Tone Marks
Since all four tone marks can be used with mid class consonants, this is the perfect time to introduce them (the Thai names are just reference; no need to memorize):
่
ไม้เอก
low
tone mark
้
ไม้โท
falling
tone mark
๊
ไม้ตรี
high tone
mark
๋
ไม้จัตวา
rising
tone mark
Although the first two tones, -่ (ไม้เอก) and -้ (ไม้โท) can be used on all consonant classes, the last two, -๊ (ไม้ตรี) and -๋ (ไม้จัตวา) can only be used on mid class consonants. As mentioned before, consonants ending in long vowels are live. Here is what happens when tone marks are used on live mid class syllables (no need to memorize – just listen and repeat):
กา
Show
เสียงสามัญ mid tone
Show
ก่า
Show
เสียงเอก low tone
Show
ก้า
Show
เสียงโท falling tone
Show
ก๊า
Show
เสียงตรี high tone
Show
ก๋า
Show
เสียงจัตวา rising tone
Show
Notice that a mid class syllable with a low tone mark is low tone, with a falling tone mark is falling, etc. It’s a nice one-to-one mapping for mid class syllables. Here is the tone rule:
Tone rule two – mid class consonant syllable tones match the tone mark.
Exercise 2
The normal goals apply to this exercise, plus images are included so you will know how to draw the tone marks:
ไก่
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chicken
Show
Image
ดื้อ
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stubborn
Show
Image
เจ๊
Show
older sister
Show
Image
ตี๋
Show
Chinese boy
Show
Image
ป่า
Show
forest
Show
Image
กู้
Show
to borrow
Show
Image
โป๊
Show
naked
Show
Image
จ๋อ
Show
chimp
Show
Image
แต่
Show
but
Show
Image
ได้
Show
able
Show
Image
เก๊
Show
fake
Show
Image
อ๋อ
Show
oh; yes
Show
Image
Read 2
Read this passage out loud. Some of the syllables in the passage aren’t actual words.