What new English words have you learnt in Thailand?
Apr 27, 2015 20:57:52 GMT 7
cc1 and cherrypie like this
Post by Fletchsmile on Apr 27, 2015 20:57:52 GMT 7
Reading the thread about the naming of a Thai fruit in English,
bigmango.boards.net/thread/896/help-name-fruit
it reminded me I've learnt a lot of new "English" words in Thailand that I really wouldn't have known, if I hadn't come here.
Having studied linguistics over the millenia, I noticed many of the new words reflected Thai culture or Thai life where it might be described as "richer" than English culture or English life in these areas. While English may have a wider and richer vocabulary when it comes to business, Thailand is much richer when it comes to food, fruits, vegetables, relationships etc. So here are some of the English words that were new to me before Thailand:
Vegetables:
"Morning glory" - never heard of that before, and would have guessed something to do with naked physical prowess in a morning if I hadn't been to Thailand and eaten it
Fruits:
"Soursop" - from the other thread, like "jackfruit", "dragonfruit" I first experienced and learnt the English words out here
"Ladyboy" - another kind of fruit which takes a bit of explaining to people back in the west
Relationships:
"Minor wife" - obviously a direct translation from Thai, but really wouldn't have a clue back home unless you'd been here and seen the culture. Still not easy to explain to people back in the west either. Not a mistress, not a friend with benefits etc....
"Oreo" - not just a biscuit, but a nice combination a gentleman might find himself in with two new friends who have darker coloured skin
Some come on, what are the new English words you've learnt out here - and feel free to hint or otherwise what they are...
bigmango.boards.net/thread/896/help-name-fruit
it reminded me I've learnt a lot of new "English" words in Thailand that I really wouldn't have known, if I hadn't come here.
Having studied linguistics over the millenia, I noticed many of the new words reflected Thai culture or Thai life where it might be described as "richer" than English culture or English life in these areas. While English may have a wider and richer vocabulary when it comes to business, Thailand is much richer when it comes to food, fruits, vegetables, relationships etc. So here are some of the English words that were new to me before Thailand:
Vegetables:
"Morning glory" - never heard of that before, and would have guessed something to do with naked physical prowess in a morning if I hadn't been to Thailand and eaten it
Fruits:
"Soursop" - from the other thread, like "jackfruit", "dragonfruit" I first experienced and learnt the English words out here
"Ladyboy" - another kind of fruit which takes a bit of explaining to people back in the west
Relationships:
"Minor wife" - obviously a direct translation from Thai, but really wouldn't have a clue back home unless you'd been here and seen the culture. Still not easy to explain to people back in the west either. Not a mistress, not a friend with benefits etc....
"Oreo" - not just a biscuit, but a nice combination a gentleman might find himself in with two new friends who have darker coloured skin
Some come on, what are the new English words you've learnt out here - and feel free to hint or otherwise what they are...
Cruiser = Minibus
, strawberry, where that comes from no idea, thought it was hilarious first time I got called it