Farangs?

[R.Win]

Many argument about this word, but I have heard a very plausible explaination.

When the Europeans came to Thailand to trade and colonize Asia, one of the first to establish an Embasy or such, made relations anyway... Were the French.

And you know most Thais pronouciation abillities, and french isn't exactly "easy" So french would call themselfs for "france" (sorry, don't know how that is written in French, sorry France)

Thais pronounced this name as: "Faranse". over the years it became "faran" to todays "farang"

the term farang/falang is ONLY used for white westerners of European and US countries.

If you are with a Thaiperson and if you say "farang" about... say... a chinese person (because you would think that farang means foreigner) then they would object to you.

Negros are sometimes ironicaly called "chocolate man"

I fully agree on the French theory but farang is indeed probably not based on the english word french, why the hell would the french call themselves french whilst they can use their own word which would be française (french people please correct me if I'm wrong) and when you pronounce it in french without an awful accent (this goes for english natives 8) ) it HAS quite an resemblance to the thai word ½ÃÑè§àÈÊ (farangsèt) and farang as you well know is taken from that very word. So please kill all other legends and horsecrap theories EVEN THOUGH wikipedia might not agree but is wikipedia always right? HELL NO!!!

and the lamest assumption you can have is that farang is poor pronounciation of foreigner coz dark skinned african people for example aren't called farang.

[digitalcat]

note: black people have the RIGHT to be OVERSENSITIVE of the name used to describe them.

lucky there are only VERY understanding and warm people around!

Gents, no offense but I think you are taking the N word issue too far. I lived in NYC, next to 3 different projects for the past 16 years. I lived in harlem when I was the only white person there for miles. I have heard the word used by blacks, latino and even wiggers to ad nauseum. I cant count how many times I've been called that in various situations.

I have black friends... With all of whom I eaten friend chicken, ate watermelon and drank cobras and laughed about it.

I dont use the N word with my friends or anyone because I know what connotations it has for an American black. But please remember that rule does not apply outside of the US. When I grew up in the USSR the word ***** was the only term to describe a black person. It wasn't prejudice or condescending. It was just a term.

No one here is using the term to belittle you, no one is throwing stereotypes around, or calling you names. Please educate a person to why it offends you personally, but this argument has gone too far.

Im a Jew and yes I get frustrated when people ask me an ignorant question, or tell me a Jew joke or call me a cheap kike but I don't crucify them. Just tell them that I don't appreciate that or let it go.

[PeeMarc]

one story talks about when there were French soldiers in bkk many years ago, allow to stay by the King. These French were called 'Farangset' (Thai still use this for French). In a similar way 'Ang Mo' was from the mandarin chinese describing foreigners there with red or fair hair,... and cantonese say 'gwalo' for white ghost.. but today these slang terms are still used for all foreigners.

Yes i have been called a gweilo many times, usually when trying to push my way past slow walking people who can't walk in a straight line.

oh...ive been called MUCH worse than that by chinese, particularly cantonese.

[TonyforU]

PeeMarc,

And why have you been called much worse by Chinese, or in Cantonese? :roll: :roll:

[PeeMarc]

PeeMarc,

And why have you been called much worse by Chinese, or in Cantonese? :roll: :roll:

living in Asia, its par for the course to sometimes be the target for racism. I think all Westerners get it from time to time and just deal with it. And, amongst Asians there is a lot of bigotry going on every day. When living in Singapore and Malaysia, for example, Indians seemed to cop the most racist comments, Out of all the countries ive lived in, over 12yrs, i have found the working class cantonese the least shy about saying what they think to your face when angry or just having a bad day. Others may say similar behind your back.

[funky_house]

I fully agree on the French theory but farang is indeed probably not based on the english word french, why the hell would the french call themselves french whilst they can use their own word which would be française (french people please correct me if I'm wrong) and when you pronounce it in french without an awful accent (this goes for english natives icon_cool.gif ) it HAS quite an resemblance to the thai word ½ÃÑè§àÈÊ (farangsèt) and farang as you well know is taken from that very word. So please kill all other legends and horsecrap theories EVEN THOUGH wikipedia might not agree but is wikipedia always right? HELL NO!!!

Francais for a man and francaise for a woman, but for the French in general, I think it is masculine, therefore Francais.

BTW, there is a cedilla under the 'c', in all examples. :roll:

[English_Bob]

I fully agree on the French theory but farang is indeed probably not based on the english word french, why the hell would the french call themselves french whilst they can use their own word which would be française (french people please correct me if I'm wrong) and when you pronounce it in french without an awful accent (this goes for english natives icon_cool.gif ) it HAS quite an resemblance to the thai word ½ÃÑè§àÈÊ (farangsèt) and farang as you well know is taken from that very word. So please kill all other legends and horsecrap theories EVEN THOUGH wikipedia might not agree but is wikipedia always right? HELL NO!!!

Francais for a man and francaise for a woman, but for the French in general, I think it is masculine, therefore Francais.

BTW, there is a cedilla under the 'c', in all examples. :roll:

Sure the French word seems the most plausible... As we can see TF can't handle cedillas, so I will assume we all know how to spell it...

Thai language has only a few consonant clusters eg PL, PR and GL etc

When they read the Western Alphabet if we use an unfamiliar cluster, they add a vowel. eg S(a)KY and S(a)chool. Or they miss out the letter completely eg "You buy me dink?"

This explains where the extra syllable comes from in Farangset meaning 'French'.

The reason it ends in a 'T' is that the final 'S' in Thai is pronounced 'T' eg "Merry Kitmat..."

So when French traders introduced themselves as 'Francais', the nearest pronunciation in Thai is 'Farangset'.

Then shortened to 'Farang' and all the funny guava jokes that came with it.

[tonyP]

I fully agree on the French theory but farang is indeed probably not based on the english word french, why the hell would the french call themselves french whilst they can use their own word which would be française (french people please correct me if I'm wrong) and when you pronounce it in french without an awful accent (this goes for english natives icon_cool.gif ) it HAS quite an resemblance to the thai word ½ÃÑè§àÈÊ (farangsèt) and farang as you well know is taken from that very word. So please kill all other legends and horsecrap theories EVEN THOUGH wikipedia might not agree but is wikipedia always right? HELL NO!!!

Francais for a man and francaise for a woman, but for the French in general, I think it is masculine, therefore Francais.

BTW, there is a cedilla under the 'c', in all examples. :roll:

Sure the French word seems the most plausible... As we can see TF can't handle cedillas, so I will assume we all know how to spell it...

Thai language has only a few consonant clusters eg PL, PR and GL etc

When they read the Western Alphabet if we use an unfamiliar cluster, they add a vowel. eg S(a)KY and S(a)chool. Or they miss out the letter completely eg "You buy me dink?"

This explains where the extra syllable comes from in Farangset meaning 'French'.

The reason it ends in a 'T' is that the final 'S' in Thai is pronounced 'T' eg "Merry Kitmat..."

So when French traders introduced themselves as 'Francais', the nearest pronunciation in Thai is 'Farangset'.

Then shortened to 'Farang' and all the funny guava jokes that came with it.

I think you thought about this way too much :wink:

[CocoaBrotha]

i have found the working class cantonese the least shy about saying what they think to your face when angry or just having a bad day. Others may say similar behind your back.

I think its more like,They want to suffer the consequences. Miserable lot they are!.

[PJack]

PeeMarc,

And why have you been called much worse by Chinese, or in Cantonese? :roll: :roll:

living in Asia, its par for the course to sometimes be the target for racism. I think all Westerners get it from time to time and just deal with it. And, amongst Asians there is a lot of bigotry going on every day. When living in Singapore and Malaysia, for example, Indians seemed to cop the most racist comments, Out of all the countries ive lived in, over 12yrs, i have found the working class cantonese the least shy about saying what they think to your face when angry or just having a bad day. Others may say similar behind your back.

charming

[kyotokoala]

PeeMarc,

And why have you been called much worse by Chinese, or in Cantonese? :roll: :roll:

living in Asia, its par for the course to sometimes be the target for racism. .

Are you sure it's "racism" or simply a misunderstanding?

Let's not forget that it could just be you of course..