A polite way to confusion
Thai is a language and culture of politeness. A Thai will rarely if ever correct a Westerner. A Thai of a lower rank or “class” will NEVER correct a Westerner, especially if it is their boss! This can be a good thing as well as a bad thing. Unfortunately, too many foreigners mistake Thai politeness, and patience for acceptance of the visitor’s ill mannered behavior. The habit of a Thai not correcting the bad behavior of the visitor, gives the visitor the incorrect impression that their behavior is somehow acceptable, and it allows that bad behavior to continue. This politeness is also a big problem for the Western manager sent to Thailand to work for the first time. Western management style is to get input from the other managers and supervisors. A Thai lower level manager or supervisor will never tell the Western boss or Thai boss especially, about any problems or ideas that they have. It’s just not done in Thailand. Also, the Western manager will stand and explain something to a lower level Thai, be it supervisor, worker or even messenger. The entire time the Westerner is explaining himself, the Thai is smiling, nodding their head yes and saying yes (khaa or krap). When you are done explaining, you naturally ask the person “Do you understand”? The Thai will beam with a huge smile and say yes, and have absolutely no idea what you just said. They my not even speak English. But, to tell you that they do not understand, indicates that you did not explain the task well enough. Since you are of a higher “class” or statues, the Thai would be indicating that YOU did not do a good enough job in your explanation. This would be a gross insult to you in the Thais mind. A Thai would never insult you in this manner. As an example, I perform corporate Team Building programs in Thailand. After my introduction and initial instructions about the program, I always ask if there are any questions. Because I am the person giving the brief, I am considered the senior person and a teacher to boot. Teachers are highly respected and regarded in Thailand. When I ask if there are any questions, a Thai will NOT ask me a question, and indicate that I did not do a good enough job explaining or “Teaching” the information. So, I have to actually sit down and explain to them that, for the purpose of this program, they HAVE to ask me any questions that they have, to make sure that they understand everything they will be doing. I may talk a few of the Thais into asking questions, but I don’t count on it. You will have to explain every task again, and follow through to the very end. This is not to say that Thais are stupid or not smart enough to understand what I am saying. Because believe me, Thais are extremely clever and intelligent people. It is only to say that this is a cultural thing. So if there is something that they don’t understand about what you told them, they will NOT tell you that they don’t understand.