the west to northern Vietnam in the east and from southern China in the north to as far south as the central Malay Peninsula In the past, scholars held that a parent group called the Proto-Tai originated in southern China and pushed south and west from the China landmass into northern mainland Southeast Asia Most scholars now believe that the Tai came from northern Vietnam around the Dien Bien Phu area and that about 1,000 years ago they spread from there northward into southern China; westward into southwestern China, northern Myanmar (Burma), and northeastern India; and southward into what are now Laos and Thailand For a discussion of Thai history in its regional context, see Southeast Asia, history of  1782: Beginning of the Chakri dynasty, which still is the ruling royal house until this day The new capital of Siam (present-day Thailand), Bangkok, was founded  1804-1868: King Mongut leads the country into a modernization phase, as he embraces Western innovations  1868-1910: King Chulalongkorn employs Western advisers to modernize Siam's administration and commerce, as well as develop a railway network  1939: Siam changes its name to Thailand, which means "Land of the Free"  1941: Thailand allows Japanese forces to use its land and advance toward British controlled neighboring areas       1965: Thailand permits the US to use their bases during the Vietnam War, while Thai troops fought in South Korea 1997: The Asian financial crisis hits the Thai currency "the baht", as it falls sharply against the dollar, leading to unemployment and bankruptcies 1999: The economy begins to pick up again as the government implements economic reforms Also, the government begins to put pressure on drug companies to find ways to make AIDS and HIV drug treatments cheaper 2004: Thousands are killed by a massive tsunami, triggered by an undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra 2011: The government introduces a rice subsidy, ensuring that rice farmers receive a guaranteed price for their crops This scheme causes government debt to soar, and the increase in prices causes Thailand to lose its title as the world’s largest exporter of rice 2016: King Bhumibol Adulyadej dies at age of 88 after 70 years on the throne, becoming the world's longest reigning monarch Languages Most of the languages spoken in Thailand belong to one of four major language families:  Tai (a subfamily of Tai-Kadai languages): The national language of Thailand, known as Standard Thai, is based on the language spoken in central Thailand Nearly every person in the country can speak and write Standard Thai, having learned the language from government schools and through its use in print and broadcast media While Standard Thai has strongly influenced all the languages of Thailand, some distinct Tai languages continue to be spoken Most people living in Bangkok and surrounding urban areas as well as in up-country towns and cities use Standard Thai as both their domestic and public language, while people in rural areas speak languages in a domestic setting that are sharply different from Standard Thai  Mon-Khmer (a subfamily of Austroasiatic languages): Before the 13th century, the major languages are spoken in what is today Thailand belonged primarily to the Mon-Khmer language group of the Austroasiatic language family rather than to the Tai language family The people speaking these languages were displaced by the arriving Tai speakers and driven into the hills Later, wars pitting Thailand against the Burmese and Khmer kingdoms brought more speakers of Mon and Khmer languages into Thailand as refugees and prisoners of war The Mon settled in the north, center, and west, although they are now concentrated in an area just west of the country, while the Khmer settled in the east along the Cambodian border  Austronesian A dialect of Malay, which belongs to the Austronesian language family, is widely spoken in the far southern provinces of the country In contrast to the speakers of Mon-Khmer languages, speakers of Malay have been very resistant to assimilation into Thai national culture Their resistance, however, has been as much a consequence of their adherence to Islam as it has been of their speaking a different language  Sino-Tibetan and other languages Descendants of migrants from southern China constitute the largest portion of the population of Thailand who speaks Sino-Tibetan languages Some of these migrants still speak such diverse Chinese languages as Teochew, Hokkien, Hainanese, and Cantonese These languages, which were once spoken by a considerable portion of the population in Thailand, have steadily been abandoned by the descendants of Chinese migrants in favor of Standard Thai Those who decide today to learn Chinese choose Mandarin because of its utility in international trade  In addition, English is widely used in Thailand for commercial and many official purposes It is a required school subject from the primary grades on up, although only children who go beyond those grades, and especially those who attend elite schools, gain significant competence in the language General characteristics of Thailand  Thais have been described as easy-going, friendly, self-confident, complacent, polite, laid back, discreet, modest, cheerful, neat, clean, respectful, and grateful obedient, loyal and differential As is true in other Asian cultures, not losing face is important According to one description: “People move with gentleness and grace Palms are curled; feet are turned upwards Even Thai-style boxing is like a ritualized dance.”  Buddhism, which emphasizes gentleness and compliance, is important in defining the Thai character Describing his people King Bhumibol once said, "Thais seem to be happy and lucky but are quite strong Our people are relaxed, not high-strung or stiff They are hospitable—to strangers and new ideas The majority are Buddhist—and the Buddhists have never had a holy war They are polite Honorable politeness They have courage but are not harsh—strong but gentle." [Source: Bart McDowell, National Geographic, October 1982]  Michael Patrick Anderson, a teacher who worked in Thailand for some time, wrote in the Washington Post, “People are open and trusting They teach you how to be compassionate, how to treat strangers, how to appreciate simple pleasures, how to accept the reality of having no control over life You have to defer to the national attitude of ‘que sera sera,’ which renders clocks and frowns uselessly If you don’t that, you’ll go crazy waiting for late buses, slow waitresses and cashiers using calculators for first-grade level arithmetic.”  Joe Cummings wrote in the Lonely Planet guide for Thailand: “the kingdom was never externally controlled long enough to dampen the Thai’s serious individualism Although the Thais are often depicted as fun-loving, happy-go-lucky folk (which they often are), they are also very strong-minded and have struggled for centuries to preserve their independence of spirit This is not to say that Thailand has not experienced any western influence Like other Asian countries, it has both suffered and benefited from contact with foreign cultures But the everchanging spirit of Thai culture has remained dominant, even in modern city life.”  Thais have a reputation for looking out for others first, especially foreign tourists, and themselves second This was born after the tsunami when Thais in the tourism business made sure their customers were happy when they had other things on their minds, like the fate of missing friends or relatives and the fact their businesses were in ruins II VERBAL COMMUNICATION CHARACTERISTICS IN THE THAILAND CULTURE Thailand greeting culture: Thai people are smiley, agreeable, humble and patient, easy to laugh, soft spoken, slow to anger and never try to offend anyone Thai people are very proud of their cultural heritage and love to talk about it with visitors Meet and greet when introducing or greeting someone, if you want to greet a woman say "Sawasdee kha", and if you want to greet a man say "sawadee krab" The Thai greeting called Wai consists of a light head, and hands clasped together as in prayer The attitude of greeting each other of Thai people is very serious and does not contain signs of contempt or contempt for each other Especially when greeting you, you have to shy away from looking directly into the other person's eyes, so it will be judged as disrespectful or like an unbeautiful greeting in the hearts of Thai people The act of clasping hands in the shape of a lotus bud is considered a symbol of respect because the lotus is a flower that shows respect Accompanying the clasping of hands is the act of holding both hands close to the chest to show that the greeting comes from the heart or mind of the person greeting When you receive a Thai greeting, you should bow your hands together to show respect for each other Avoid the case when people greet you but you stand joking, laughing because in Thai's judgment, you see that you don't respect others and lose your courtesy In Thai, the phrase “sawadee” means “may well be/be good to you” In addition, this saying is also used when saying goodbye to each other If greeting an older person, the nose should touch the hand, but when greeting the monks, they should bow more so that they can touch their hands When greeting people of the same age or a few years older, they just fold their hands and bow slightly When the recipient receives such a greeting, he or she will fold his hands and bow in response How to address Thai people in communication In Thailand, we use many personal pronouns to refer to speakers and listeners of people, gender, age, quantity and status In English, they only use I to represent the speaker; but in Thai there are many first person words like “Chan”, “Gu” and “Pom” This also applies to the 2nd and 3rd person, which can be said in many ways depending on the relationship between the speaker and the listener In addition, the Thai language has the Royal language which is the highest level of the Thai language; This language is only used when talking to and about the Thai royal family Thais have a deep tradition of reverence for royalty; therefore, they have their language to communicate with the royal family Communication style will vary depending on the relationship, if people are already acquainted, bluntness is acceptable However, when dealing with people of higher social status or unknown status, Thai people are more cautious and try to be polite Thai people often address someone by stating their name before 'Khun' instead of 'Sir' or 'Madam' (e.g Khun Simon) However, if the people talking are close friends or know each other, they will ignore Khun The family honorific 'phi' ('brother') and 'nong' ('junior') are usually appropriate for people who are close to each other Thailand doesn’t tend to say “no” Thais find it very difficult to say "no" This may stem from a culture of avoiding confrontation or fear of disappointing others Therefore, most Thais try to find a way to say "no" without actually saying it Sometimes don't say it indirectly in a situation where they want to help you but can't, they will find a way to make up for you Sometimes "No" means "Yes" On the other hand, Thais are too afraid to offend or impose on others to say "yes" immediately or directly They want to it or accept the offer but feel shy about accepting it too quickly Thais tend to like humor It is common for Thais to joke during the conversation While humor is used to make lighthearted conversations, it is also used to cover sadness when discussing a typical tragic or difficult situation For example, if it's raining outside, they might express it with a joke that implies the opposite: "Lovely weather we're having!" (What great weather!) Thais usually have soft voices Volume and emotion are directly related, when the volume suddenly changes, most of the time something happened that made people unhappy Maybe that's why Thai people often speak softly Raising one’s voice is generally frowned upon as it implies a loss of control in a situation and can cause a person to lose face Topics should not mention in communicating with Thai people Thai people are very friendly but when talking to them, they also have taboo topics Italians and Japanese not want to mention Mafia, and Thais not want to mention: Royal Palace, Patpong, Pattaya Because in Thailand, people respect the king very much, they rarely talk about the king and the royal family As for Patpong, it's an entertainment, debauchery, or 'red light district' Pattaya is a luxurious, high-class place, only for the elite NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION CHARACTERISTICS IN THAILAND CULTURE Nonverbal communication in Thailand is often more important than verbal communication There are many nonverbal communications that people use to express their feelings indirectly In addition, it is difficult for most Thais to say no, so they instead express their feelings through nonverbal III communication such as body language gestures, physical contact, facial expression, personal space… Eye contact In Thai culture, eye contact is counted as important body language It shows attentiveness to the person talking However, direct eye contact should be diverted every now and to soften the interaction Intense eye contact in Thailand can be viewed as a challenge to the other person When being instructed or spoken to by a superior, it is respectful to lower one’s eyes Physical contact Physical contact in Thailand is acceptable amongst people of the same gender, but is usually minimal Men and women seem to be inappropriate to touch each other unless they are in a related relationship Moreover, intimate actions of couples such as kissing, holding hands…are generally not shown in public displays In addition, Buddhist monks are not supposed to make any physical contact with women Personal space The general distance between two people conversing is arm’s length When in conversation with a friend or close acquaintance, this distance is shorter Gestures It is easy to see Thai gestures when communicating with them, but there are some gestures that if you not know or not learn in advance will be very easily misunderstood  Hand Gestures:  The Thai greeting: The traditional greeting gesture of Thai people is known as "wai"; a way of greeting in Thai society, and one of the most common Thai hand gestures It is normally used when greeting one another, saying goodbye, or showing respect, gratitude, or apology This gesture can replace greetings, thanks or apologies, but to keep polite, Thai people act and speak at the same time  Pointing: Thai people generally not use their hands to emphasize their point in the conversation Overly dramatic gestures or frequent and rapid gestures may be misinterpreted as anger in Thailand Pointing with a single finger is considered to be rude and accusatory  Beckoning: The common way to beckon someone is by gesturing with all fingers facing downwards and towards oneself, the same gesture that would represent 'shooing' in Australia Gesturing with fingers facing upwards has offensive connotations in Thailand  Foot Gesture:  Thais consider the feet to be the lowest and filthiest part of the body So, it should not be used to point at things or move objects The soles of one's feet also should not be pointed at others  It is considered rude to put your feet up on a table or other surface, and like many Asian cultures it is nearly universally required to take your shoes off before entering a home, business, or even the local store  Head:  Nodding: There are two types of nodding in Thailand's nonverbal communication:  Nod Head Once: This is a way to show that you recognize or acknowledge a greeting from another party Sometimes, when people greet you by (w) or by saying (sà-wat-dii), you may not be able to greet them back So you nod your head once as a sign that you acknowledge that greeting It's not considered rude to simply nod your head once as a way to show that you acknowledge their greeting  Nod Head a Few Times: This Thai body gesture means "yes" or "agree." This is considered somewhat polite body language in Thailand for showing agreement Thai people often nod to acknowledge what is said However, this does not always mean they agree or understand It is primarily a gesture made out of politeness  Height and Bowing: An important way Thais show respect is by lowering their head It is expected that those in subordinate positions will bow their head during interactions with those of a revered rank in a demonstration of respect Looming above someone in Thailand can be considered an aggressive form of assertion It is especially disrespectful to position one's head at a height higher than the Buddha Facial expression Thailand is famous as "the land of smiles" because smiling is all over Thai culture and they tend to smile often in conversations Throughout time it can indicate happiness and sometimes smiling is used in an attempt to cover awkwardness or sadness Thais can smile in everything even though they are in a serious situation; consequently, this can create negative impacts on Thai people when they business with foreigners who not understand Thai culture According to some sources, there are 13 different words in Thai for a smile, each attached to different situations ranging from teasing, admiration, disagreement, or politeness In general, it's always considered polite to return a Thai's smile as it's typically quite genuine IV ADVICE AND SUGGESTION ABOUT MANNERS IN THAILAND CULTURE In public areas When travelling to Thailand, you should be equipped with knowledge related to the communication culture of the people here to make your trip more complete and momerable  Greet the Thai people in the style of two hands clasped in front of their chest Thai greetings are deeply influenced by Buddhism The traditional way of greeting Thai people is to place both hands on the head or in front of the chest, with the head slightly bowed For Thai people, the head is a sacred place, so they very abstain from touching the head, even for the act of patting a child’s head Notably, the greeting is also different for social status, each social status has its greeting style to distinguish Usually, the higher the social status, the higher the right hand is, and the longer the time to bow When greeting each other, younger people how lower than older people show respect According to the Thais concept, such folding hands brings joy and luck to the opposite person Today, this greeting has become a typical image of the Kingdom of Thailand and is not confused with any other country  Thai people abstain from touching other people’s heads, you should not pat children’s heads, or pat other people’s shoulders For Thais, the feet are the lowest and dirtiest part of the body while the head is the highest and resting place of the soul Much of what you need to know about Thailand etiquette involves the dos and don’ts of the head and feer  Do not wear “cool” or short clothes when going to the temple Thailand is a country with many temples and a large number of followers People here work in Buddhism Therefore, although young people can now dress according to their preferences, when going to the temple, they must pay attention to dressing neatly, especially girls should not wear short skirts, shorts, and too flashy makeup in places where they go to the temple places of worship Besides, we need to know somethings to avoid mistake o Be quiet and respectful when visiting a temple Always take off your shoes Some touristy temples charge admission, but for those that don’t, it’s nice to leave a donation in one of the many boxes o On transportation, give your seat up for monks if none is available Generally, monks won’t be comfortable sitting next to Western women so you may need to move even if a seat is available In Thailand’s houses  Please leave your slippers at the door before entering If you are lucky enough to visit a Thai people’s house, remember to take your slippers before entering the house Because the threshold in Thai cultural beliefs is very reserved, they abstain from stepping on this position, because they believe that this is the place where the gods reside  Respect for the elders in their family The family is considered the foundation of social life for most of Thailand The nuclear family is the core of the domestic unit But Thailands also have close ties with members of the extended family, neighbours and friends Each person will have a certain role and responsibility in life For other members of their family Every family member will be supportive and caring And show respect to the elders in their family In the meals  Leave some food left over Thai people are very hospitable, so when people welcome guests at home, they attach great importance to meals When you’re full and don’t want to eat more, leave some leftovers on the plate Because if you finish your plate, the host will invite you to continue and eat with you because he thinks you are still hungry  Don’t be the first to sit at the table In the West, the most important person will sit at the head of the table In the land of golden pagodas, that is the position in the middle of the table So if you’re not sure where to sit, it’s best to wait for everyone to sit first and for someone to show you a seat This helps you avoid any awkward moments at the dinner table If you’re eating on the floor, avoid letting anyone see your feet while you’re eating, out of courtesy If you sit at a crowded table, you don’t have to start a conversation with everyone You can eat and drink quietly, as if you were sitting at your table 10  Wait for the oldest and most powerful person to have a meal first This tradition is similar to many Asian countries, when the oldest person at the table begins to eat, the rest of the people start eating  Always take food from shared bowls and plates from the edge When dining with friends in a restaurant, you should order a variety of dishes for everyone to share Because each dish will be served on a large plate or bowl Everyone will take food from there into their bowls Remember always to take food from the side of the plate, rather than the center And your shirt also uses our spoon to take the food from shared plates, instead of the spoon you are using In a formal atmosphere, it is usually women who are older, or the higher status, who choose the dishes Therefore, if you want to eat something you can whisper to them  Be careful with new dishes Thai cuisine is world famous for its variety and deliciousness However, not all dishes are easy to eat like too spicy or raw dishes Instead of “respecting” to try a dish offered by Thai people, you can refuse It is considered more pleasant and polite to refuse than to leave the food in excess And another rule is to try to eat all the food in your bowl and plate  Chopsticks are not traditional eating utensils in Thailand Instead, Thais use spoons and forks They hold a spoon in their right hand and a fork in their left hand Since the food is usually prepared in medium pieces, a knife is not necessary And the fork is used to pick up food to put in the bowl, and use the spoon to bring it to the mouth  Take your time and enjoy the food People like to take time to enjoy their food They often eat slowly, especially at dinner because this is the time to meet and socialize among family members and friends Therefore, you should not eat in a hurry, quickly finish the meal When you’re done eating, place your spoon and fork on top of your plate to signal that you’re stopped  Pay and tip The inviter is usually the person paying the bill In certain situations, the most senior person or the person with the highest position at the dining table might have to pay Of course, you can offer to pay a co-pay But it's best not to beg to this if denied For groups that go out to eat as friends everyone can split the money Tipping is not compulsory in Thailand Tips for waiters at street food stalls are rare, but you can let the seller keep the change If you tip in a restaurant, it’s best to it in a place where people can’t see it, it’s more polite In communication 11  Communication in Thailand with women Thai women are very discreet in communication and so you must not touch them without permission and so not look at women for too long because these actions are considered rude When shaking hands with Thai women, you should pay attention, to not shaking hands with them if they not extend their hand first  A smile makes a country’s brand Traveling to Thailand is to come to the land of smiles, of friendly and hospitable people, so in their communication and daily behavior they are always gentle, polite and create a lot of goodwill feeling from the international community Come to Thailand once, interact with the people here to better understand their culture, country and people REFERENCE MATERIALS Verbal & Non-verbal Communication - Business Culture in Thailand Những điều bạn cần biết cử giao tiếp người Thái Lan - Trip14 Văn Hóa Giao Tiếp Khi Du lịch Thái Lan Cần Biết Thailand - IOR Thai Culture - Communication Thai Taboos - Religion, Culture and the Royal Family 12