Essential Thai: A guide to the basics of the Thai Language

by James Higbie

Essential Thai is a complete learning package for those who want to acquire basic working skills in the Thai language, quickly and efficiently. Freshly updated and back by popular demand, Essential Thai includes downloadable MP-3 audio files to introduce the student to Thai pronunciation and beginning phrases. Focused completely on developing practical language skills, Essential Thai introduces conversation and grammar, commonly used vocabulary and how to read Thai script in a logical, graduated, manner. The book employs easy to learn and use phonetic spelling and tone markers and includes an introductory English-Thai dictionary. Whether you are traveling or planning to live in Thailand, whether shopping, booking a hotel, ordering a meal or speaking on the phone or much more, this is the language tool for you. By the author of the acclaimed more advanced text Thai Reference Grammar.

236 pages, Paperback

Published October 31, 2018

About the author

I was born in Michigan and earned a BA from Denison University in Granville Ohio and an MA from the University of Hawaii. I have been fortunate to meet two co-authors in very different places, and with their help produce books on two very different topics: Thai and Lao language and the Sierra Leone Civil War. In Thailand my co-author, Snea Thinsan, and I worked for five years analyzing the spoken Thai language and produced two works that are very popular for learners of Thai. In Sierra Leone my co-author, Bernard S. Moigula, and I interviewed people who were involved in or affected by the civil war and produced "Sierra Leone: Inside the War" which includes narratives from 50 people and a detailed history of the war. Besides the blog on the war I have a website on Thai and Lao language: www.thailao.net