But as we have been learning in class, cross cultural communication does not necessarily mean language. Language is only a small part of how we communicate. The way in which a culture uses context and non-verbal codes to express itself creates many possibilities for further miscommunication.
Thailand is nicknamed "the Land of Smiles." When I asked one day in class about why Thai people specifically are famous for their smiles, students said things like: "Because Thais are kind.. Because Thais are friendly." This is absolutely true. Thailand is one of the most peaceful, kindest, and friendliest cultures that I have ever experienced. However, I also believe that most people in the world from most cultures are also very kind and friendly.
So after studying more about non-verbal codes, I would like to ask again: Why do most Thai people smile all the time?
As a Thai person, did you ever use your smile for a particular purpose, or to hide a feeling, or to non-verbally communicate something that words and verbal language could not? Is there
something in Thai culture that promotes smiling over other kinds of non-verbal communication?I hope this topic invites a lively online discussion. I know you all have a story to tell. Aj. M
"We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do." Mother Theresa
Hi,Aj,Matthew.Im SORRY that I didn't post any comment at the blog.because I dont know what wrong with my accout.So i have just check the accout google again.Anyway ,I will try with your next question,I promise na.Thank you very much for you help that day.take care.
ReplyDeleteCheer!!!! I can post it.I tried to find the problem many times that why am I cannot post in the blong.Now I know that I dont put correct answer at the first time I sing up.That is my clumsy & careless.
ReplyDeletewelcome back to the blog guitar-noi... are you smiling now?
ReplyDelete^_^
ReplyDeletesmiling...
I think Thai people are friendly and love enjoying.
I'm the one that like smiling to people. Actually, I don't know why I do that.
When I see a stranger and have to make a conversation. Smiling can help to flow the talking.
Another reason I guess, is Thai Thai student know nothing when teacher ask them, so they just only smile...
I'm the one of those too, when I was in high school. ^.^
The main reason is Thai people do not want to make uncomfortable feeling to others. Especially, native Thai who are hard to see nowadays, is very kind to stranger.
Um... I think like this and I'll wait for next comment sharing the ideas.
PS. I still have no idea for exhibition. What can I do?
Hello everyone,
ReplyDeleteWhy do Thai people smile all the time?
I think it's true that we smile very often, but not really. There are many reasons that Thai people smile from my experience and my opinions.
The first thing is in term of geography, we have almost everything perfect. We have enough food, we have very good weather in Thailand, we live in our life in not much competition, which that can make we have good emotion, as we notice we don't even care much about time, when actually it's very important. Thayt because we have a very good place to live.
The second thing is, if you guys notice, we always call strangers as something like we call brother, sister or our relatives (like in Thai words Pee, Nong or Pah Lung). This show that we think that other people are like part of our family, so we smile as them as they are our relatives.
Thirdly, Thai people meet each other they always smile to each other, but not always as foreign people said. I think it's because mostly the tourist come to Thailand, they do noy kind of study Thai for travel much. They may say something or ask something which Thai people do not understand and have no idea what to answer. The very best way to do is smile.
One more thing, in Thai culture, there's one term which is called "Kreng Jai". I don't know what is it in English. (Maybe like feel concern, look up with respect, be afraid of offending... you name it.) No matter how bad Thai's feelings have to other people, they always tend to not express those emotions to people they mention. We may smile to hide some feelings that we have toward people. As a foreigner, Aj. Matthew, you may noticed that Thai people always say positive to other people. You may find very little or can't find some kind of criticise other people of Thais. We normally do not say bad things directly to people we are talking to.
Smiling is very important. It can make and help other people to feel more comfortable. Moreover, it can make the ones who smile feel more comfortable to themselves as well. Like whatever happen, whatever goes wrong, just smile. Everything's gonna to be alright or better than standing still or make some kind of bad face. Smiling is always better.
For me, I don't think that these kind of things are in only Thailand. When people around the world meet one aonther, they say greeting words, and they always smile to each other. It happens in every part of cultures in the world, I believe.
These are my opinions about smiling of Thais.
Well, thay're a lot (even too much), but I'm sure you guys find it useful and agree with me in some part.
Best,
I don't know why they are always smile all the time..
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is that,,yes sometimes I smile,,especially to nice people..
However...are you sure Thai people realy smiling all the time? or they just smile to Farang?
because we have been taught that those farangs bring???? to this country. Therefore, we should give them a lovely smile...
.
.
This is interesting..actually I don't think we are the land of smile--it's just a slogan from the group of people who wants to promote this country for the tourism purpose....
from me---Every boy is a snake is a lilly...
Excellent... Pae, you surely sound like someone from a culture who is trying to keep the social harmony.
ReplyDeleteyoursweatissalty... I'm interested to know more about your opinion:
"are you sure Thai people realy smiling all the time? or they just smile to Farang? because we have been taught that those farangs bring???? to this country. Therefore, we should give them a lovely smile"
What have you been taught? ...and do people agree?
hi, Aj. Matthew
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time to join with you. "smiling culture" it is quite intersting for me because many people called Thai like this. In my opinion i think it is quite true, Thai are friendly and kind but somehow I think when we didn't understand or confuse, we always smile. Most of Thai people solve the problem by smiling first.
Especially me,when i didn't understand something, i will smile
(='.'=) (>^.^<)
Hi all friends and Aj.Matthew.As yoursweatissalty said "are you sure Thai people realy smiling all the time? or they just smile to Farang? Thai people didn't not smile all the time Ithink.
ReplyDeletefrom my experience, Most of Thai country side people do like smile to Farang than Thais. I'm not sure why they did like that.May be Farang is New, Unseen, and Rich in their point of view.(As yoursweatissalty said may be those Farangs bring???I dont know bring what?,but I guess it's money thing like that na)So,when they didn't know how to communicate with something new,unseen before,so Smiling is the great way to communicate.Theone thing I was thinking is Actaully,Smiling is the great way to hide really feeling such as the scare,shy etc.Most of Thai people didn't express their emotion in direct way,but in circuitous.
Take care ,,hehe!!
Smile..
ReplyDeleteWhy Thai people smile all the time...I'm not sure about it but I think Thais are so kind people. According to their geograpic..Thailand place in agriculture society, we have a perfect environment...it make us smile.
In the other hand, we don't know what to say to the others..the smiling is the best way to greet each other.
But nowadays...I'm not sure that Thai people smile all the time when we face more problems.
ReplyDeleteHi again!
ReplyDeleteFrom the unknown guy at about 9.38 PM said "I'm not sure that Thai people smile all the time when we face more problems.", it is true that people do not smile when they face problems or even something bad.
Even when we were children, our parents always tried to make us smile when we were crying.
There's one old Thai song which it be sung like "Smile, even the world is about to explode..." (I can't remember the song name and the artist.)
Best,
Why do Thai people smile all the time?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion smile in Thailand is used to show happiness, embarraament,fear,tension,remorse..
Smile is perceived as being just about the most appropraite to any possible situation.
For example I saw the seller smile to the foreigner customers (it call -Yim Mee Lay Nai: The smile used to conceal evil ideas AKA "I'm smiling because I'm about to rip you off and you don't realize" smile.
:P
welcome endlesslove... glad you could come.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like the smiles are fading these days with red and yellow shirts arguing over who and why they are...
It seems to me that peoples' real and serious feelings can be hidden with a simple smile for too long until emotions are uncontrollable.
This is something I often wonder about Thailand, and maybe you can help me.
I have discovered that the smile means many things, as many of you have already said. But its often high in context, when more content is needed: that is, clear voices and opinions need to be talked about and communicated openly, and not kept quiet with a smile. This is something that is difficult for me to understand.
I'm sure it is also difficult for thousands of foreigners to understand, those people waiting endlessly in Bangkok to go home.
Smiling is a logo of Thailand.
ReplyDeleteBesides kindness, Thais also smile when they are in the bad situation. I mean some of Thais includ me. When I am in the bad situation, like there is someone dislike me, and I don't want to keeb this situation happen in the future. Maybe I smile to him/her to stop the cold war.
Smiling can make people who love us happy when they know the bad news about ous. I mean if I have a problem and don't want to make them worry about me, I will smile to show my feeling that nothing happen, I'm ok.
Smiling also help Thais (me) dare to start the conversation with someone who I just know. When I smile to my new friends or foreigners and they will know I want to make friend with them, so we can communicate each other easily.
It's too cold
Take care naka Aj. Matthew
^____^
Ajarn M.
ReplyDeleteI have some questions. Is it true? that black people in white people country always are ignored and againsted by white people. I have watch any movies that are about this situation.
Another thing I want to share about racism. Don't you think that
beautiful or pretty people always
get a good opportunity to their life? Ugly one's bad luck all the time. I think it's not fair. I have friends that are not pretty.
When I saw them the first time, I don't like them because of their race but when I knew them, they always nice to me. I think sometimes they should have a lucky thing ^^.
Now I have myown steriotype for pretty people that they may be unhonesty (it's too bad that I think like this -*-)
or-ae ^^v
Have a good weekend
Or-ae, your questions and concerns will be a good introduction to the new blog tomorrow. I appreciate your comments, and I believe all of us have similar expriences and feelings like you describe. We all have our stereotypes about race, but it is our culture that teaches them to us.
ReplyDeleteIf we communicate with people, and get to know them, it usually challenges our stereotypes about them. Black people in North America have had a difficult history that racism continues today. New generations are changing the stereotypes, but our society is still very unequal because of race.
I think this is why communication is important. I would love to hear more about your ideas on this topic.
Smiling is the way to greet people as I told you in class. If we see someone look friendly and greet him/ her with smiling. In addition, smiling can express various feeling as a result of both good and bad reason.
ReplyDelete5031006086 (SOD)