.. Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 Ms Vampy was watching a music video today: Leah Dizon's . She asks me "what is a paradox?" Hmmm, a bit difficult to explain. Let's be lazy and look it up in the Thai-English dict. No joy. I try to think of synonyms. So I come up with à ¸?à ¹?à ¸²à ¸? (kaan), which means something closer to "contridict" and explained that this was not exactly it, but close. And why. She looks at at me and says: "You mean like what happened at the end of the story of when the young boy lied about seeing the maa paa (wolf)?" That made me smile. "Yes, indeed." "OK, kao jai. But honey, kaan's not the right word." "So what is?" "I don't remember...maybe there isn't one?" Despite the "not remember" part (555555), it is nice having a smart GF. So, the question to the boardies who got this far is: what IS the Thai word/phrase for a paradox? Cheers, SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 Hi, See this thread Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dexi Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 How about " mah sorng dtoo-a "..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samak Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 a word, which first part is the same as in KS' link: à ¸?à ¸Âà ¸´à ¸?à ¸²à ¸Âà ¸¢à ¹? patiphaak (tones low, low, falling) pati opposite, contrary phaak word, speech while the word from KS' link is: à ¸?à ¸Âà ¸´à ¸?à ¸£à ¸£à ¸¨à ¸?à ¹?à ¸° (tones low, low, high, low, high) patithatsana pati opposite, contrary (same as above) thatsana view you can have this also a bit easier with less sanskrit: à ¸?à ¸Âà ¸´à ¸?à ¸±à ¸¨à ¸?à ¸° (tones low, low, high, high) patithatna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonjon058 Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 Paradox's are mostly a Western thing. The Greek idea about classifying things as this or that didn't make it to Asia. Asians are comfortable with something being this and that. Same with Greek logic which dictates that if a statement is true the opposite must be false. It makes it easier to reason through a problem when you do that. But again Asians see nothing wrong with two seemingly opposite things both being true at the same time, because that is the way the world really is. Asian's understand what a paradox is but it doesn't bother them like it does a Westerner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Ninja Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 But again Asians see nothing wrong with two seemingly opposite things both being true at the same time, because that is the way the world really is. Asian's understand what a paradox is but it doesn't bother them like it does a Westerner. This would explain some of the surreal encounters I've had with hotel and shop employees over there... -=/NN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.. Posted February 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 Paradox's are mostly a Western thing. The Greek idea about classifying things as this or that didn't make it to Asia. Asians are comfortable with something being this and that. Same with Greek logic which dictates that if a statement is true the opposite must be false. It makes it easier to reason through a problem when you do that. But again Asians see nothing wrong with two seemingly opposite things both being true at the same time, because that is the way the world really is. Asian's understand what a paradox is but it doesn't bother them like it does a Westerner. I get what you are saying, but I disagree about the generalization. The concept was readily apparent with Ms Vampy, who would be an average example of a well-educated middle-class Asian... Cheers, SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonjon058 Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 SD, I am definitely making a very broad generalization. But I thought you brought up an interesting word to try to translate. I am sure you can explain what a paradox is, and most Asians who care enough to listen would understand the idea. No slight on your significant other intended. But ask a question like "If God (Buddha) can do anything, can he make a rock so heavy that he cannot lift it?" and see what happens. I think the average Asian will spend no effort trying to answer that. You'll probably get an answer that ignores the paradox or be told that your question is silly and disrespectful. It doesn't bother them at all that it has no answer. Again, broad generalization. It is interesting though how certain words give insight into the cultural differences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.. Posted February 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 Well, we've had very interesting philosophical conversations the past few days based upon my fav paradox. That'd be, a fellow who walks up to you and says: "I always lie!" Ms Vampy, (or, Mrs Tiger II) who is not so religious as pragmatic (me as well),...so that makes a big diff IMHO... Lovely. :up: BTW, her basic take on the above is IMHO more Western than Thai (without any coaching), but who knows? Cheers, SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faustian Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 à ¸?à ¸Âà ¸´à ¸?à ¸²à ¸Âà ¸¢à ¹? bpa(L) dti (L) phaak[y](F).......... paradox à ¸?à ¸Âà ¸´ bpaL dtiL [the prefix] anti- or counter-; [signifying] separation; opposition; distinction à ¸?à ¸²à ¸Âà ¸¢à ¹? phaak[y]F [form of à ¸§à ¸²à ¸Âà ¸¢à ¹?] word; utterance; speech From Thai-language.com So literally anti-speech. That's what they say anyway... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.