Learning Thai: a handwriting challenge

OK, you can read a Thai message in print form, but what if you get the message in handwritten form? Let's give it a try with two letters that got a lot of attention in the social media recently.

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Column by Acharn Sunee Khaenyuk

We have seen this story in a lesson for English learners (http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/easy/421562/thief-apologise-twice-but-keeps-the-money). Here, we will focus on the Thai, particularly since it gives Thai learners a chance to read some real Thai handwriting. The message itself is easy, but it does take some skill to read the original.

The two letters of apology featured here were received by a man who had had his wallet stolen. The thief eventually returned  several identification cards, membership cards and an amulet, but not the 2,000 baht that was in the wallet.

We admit to being confused by the reference to "Archarn Lian" in the second letter. It doesn't seem to belong there. Any ideas?

First letter:

เธเธญเนเธ—เธฉเธเธฐ เธ—เธณเนเธเนเธฅเนเธงเธฃเธนเนเธชเธถเธเนเธกเนเธ”เธตเน€เธฅเธข เธเธญเนเธ—เธฉเธเธฃเธดเธเนเธเธฐ
เธ•เนเธญเนเธเธเธฐเนเธกเนเธ—เธณเธญเธตเธเนเธฅเนเธง เธเธญเธเนเธกเนเธซเธฅเธฑเธเธ—เธฑเนเธเธเธทเธเน€เธฅเธข

I’m sorry. (After) I did it, I felt very bad!  I’m sorry, really! I won’t do that again. I didn’t  get any sleep all night long.

เธเธญเนเธ—เธฉ – I’m sorry, to apologise
เธ—เธณเนเธเนเธฅเนเธง – to have done (something)
เธฃเธนเนเธชเธถเธเนเธกเนเธ”เธตเน€เธฅเธข – to feel very bad
เธเธฃเธดเธเนเธเธฐ – really, believe me
เธ•เนเธญเนเธเธเธฐเนเธกเนเธ—เธณเธญเธตเธเนเธฅเนเธง – (I) won’t do that again. (as a promise – เธชเธฑเธเธเธฒ)
เธเธญเธเนเธกเนเธซเธฅเธฑเธ – to not to get any sleep
เธ—เธฑเนเธเธเธทเธ – all night, all night long

Second letter:

เธเธฐเธเธทเธเธเธฃเธฐเน€เธเนเธฒเนเธซเน เธเนเธณเธซเธเธฑเธเธกเธฑเธเน€เธเธดเธ เธญ.เน€เธซเธฅเธตเธขเธ/เน€เธซเธฃเธตเธขเธ (???)
เธเธฐเธชเนเธ EMS เนเธกเนเนเธ”เน
เธเธญเนเธ—เธฉเธเธฃเธดเธเน />(I) was going to return the wallet. (It) weighs too much, Acharn Lian, to be sent by EMS
(I'm) truly sorry from the heart.

เธเธฐ – will, would, was going to, etc. (depending on context)
เธเธทเธ...เนเธซเน – to return, to send back
เธเธฃเธฐเน€เธเนเธฒ – a wallet, a purse, a bag
เธเนเธณเธซเธเธฑเธ – to weigh, weight
เน€เธเธดเธ – to be over, to be too much
เธญ. – shortened from เธญเธฒเธเธฒเธฃเธขเน – Acharn, Ajaan
เธเธฒเธเนเธ – from the heart

สามารถฝึกอ่านออกเสียงและดูคำแปลได้ที่ : http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/422482/learning-thai-a-handwriting-challenge