markle Posted November 8, 2002 Report Share Posted November 8, 2002 "Parents often give their babies unflattering nick-names like Fatty or Pig (Moo)" Those names are unflattering only in a Western sense. For Thais, especially older generation and rural Thais, they would have been signs of health and wealth. So while a name that translates as 'fertiliser' in English may sound unappealing to the western ear to Thais it's a sign of hope, fertility, nuturing, etc. It also sounds cute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markle Posted November 8, 2002 Report Share Posted November 8, 2002 Don't get me started on 'Pui' Pornthip what a fraud. A former Miss Teen USA, fails to get Miss USA so comes to Thailand, wins Miss Thailand then goes on to win Miss Universe and then proceeds to spend the next 15 years living mostly in the US. To top it all off she goes on about being a 'modern' Thai woman and all that shit then goes and does the most uneducated, backward thing of all - marries a superrich falang old enough to be her father. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pescator Posted November 8, 2002 Report Share Posted November 8, 2002 look at me and not understanding . then they repeat it just as i said it and doh why didnt you say like that I think most of us in here is familiar with that situation, you are not alone I wouldn`t worry so much about the issarn dialect if I were you unless you have specific reasons to do so but just concentrate on central thai. There are plenty of dialects in Thailand as you know but the central one is widely understood - Khorp Djai Sawan Cheers Hua Nguu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pescator Posted November 8, 2002 Report Share Posted November 8, 2002 does the most uneducated, backward thing of all - marries a superrich falang old enough to be her father. Yes, I read that too. I seems that she in spite of her upbringing in the US afterall had some strong thai genes :: Cheers Hua Nguu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedonist Posted November 8, 2002 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2002 That's an interesting point, Markle. The nick-names thing was explained to me by a young Bangkokian, who was probably not in tune with rural ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Radley Posted November 8, 2002 Report Share Posted November 8, 2002 Hi, Was the Bangkokian your educated Thai friend you mentioned earlier? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedonist Posted November 8, 2002 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2002 No, the Bangkokian was just a young student practising English language, many years ago. The educated Thai friend is a much more reliable source of information, but rather bemused that I should want to know about the word 'pumpui'. One needs to be careful when using or asking about Thai language with the Thai middle-class. It can be a giveaway that you have been frequenting places of ill-repute! :: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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