What would you guys think about a Khmer language version?

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OrangeDragon
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What would you guys think about a Khmer language version?

Post by OrangeDragon »

Won't happen anytime soon, but just something I was tossing around the idea of. A way for Khmer users, and those aspiring to learn to read it who want some practice, to view the site. Obviously english posts would be in english... but we could set up the navigation/instructions/etc to make it easier for those who read khmer as a native language.

Thoughts?
taabarang
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Re: What would you guys think about a Khmer language version

Post by taabarang »

Nope. Do you really want to compete with facebook? More importantly, this is one of the few forums where Cambodian posters can find out how their school English compares with native English, plus it's also one of the few places where they can receive gentle criticism. If you want a Cambodian language forum, start another website; you've got a winner here. You'll have plenty of readership when you acquire K440.
As my old Cajun bait seller used to say, "I opes you luck.
Soi Dog
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Re: What would you guys think about a Khmer language version

Post by Soi Dog »

It might be a nice feature to have a "translate" button to help those not yet comfortable with English to follow CEO. Anything that gets more Cambodians to post here is a plus, as long as it's not the very vocal "death to yuon" brigades that infest some Cambodia-related chat rooms and forums.

Computer language translations must be very difficult, as even Google Translate does a crap job most of the time. No translation is better than a wrong or an unintentionally offensive mis-translation.
OrangeDragon
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Re: What would you guys think about a Khmer language version

Post by OrangeDragon »

Soi Dog wrote:Anything that gets more Cambodians to post here is a plus
This is sort of what I was thinking... a more attractive way to manage the site. Being able to at least navigate the site in their native language, especially if their english isn't that great, may make it easier on them. Then they could, as taabarang points out, practice their english more in the actual postings/etc... as well as help those who wish to practice their khmer.

The google translate integration is certainly a neat idea for that... so if they're having trouble with an english post they can try a translated version and see if it's accurate enough to help.

The whole anti-vietnamese thing would definitely have to be a point, and something we'd have to monitor (or have a khmer mod so they can monitor it) and restrict.

I dunno... just idle thoughts... but I can already see the great benefit of the 2 Khmer posters we have now, and think a few more would be really nice. And it seems any way to make them more comfortable would be worth considering.
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Re: What would you guys think about a Khmer language version

Post by Rama »

I like the idea. And I like the idea of a Khmer language sub-forum within CEO, I don't have much time to post at the moment and can't understand Taabarangs phonetics (or Facebook Khenglish or whatever it is) to follow his posts. But I would be interested to follow an intelligent discussion thread in Khmer and try to post too.

I also like the idea of purely Khmer script/language posts within mainly English threads- only those who are bilingual would be able to follow!!

However, you've got 1 major impediment to Khmers joining up: the forums name 'Cambodian EXPATS Online'.
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Re: What would you guys think about a Khmer language version

Post by OrangeDragon »

Eh, overall it IS an expat forum... but just like an expat bar, locals are always a welcome addition and can frequently provide the expats there with some great insights into the world they've made their new home.
Rama
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Re: What would you guys think about a Khmer language version

Post by Rama »

Yes OD, but the name implies implicitly that it's an online forum for expats that live in Cambodia and therfore Cambodians aren't at first glance going to think it's the place for them...even if you add Khmer language to the navigation etc.
Last edited by Rama on Tue Apr 07, 2015 8:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
Soi Dog
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Re: What would you guys think about a Khmer language version

Post by Soi Dog »

There is another forum with "Khmer" in the site name and they are not very successful at getting many Cambodians to post there either. I doubt the name has anything to do with it. The language translation is a long shot, but it's worth a try. It's a worthy attempt to further differentiate this site from that other one. Can't hurt.
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Re: What would you guys think about a Khmer language version

Post by OrangeDragon »

Yeah, what would make them more prone to check it out from a random google search would be its listing in the khmer version of google... with a khmer title and description to go along with it. and if it doesn't work, not a big deal... but even if it nets us one or two more bilingual khmer it would totally kick some ass.
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Re: What would you guys think about a Khmer language version

Post by MekongMouse »

I like it for symbolic reasons but I don't know how much it will actually drive khmer traffic to the site.
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