Speaking Khmer

Duncan · Post by **Duncan** » Sun Dec 24, 2017 9:37 pm

How many of you can speak Khmer, just a little,, or a lot. I know some of you can pick up a new language in a very short time. Others like myself, learn just a few basic words,
enough to buy stuff at the markets. Do you think I'm lazy or just plain dumb for not learning Khmer after 13 years here .

SmartAston Martin · Post by **SmartAston Martin** » Sun Dec 24, 2017 10:05 pm

Both lazy and stupid, IMO, haha.

You are NOT dumb, however, because you CAN learn.

You are stupid because you can learn but don't.

Many more authentically Khmer worthwhile opportunities to experience.

Remember to learn the culture as you learn the language. I guess it's like learning how to drive as well as the lay of the land. Both important.

Money/laziness does NOT make you smarter. In my opinion, it makes you American, haha.

Post by **Username Taken** » Sun Dec 24, 2017 10:07 pm

Well, there you go Duncan, you're American. Bet you didn't know that!

cptrelentless · Post by **cptrelentless** » Mon Dec 25, 2017 12:27 am

I think you need to dedicate yourself to learning it if you're not someone who picks up languages. I find it difficult as a language but I find learning to read it easy. I can understand the phonetic sounds of symbols easily, so I can pronounce it but just not understand what I'm saying. It's like that dude who became French Scrabble Champion, think he was Scottish or some sort of northerner. He just memorised a dictionary full of words but had no comprehension of what any of it meant. It's not a language that'll drift your way naturally, I find. Once you've got a hang of the pronunciation then you can try the books. I have found Colloquial Cambodian closest as a book to the way people talk in real life, I just need the time to focus.

pczz · Post by **pczz** » Mon Dec 25, 2017 12:30 am

You don't need to learn Khmer, just Chinese. They will all speak it soon. Khmer seem to have a gift for languages

bolueeleh · Post by **bolueeleh** » Mon Dec 25, 2017 1:00 am

khmer have been cheated by other khmer, its all about common sense not language mastery

Duncan · Post by **Duncan** » Mon Dec 25, 2017 2:22 pm

Well now I will tell the real reason I dont speak Khmer.,,, My family is big and the extended family is even bigger, so if they want to talk to me they must speak English as I am always speaking English to them. If I was speaking Khmer,,, they would not be learning English. This is going to help all of them in the future.

Now, almost everyone in the family , even if they haven't been to school understands some English and others like my 8 year old are very very good, and capable of putting a 8 yo Australian to shame in a spelling test.

Kammekor · Post by **Kammekor** » Mon Dec 25, 2017 3:09 pm

Duncan wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2017 9:37 pm How many of you can speak Khmer, just a little,, or a lot. I know some of you can pick up a new language in a very short time. Others like myself, learn just a few basic words,
enough to buy stuff at the markets. Do you think I'm lazy or just plain dumb for not learning Khmer after 13 years here .

How would you feel about an immigrant back home speaking 40 (100?) words of English after being there for 13 years? This thought only made me decide to learn the language from day one.

Too often I had (Muslim) parents visiting me on parent's night at the high school I worked, they had been in my country for over twenty years and were unable to have a conversation beyond 'hello' and 'goodbye' with me. I decided I did not want to be like them.

Jerry Atrick · Post by **Jerry Atrick** » Mon Dec 25, 2017 3:26 pm

Sometimes it's fortunate I'm not completely fluent.

I can more than hold my own in a Khmer speaking workplace though I cannot read or write a word of it.

Duncan · Post by **Duncan** » Mon Dec 25, 2017 3:36 pm

Kammekor wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2017 3:09 pm
Duncan wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2017 9:37 pm How many of you can speak Khmer, just a little,, or a lot. I know some of you can pick up a new language in a very short time. Others like myself, learn just a few basic words,
enough to buy stuff at the markets. Do you think I'm lazy or just plain dumb for not learning Khmer after 13 years here .
How would you feel about an immigrant back home speaking 40 (100?) words of English after being there for 13 years? This thought only made me decide to learn the language from day one.

Too often I had (Muslim) parents visiting me on parent's night at the high school I worked, they had been in my country for over twenty years and were unable to have a conversation beyond 'hello' and 'goodbye' with me. I decided I did not want to be like them.

I think that's a totally different situation. Yes, there is an advantage in me learning Khmer,,, but then everyone in the family would expect me to speak it, and it would be of no advantage to them

Speaking Khmer

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