First, I think you underestimate my spoken Cambodian because I have chosen to be illiterate. As for the kids they are capable of both the rural vernacular and more elevated speech that their mother uses when needs be in addition to native English appropriate to their grade level. Also if you will remember I already told you that i was aware of the meaning of makomplus and talked about ma ka(um)no. So, that is history from another post that does not bear repeating. I am willing to learn from Khmer only if they respect me. i really don't care what some foreign idiot said to you.

And why for God's sake would I get "destructive" as you put it, with a big city where many, many rural Cambodians have come to eke out a living. Besides big cities destroy themselves, they don't need my help.

And last of all, my original purpose in posting rural idioms was to make foreigners, most of whom live in cities, aware of rural Cambodian. I never touted it as 'correct" or 'good' Cambodian, just a down to earth imaginative way of thinking.

I think children who were born in the city are lack of general knowlage about their daily life in their country. I was born and grew up in the city, but I realise that I don't know many plants and animals if I compare with my friends from provinces. Maybe because in the Phnom Penh we don't have large land to plan the trees and plants. Moreover there are not many animals. I think countryside children know about animals, plants and pleny idioms than children in the city when I asked them to describes about it.

Samouth, when you said, "Because your kids were born and raised in the rural areas, i have no doubt that they picked up such colloquial. I think it should be fine for them to speak those colloquial since most people in your village might speak the same." , you missed the point entirely.

They do not speak that way because they come from a village where it is known. My 11 year old daughter spoke that way about her 12 year old brother because 1) it is stronger than more acceptable ways of expressing the idea, 2) she wanted to insult her brother and 3) mostly because kids of that age like to use slang-no matter what the country is. I assure you they know all the ways you listed but chose quite simply to be a kid. Most villagers here would only use that expression in a joking manner.
They are mostly uneducated, but not insensitive to language.

taabarang wrote:Samouth, when you said, "Because your kids were born and raised in the rural areas, i have no doubt that they picked up such colloquial. I think it should be fine for them to speak those colloquial since most people in your village might speak the same." , you missed the point entirely.

They do not speak that way because they come from a village where it is known. My 11 year old daughter spoke that way about her 12 year old brother because 1) it is stronger than more acceptable ways of expressing the idea, 2) she wanted to insult her brother and 3) mostly because kids of that age like to use slang-no matter what the country is. I assure you they know all the ways you listed but chose quite simply to be a kid. Most villagers here would only use that expression in a joking manner.
They are mostly uneducated, but not insensitive to language.

Ok i am sorry if what i wrote offended you.

There is no need to apologize. I was not insulted, just disappointed. in any case this is a classic example of how western foreigners converse to exchange ideas and Cambodians are more interested in bonding. There are no hard feelings on my part; please carry on posting. Maybe after we understand each other better there will be harmony.

prahkeitouj wrote:I think children who were born in the city are lack of general knowlage about their daily life in their country. I was born and grew up in the city, but I realise that I don't know many plants and animals if I compare with my friends from provinces. Maybe because in the Phnom Penh we don't have large land to plan the trees and plants. Moreover there are not many animals. I think countryside children know about animals, plants and pleny idioms than children in the city when I asked them to describes about it.

I can't speak for city Cambodians, but I am overwhelmed by my kids and wife when they point out plants to me and not only know the name of what looks like just a weed to me and then proceed to tell me what meal it is used in or what disease it is used to cure. My yard is loaded with them, even kru khmer from neighboring villages come to buy them. We do not sell, but give them seeds or cuttings.

Samouth wrote: I can't remember when, there was a young barang said to me Or Kun Makomplous. I know that he meant thank you so much, but it is so funny to use Makomplous with Or Kun, because we (local) don't use it. Makomplous means a pile of something and we normally only use to to describe the amount of shit. For example: Arch Kor Makomplous : A pile of bull shit or a lot of bull shit.

Thanks for that. i had asked that question myself over on K440 before. Got no answer back. I guess they didn't know or preferred not to disclose the info. I use the expression sometimes as a joke. It always gets a laugh. I have been told by Khmer that it can be like saying ' Thankyou, shit in your front garden'
True or not, Anyone?

Samouth wrote: I can't remember when, there was a young barang said to me Or Kun Makomplous. I know that he meant thank you so much, but it is so funny to use Makomplous with Or Kun, because we (local) don't use it. Makomplous means a pile of something and we normally only use to to describe the amount of shit. For example: Arch Kor Makomplous : A pile of bull shit or a lot of bull shit.

I had "or kun makomplous" translated to me as "thanks a shitload" I sometimes say that as a joke when getting a beer in a hostess bar, it usually gets a laugh

^Everytime you post over me I can see a cat's arsehole winking at me as it gently patsy's away.

juansweetpotato wrote:^Everytime you post over me I can see a cat's arsehole winking at me as it gently patsy's away.