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So: is it offensive?

I believe it is.

However, I do understand the history, and recently certain parties in Cambodia have unwittingly (disclaimer) appeared to have ...ahem...favoured our eastern neighbours in certain respects.

Over to you.

The word in itself is no more offensive than the word "chick" or "bitch".

It's the intention behind their usage that is offensive.

Joon wrote:The word in itself is no more offensive than the word "chick" or "bitch".

It's the intention behind their usage that is offensive.

Agree with that!

And I didn't mean my post to sound so absolute. That's my opinion of course, but I think my opinion makes the most objective sense.

Username Taken wrote:

Joon wrote:The word in itself is no more offensive than the word "chick" or "bitch".

It's the intention behind their usage that is offensive.

Agree with that!

Same here, however I'll extend on that and also say that not ALL usage of the word is meant with said intent... and in the cases where it is, replacing it with the word Vietnamese would in no way alter that intent making Vietnamese the "offensive word".

CONTEXT

phuketrichard wrote:CONTEXT

Absolutely. But when context is resulting from translation or both language and culture you have too much at play to be able to form an accurate interpretation.

Example: If someone hears me yelling "Fuck Yeah" and then translates it as just "Fuck" (in another language) and the viewer only knows I was yelling, my whole tone becomes different. Add to that any bias of the translator to the subject matter... and well... gets pretty nasty.

I think this is why a lot of Khmer get so frustrated at the western insistence that the word is wholesale unacceptable racism. It's been a part of their language and culture, used in SEVERAL contexts, for a very long time. For us to just decide it's derogatory racist language and demand they not use it, or judge them for using it based on translations and our assumptions of intent/tone/context, is somewhat absurd.

I don't know, I met a group of fairly wealthy guys for breakfast one day ( I would tell you their names, but then I'd have to kill you) and one guy was Vietnamese. This was about 10 years back. Anyway, he and I got talking and the usage of the word came up somehow, and he was very clear about telling me to NEVER use that word in front of Vietnamese.

It may not be offensive among Khmers, but I know for sure he didn't like it.

I think that was just this one guy, Vlad, since most Vietnamese people seem not aware of the resentment of Cambodians. They are even led to believe that Cambodians love them out of gratitude.

Richard and OD made a good point and analogy already and I agree with them.

In addition, I would find it improper to use the word "yuon" in English. For instance, "is he a Yuon?"
Also, specifically using it in another language than Khmer with an expletive always derogatory with the intent to insult ("those damn Yuon").

Correct. When mixed with English I fully agree.