In non-tonal languages we can transfer additional information through the intonation of a sentence. We use, for example, an interrogative or an expletive. This is not so in Thai. One of the difficulties in learning the Thai language is to abandon old ways and to allow new functions by using intonation.

The pitch of a syllable can be high, low, rising, falling or in a mid-level tone. Depending on the tone, the otherwise same word has a different meaning. It is therefore essential to find the right pitch. But this is the point where beginners have serious problems when learning the Thai language. Unnecessarily, I believe. Anyone who passes this step, or moves it to a later date, can learn vocabulary as much as he wants: with incorrect intonation he will not be understood.

mid-level tone	low tone	high tone	rising tone	falling tone
มา [ma:--] to come	หม่า [ma:\] to ferment	ม้า [ma:/] Horse	หมา [ma:\/] Dog	ม่า [ma:/\] Mother (chin.)

The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) in Washington D.C. has developed a Thai Basic Course providing training to government employees in 1970, starting with an introduction to the phonology (the sound system). Since this course is available free as public domain on the Internet, I've made an own version of the phonology for ClickThai using parts made from the original. You'll find it at the Training area .