Speaking Khmer

[Barang chgout]

Some here speak well and can even read. Others, like myself, are reasonable but still have some to learn.
My question is to (what seems to be) the large majority, who have been here for many years but still only have basic phrases, why?

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[IraHayes]

Poor pronunciation and too lazy to really give it any effort if I am being honest. My Cambodian wife speaks Chinese, Vietnamese, and English fluently. I get no end of grief about my lack of Cambodian given my time here
I am being forced to speak more now as our current nanny speaks zero English and my wife has had to go to Vietnam for her work. She is being quite patient with me as we try to communicate. But it’s pretty slow going all the same.

[Beerinthemorning]

[liveleak][/liveleak]

Some here speak well and can even read. Others, like myself, are reasonable but still have some to learn.
My question is to (what seems to be) the large majority, who have been here for many years but still only have basic phrases, why?

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Learning the longest alphabet in the world never came easy.

[Jamie_Lambo]

[liveleak][/liveleak]

Some here speak well and can even read. Others, like myself, are reasonable but still have some to learn.
My question is to (what seems to be) the large majority, who have been here for many years but still only have basic phrases, why?

Sent from my SM-G570Y using Tapatalk

Learning the longest alphabet in the world never came easy.

true story

The language with the most letters is Khmer (Cambodian), with 74 (including some without any current use). According to Guinness Book of World Records, 1995, the Khmer alphabet is the largest alphabet in the world. It consists of 33 consonants, 23 vowels and 12 independent vowels.

[explorer]

Learning 74 letters is the easy part.

I dont know the exact number, but you probably need to learn 3000 to 5000 words to understand most of what is being said.

[John Bingham]

Some here speak well and can even read. Others, like myself, are reasonable but still have some to learn.
My question is to (what seems to be) the large majority, who have been here for many years but still only have basic phrases, why?

I'd consider myself pretty reasonable at spoken Khmer and I have a huge vocabulary but rarely use it. I only use very basic phrases most of the time because I don't want to get into a conversation about how much I can or can't understand Khmer. I can get going if I'm a bit drunk and stuck with a bunch of people who only speak Khmer though. When I'm forced to speak it my memory suddenly improves. Otherwise I'm just too shy.

[Jamie_Lambo]

Some here speak well and can even read. Others, like myself, are reasonable but still have some to learn.
My question is to (what seems to be) the large majority, who have been here for many years but still only have basic phrases, why?

I'd consider myself pretty reasonable at spoken Khmer and I have a huge vocabulary but rarely use it. I only use very basic phrases most of the time because I don't want to get into a conversation about how much I can or can't understand Khmer. I can get going if I'm a bit drunk and stuck with a bunch of people who only speak Khmer though. When I'm forced to speak it my memory suddenly improves. Otherwise I'm just too shy.

[explorer]

I spend a lot of time with Cambodian people, which normally involves speaking Khmer, which is different to those who spend most of their time with English speaking people. I speak English with Cambodian people who speak English. Of course I do spend some time with other foreigners.

[Duncan]

Some here speak well and can even read. Others, like myself, are reasonable but still have some to learn.
My question is to (what seems to be) the large majority, who have been here for many years but still only have basic phrases, why?

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After 15 years here I only know enough basic Khmer to buy stuff at the market. I always speak English with the family and now they all also speak and understand English which will help them for many years to come.
If I learned and spoke Khmer all the time it would only
be of a benefit to me.. And at 71 years of age... for how many years ?

[Felgerkarb]

I have gotten very lazy, although I sill read the news since all the juicy stuff stays in Khmer. When Morticia speaks to me in Khmer, I always respond in English...so we have a bilingual conversation...literally. Pubert seems to favor English over Khmer, like a lot of kon gat I know....even though his cousin and mom speak to him in Khmer...copying dad I guess.