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by wsc981 2090 days ago
> The wonderful thing about having a language with a handful of core words and endless composition is that you never lack a word for anything. Make-un-government I'd expect.

It seems the Thai language is a bit like that. Some examples:

- good => 'dee'

- not => 'mai'

- bad => 'mai dee' (not good)

- much => 'mak'

- great => 'dee mak' (good much)

- study => 'rian'

- theater => 'rong'

- school => 'rong rian' (theater study)

- work => 'ngaan'

- factory => 'rong ngaan' (theater work)

- movies => 'phapyon'

- cinema => 'rong phapyon' (theater movies)

- nurse => 'phayabaan'

- hospital => 'rong phayabaan' (theater nurse)

- food => 'ahan'

- store => 'ran'

- restaurant => 'ran ahan' (store food)

- trade => 'khaa'

- shop => 'ran khaa' (store trade)

- motor => 'yon'

- carriage => 'rod'

- car => 'rod yon' (carriage motor)

- fire => 'fai'

- train => 'rod fai' (carriage fire)

- carry => 'bantuk'

- truck => 'rod bantuk' (carriage carry)

- room => 'hong'

- water => 'naam'

- toilet => 'hong naam' (room water)

- sleep => 'noon'

- bedroom => 'hong noon' (room sleep)

- underground => 'taidin'

- cellar => 'hong taidin' (room underground)

- sit => 'nang'

- play => 'len'

- living room => 'hong nang len' (room sit play)

- dog => 'ma'

- forest => 'pa'

- wolf => 'ma pa' (dog forest)

- tiger => 'sauw'

- black => 'dam'

- panther => 'sauw dam' (tiger black)

1 comments

Or German? Generally composite words seem more popular in languages that don't prefer loanwords in general, because there is a limited supply of native words (or morphemes). I think English is in the opposite extreme.