Your true colour is shining through | Bangkok Post: opinion

Opinion > Opinion

Your true colour is shining through

The Thai language is rich and intricate. It can be so praiseful and flowery, while contrarily so cutting and spiteful, that no English translation can do it justice.

English terms such as "whore", "tramp" and "slut" are chaste compared to their Thai counterparts. English phrases such as "that lustful woman" are virginal compared to how they are expressed in Thai.

Such words, many more and much worse, are written and spoken, cheered and rejoiced over in attacking Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. 

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Your comments

  • Discussion 20 : 23 Nov 2012 at 04.5720

    It's a bit presumptive to assume all Red shirts would not understand anything sophisticated, intelligent, educated, clearheaded.... I find it hard to believe that the Yellowshirts, UDD all fit into the category of being sophisticated, etc.

  • Discussion 19 : 23 Nov 2012 at 00.0419

    dickemery D17

    Voranai isn't talking about criticism, he 's talking about the use of vulgarity.

  • JP

    Discussion 18 : 22 Nov 2012 at 22.4718

    ... exactly with the grammar you have used; ... 'Vicious and derogatory insults are disgusting and despicable, driven by fear, hatred and anger -- a dish of the lowest common denominator.'
    from iPhone application.

  • Discussion 17 : 22 Nov 2012 at 22.2017

    but vorania there is a right way to do things and a wrong way,if your enter politics,your there to serve the public interest,to be a role model,to be above board to get things done thats needed,when you mix business with politics,you loss focus on why you entered policitic in the first place, to be non bias,perhaps things in thailand are done the other way,you enter politics to do business,a conflict of interest

  • Discussion 16 : 22 Nov 2012 at 20.3916

    That she flirted with President Barack Obama, we may criticise her impropriety.

    Girls just want to have fun!

  • bikeme

    ThailandPost : 1,110

    Send message

    Discussion 15 : 22 Nov 2012 at 20.2715

    If one lesson could be learned from this editorial .... "Two wrongs do not make a right. It makes a U-turn."

  • Discussion 14 : 22 Nov 2012 at 19.0914

    To fma the level of crudness and politeness of Thai language go beyond English language as Thai language is belong to high-context language. The comments in Thai webblog are worse beyond your imagination. In my opionion, let both sides learn the lesson. Thais are not educated to accept different opinions. The political polarlisation is the learning process in democratisation. Don't worry about that.

  • Discussion 13 : 22 Nov 2012 at 18.4613

    @fma #11: do you think red-shirts would understand anything sophisticated, intelligent, educated, clearheaded. I have my doubts.

  • Discussion 12 : 22 Nov 2012 at 18.3912

    Calling names is more like childish schoolyard fights. The core problem here is democracy and who really wants it. One group calls for elections and installs their choice of government through elections whereas the opposition always uses force to install their form of government. Now which seems to be more democratic.

  • fma

    ThailandPost : 155

    Send message

    Discussion 11 : 22 Nov 2012 at 17.1711

    I do not understand Thai, so I can not give an opinion on the level of crudeness there. But if it is worse than what I can read in this English language forum, it is indeed bad. This forum is overwhelmingly anti-red, so I guess it should not be a surprise that the majority of ugly language comments also is. However, since the anti-reds in general consider themselves to be more sophisticated, intelligent, educated, clearheaded etc., they are advised to use those traits more frequently. You never know, it might actually win them some supporters.

Reply

Sign in once and access every part of the website at your convenience!

Please log in to our Bangkokpost.com community to post your comment.
You can sign in to the community by clicking here.

If you are not part of the community yet, please sign up here. By being part of this community you will get all these privileges.