Thread: Can the word "farang" be context-neutral?

Jet's favourite reference has something to say about this :

While generally farang is a neutral word, it can be used in a mocking manner, or even as an insult depending on context.

perhaps we could expect some movement on this once the locals have come to grips with the multitude of infinitely more important human-rights violations committed daily ?

Originally Posted by Mid

have come to grips with the multitude of infinitely more important human-rights violations committed daily ?

A very good point.

I'm not expecting them to change any time soon. I know some thais who are very careful to not use the word, which is not because of me telling them it is unpleasant. However, they are sadly currently a small minority.

I think most asian countries have words to describe foreigners.
In Japan it's gaijin. Heard with equal frequency as farang in Thailand.

It's a result of living in a very homogeneous society. It's what sets them apart from us and is immediately obvious.

If you owned a hardware store in Bournemouth and some purple guy with five eyes walked in and asked for a light bulb, you'd probably run to the back and tell your co-worker to come look at the psycho motherf***er who just walked in.

use the word "falang" is indicative of economic opportunity and galactic difference.

Originally Posted by Smeg

"Context-neutral" is how I usually here the word "farang" described by people attempting to play down its significance.

However, I and every expat I spend time with hears this word used often to label them, whether they are in a shop as a customer (where they could just as easily be described as a "customer" thus not differentiated from the other customers in the shop who are thais) or in a whole range of other situations where the thai words for "person" "man" "client" "employee" etc. However, the preferred method for thais is to highlight the ethnic differences of the person they are referring to, hence "This farang wants to buy a light bulb. Do we have any?" is the preferred choice of words.

Why? Why is ethnicity important to the question being asked about availability of light bulbs? Why build the context of the question by adding an ethnic label to it? Actually, from that, I can see that it actually adds nothing to the context of the question, hence it is either pleasure/reassurance-seeking or pure thickness and bad habits that force thais to use ethnic labelling in this way. They are brought up to do it, as thailand is a place with many laws (restricted trades, business ownership, and land ownership) to limit opportunities for expats, so the use of a word to label and differentiate them probably makes sense too, and there is nobody with any power to be able to do anything about it, since it doesn't adversely affect thais at all (apart from being thought of as pig-ignorant or xenophobic by some).

Mmm yes, interesting...



And thought provoking...

Smeg is purple?

^^I assume you've read that book Ant. I know you made the record

I do agree with you on this one though

Originally Posted by NickA

I assume you've read that book Ant

Actually I haven't you cheeky monkey, it was a random Google. But now that I've seen it... Ahh who has the time to read??

Originally Posted by Texpat

some purple guy with five eyes

Originally Posted by Texpat

look at the psycho motherf***er

Your making smeg's point that the word farang is dehumanizing. You sure you want to take that position?

^ He can't help if it is is true

Originally Posted by Smeg

What I don't understand is why people can't see that sticking ethnic labels on people for no reason can cause insult for some people.

What like calling people "lizard monkey mixes"?

I'm sure you've forgotten what it's like in the UK, but when I was last there MOST people used ethnic labels, but not in the earshot of the people they were labelling. Many people would be nasty about so-called friends behind their backs...

I don't know why I bothered typing that. Complete waste of time.

Originally Posted by Texpat

I think most asian countries have words to describe foreigners. In Japan it's gaijin. Heard with equal frequency as farang in Thailand.

bule in Indonesia.

Pakeha in New Zealand, it means long pig, not derogatory, it just means we just taste soooo fvking good.

Originally Posted by Smeg

Why? Why is ethnicity important to the question being asked about availability of light bulbs? Why build the context of the question by adding an ethnic label to it?

Simple, really, farangs are known to ask too many questions and not understand the answers, due to their lack of Thai language skills.

Thai's aren't the same as westerners.