These pairs of words are identical except for length of vowel:
| khǎaw | white |
| khǎw | he , she |
| khàaw | news |
| khàw | knee |
These pairs of words differ only in the type of initial consonant (one is aspirated; the other isn't):
| kaaw | step, pace |
| khaaw | rice |
| and | |
| pàa | forest |
| phàa | to cut |
Since these particular types of contrast are not present in English, the student may find it hard to keep them in mind in Thai.
38. Since the experience area covered by a particular word in Thai will usually differ from that in English, the student will usually not know the range of meaning of the word in Thai and may extend it into areas where it is not used. An example of this would be the word hǔu'ear', which the student might extend to egg of corn or grain where the word ruaŋ is used. In some areas where it might be extended, such as khîihǔu (excretion of the ear) 'earwax', or tàaŋhǔu 'earring', the student may feel afraid to extend it, although the 'basic' meaning of 'ear' is kept. Frequently the student will understand compounds in which a somewhat extended meaning of the word is used, such as hǔuthoorasáp (ear telephone) 'telephone receiver‘, although he would be unable to orginate a compound of this sort.
252
