Dear Editor,
I am responding to Theary C Seng’s article “A language in crisis”, published in the opinion page of The Phnom Penh Post on August 16.
With great interest and curiosity, I read Ms Seng’s analysis of the Khmer language and her observat-ions on how the language is used.
For one thing, I come from a language-education background, and for another I have come to realise I am not the only one who is concerned about the future of the Khmer language and its ‘‘complicated’’ usage.
I embrace Ms Seng’s goodwill and her efforts to preserve the Khmer language. But I would like to respond to some of her analyses and observations, which I find quite prescriptive from my point of view.
“Crude, offensive” words are a characteristic of any language, and I say they cannot be regarded as prohibited words.
That people use these words is not a language problem. It's a people problem that, in turn, reflects the society in which these people live.
Besides, the fact that people fail to use proper styles of Khmer language in different settings – be they formal or informal – is not a language problem. Again, it’s a problem with the people who use the language.
When Ms Seng says the use of these words should be stopped, I understand that she is suggesting these words are prohibited.
But if she meant to suggest that the people who speak the language should stop using these words, the problem, as I mentioned, lies not with the language but the users themselves. So it’s not the language that's in crisis – it’s the people who use it!
I strongly agree that we need a Khmer dictionary that includes new Khmer words being used by people who speak this language.
But I’m not convinced the Khmer language is limited in terms of “communicating complex ideas”. And judging it as such does the language itself no justice.
Any language is limited in terms of communicating ideas, however complicated they are. And, like any other language, Khmer is rich in expressions with their own subtle characteristics.
I acknowledge that the Khmer language is under-studied, but that doesn't make it a dying lang-uage. In fact, it lives and is evolving.
Prescriptivists may not be happy with this trend, but it’s a fact: a living language is never static.
A language dies when no one uses it. This is far from being the case for the Khmer language. I don’t say it’s in crisis – its users are! And to understand why Khmer- speakers are in such a crisis (in their use of the language, that is), a look at the Cambodian historical context may generate an answer, as also suggested by Ms Seng.
Khmer is now a modern language.
A great deal about it has changed and a lot can be said about it now, so research into this language is badly needed.
(Surprisingly, however, discussions about the Khmer language and how it is used are usually written in a language other than Khmer!) humbly respect Theary Seng’s eff-orts to keep the Khmer language alive, and I join her in calling for our country's leaders to turn their attention to promoting the national language.
Lim Sovannarith
Phnom Penh
78 comments:
This author seemed to rebut that it's not the language crisis but indompetent users crisis.He gently slapped silly Theary with his linguistic puns.Well done,Prof.
Other word he said,it's Theary who is in crisis for not grasping and not comprehending the nuance of her own lacks in Khmer language. Is this a mid age menstruating crisis or a pure post traumatic syndrome disorder relapse?
Xanax or Primperan,Theary?
I would like Khmer language experts embedded Khmer language in internet search engine like google, yahoo, bing, smartphone, computer programming, digital media, Khmer translation devices able to translate speech to texts and text to speech, devices that could translate Khmer from other language by speech, spelling correction in Khmer, make typing easier, etc. Khmer needed to put big investments in Sciences and Technology for all Khmer younger to learn, continue and transform Khmer language into universal language.
All Khmer people needed to be nice, friendly, kindly, respecting, helping, unity, organize, forgiving, be active, etc. to each other. Khmer have to stop blaming and fighting each other since Cambodia is almost disappearing from the World map by the Vietnamese expansion.
I am very glad to hear that Lim Sovannarith responded to Theary Seng. It is good to have both arguments that help clarify the Khmer speakers. I supported both authors, Lim Sovannarith and Theary Seng. It is not about the fault of Theary Seng, but it is about understanding in depth and gaining more education. Thanks for both authors. These will bring more attention to the leaders to be aware of the Khmer languages. It is good to have an argument between the two or more.
Khmer Yourng
The language reflects the people. If they are cavemen then they will speak like cavemen. Which is the case with cambodia today.
I cannot refuse to respect this author's professionalism. This kind of noble attitude even if we disagree with him we respect his professional manner.
When comparing to other nations in ASEAN, I find that the Khmer language is very refined and still alive and evolving despite the tragic linguacide by the KR in late 1970s though systematic killings of educated population. I am very proud that the Khmer language has survived both spoken and written one to the present day, while those in Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia have lost their ancient writing system completely. They bravely fought the Western colonizers for independence, but they were defeated culturally by relying on the Roman scripts for their communication.
Secondly, if you review all Khmer inscription for the past 1,500 years, you will find that the Khmer scripts have evolved almost every century. Currently, I am glad to see the Unicode system has been applied to Khmer scripts so that people around the world can communicate via computers and the Internet. The Limon system will soon be abandoned after 20 years of use.
Thirdly, during the past 1500 years, the Khmer people received their formal education through Hindu and Buddhist temples in almost every village. The French education came only in the late 19th Century and was designed for only the elite who wanted to serve the French, while most Khmer people continued with our Buddhist education. If you count all of those who graduated from temples, you may find millions in 1954. Cambodia was the most litereate socieity in SE Asia in the 13th Century when Zhou Da Guan visited Cambodia.
Fourthly, I find Khmer language is very simple to learn, when compared to Chinese, Russian, English and others. This is bebcause the Khmer language has clear grammar and vocabulary. Verbs and nouns do not change with tense and persons like English and French. If you want to transform a verb into a noun, you simply add "kar" as prefix to the verb (kar yuol doeng), or add "pheap" as suffix after the verb or adjective (serei pheap). We are also lucky because Khmer is a monotone language.
Fifth, the meanings of the word sometimes vary from region to region and time to time. The word "phoeum" is applied to animals only in Central Cambodia, but it is perfect to describe a pregnant woman in Siem Reap and Surin. The word "slap" for the Khmer north of Phnom Dangrek is referred to only the people who are killed (sam lap) by the other, while the word "ngoeup" or " khoj" is applied to those who die naturally.
During the French era, the colonialists were trying to abolish the Khmer scripts and wanted to introduce the Roman scripts instead, like in Vietnam. Our brave Buddhist monks strongly rejected this policy and were able to maintained our Khmer scripts to the present day. In the 1980s, some " scholars" in Cambodia were attempting to simplify the Khmer spelling by introducing this new system into textbooks for school children. This second policy has failed too, but it still creates confusion among the Khmer.
Also, the Khmer has adopted so many Pali and Sanskrit vocabularies into the Khmer language, causing incomprehension among the less educated group, especially those Cambodians who have studied only foreign education. Those who have studied in Buddhist temples have no problem in understanding the mixed sentense of Khmer and Sanskrit and Pali. I feel pity for those Cambodians who have only foreign education because they have missed many good Khmer Civilization in this life time.
I was fortunate to have studied my Khmer language in a Buddhist temple with Buddhist monk teachers who taught us for free.
In the 20th century, there were 6000 languages in the world. In the 21st Century, some 3000 of them are disappearing. Let us help preserve all languages, oral and written.
Som Anumodhana preah song Khmer del ban reaksa pheasa khmer (This is the writing system the French wanted to impose on the Khmer.)
Somphot Prasertsrey
7:11 PM
Don't write comment too long, no body cares to read it.
Both mrs theary seng and sovannarith are like the blind who try to bring their own truth through their own perception of thing and it does feed other of its particular blind. The worse blind is mrs theary seng and this interprets in the way theary send perceives her own truth regard to khmer rouge issue or other thing around in her life which become her master acts.
The whole truth is perhaps other way around ....
ភាសាខ្មែរពិតជាមានវិបត្តិដ៏ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ ក្រោមការគ្រប់គ្រងរបស់អាយ៉ងកញ្ជះយួនដែលមិនបានលើកតម្កើងភាសារខ្មែរ វប្បធម៌ខ្មែរ ជនជាតិខ្មែរ៘ តែមិនមែនដូចអ្វីដែលអ្នកស្រីធារីសេង លើកមកនិយាយបែបលប់ៗនិងការល្ងង់ខ្លៅ របស់អ្នកស្រីនោះឡើយ ។ អ្វីដែលអ្នកស្រីធារីសេង លើកមកនិយាយ វាជាបញ្ហាឬវិបត្តិសីលធម៌សង្គមដែលអន់ថយ ដែលអោនអាប់ថោកទាបក្រោមការគ្រប់គ្រងរបស់អាយ៉ងកញ្ជះយួន តែវាមិនមែនជាវិបត្តិភាសាទេ សូមមេត្តាចែកអោយដាច់អ្នកស្រីបញ្ញាជនធារីសេង ។ រឿងកំប៉េកកំប៉ុកបែបនេះ កូនក្មេងក៏វាអាចយល់បានដែរ កុំចេះតែឡប់ឡែទាំងទទឹងទិស សូមអរគុណ ។
Agree that it is Theary who is in crisis, not Khmer language. Since Khmer language is alive and kicking, what I wonder is whether public institutions should also promote the survival of minority languages in Cambodia.
And promote minorities such as by applying for inscribing their cultural heritage on UNESCO lists, too, not only Khmer?
THANKS to Theary Seng, it is clear
to me that,there are many khmer educators still live to make this
intellecual debate.
I am 56 yrs young, beside reading the news about new curruptive culture created by current leaders in Cambodia, this debate
that you started is really get my attention as a KI reader.
This time is not about you right or
you wrong, it's about you make those Khmer educators stick their
heads out and introduce them self
to the Khmer world.
I have no formal education, I try
my best to write this comment about
you. please ignore those Khmer foul
mouths. they are not represent
anything around them.
Again, THANKS Theary
From Atlanta, GA. with love
Khmer Language is not death, the users of Khmer language come to the death road.
ត្រូវតែទាំងអស់គ្នានឹង។ និយាយរួមភាសាខ្មែរយើង គឺកំពុងមានបញ្ហា ដូចជាមនុស្សកំពុងពុលអ្វីម្យ៉ាង។ ហើយភាសាគឺភាសា តែភាសាមានបញ្ហាក៏ព្រោះតែមនុស្សនឹងហើយ។ បើអញ្ចឹងទេអ្នកស្រីធារីថាភាសាមានបញ្ហាក៏ត្រូវ ហើយគាត់នោះថាអ្នកប្រើភាសាទេទើបមានបញ្ហាក៏ត្រូវដូចតែគ្នាដែរ។ អានហើយសូមគិតបន្តិចផង កុំប្រញ៉ាប់មកជេរខ្ញុំម្នាក់ទៀត។ គិតមើលខ្លួនឯងទៅ បើសង្គមមនុស្សធ្វើឲ្យភាសាធ្លាក់ក្នុងវិបត្តិ ថ្ងៃមួយវានឹងអស់តម្លៃ គ្មានអ្នកណាចង់ប្រើទទៀតជាមិនខាន ដូច្នេះភាសានោះក៏គង់ងាប់ឯង មិនអញ្ចឹងហ្អី! គេគ្រាន់តែជួយខ្វល់ខ្វាយ ក៏តាំងថាគេអញ្ចេះអញ្ចុះ។ បើចង់ជួយភាសាខ្មែរមែនករុណា បើវចនានុក្រមឲ្យបានញយៗបន្តិចទៅណាបងប្អូន!
បញ្ហាជាមួយអក្សរ រ នេះក៏មានច្រើនមិនតិចដែរ ដូចជា
ស្នើ បែជាសរសេរ ស្នើរ
បញ្ហា បែជាសរសេរ បញ្ហារ
ផ្ញើ បែជាសរសេរ ផ្ញើរ
សួស្ដី បែជាសរសេរ សួរស្ដី
ហែ បែជាសរសេរ ហែរ
គួរ បែជាសរសេរ គួ
ពាក្យសាមញ្ញទាំងនេះជាទូទៅត្រូវបានគេប្រើជាញឹកញាប់។ ដូច្នេះយើងត្រូវនាំគ្នាអានសៀវភៅអោយបានច្រើនឡើងវិញទាំងអស់គ្នា។
ខ្មែរមួយ!
អក្សរខ្មែរត្រូវគេជាន់ឈ្លីដោយត្រង់និងប្រយោលតាំងតែពីអតីតមកម្លេះ។ ជាន់ឈ្លីដោយត្រង់គឺពួកសត្រូវ សៀម យួន។ ពេលណាគេមកច្បាំង គេឈ្នះ គេរឹបអូសក្បួនតម្រាយកទៅទុកនៅប្រទេគេ(សៀម) រឺ យកទៅកំទេចចោល (យួន)។ ជាន់ឈ្លីដោយប្រយោលគឺគេធ្វើនយោបាយងងឹត ធ្វើអោយយើងនៅក្រោមឥទ្ធិពលគេ ហើយពេលនោះយើងក៏ត្រូវរវីរវល់វេទ្ទនាដូចសព្វថ្ងៃនេះ អត់មានពេលទៅអាន ទៅសិក្សាអោយបានម៉ត់ចត់ ក្លាយជាមនុស្សខ្វះក្តីក្លាហាន ងាយចុះញមនឹងគេ ស្អីក៏ស្អីទៅអោយតែរស់បានមួយថ្ងៃៗ ។ល។
7:16 PM
So what is the "TRUTH" to you?
No body knows the "Truth" except "GOD". We are all LIARS, Self-centered and full of darkness in us, a little of a lot yes we do.
If we are all good who know what is the truth we would not be born and reborn... facing these sufferings.
Bingo! I agree with Sovannarith.
That's what I always tell people that the meaning of a language in communication is dominated by the social context. What improper/informal to a cultural/social group can be acceptable/normal to another.
By the way, there is no such thing as a standard language either. I'm a Khmer Siemreap and I speak with my Siemream accent (my standard). So what standard or whose standard?
TC
ESL teacher
The debate on our Khmer language is educational. I learned a lot from different perspectives.
Great topic, Ms. Seng.
I would like to thank you greatly, Ms. Seng and Savannarith.
_____
from Khmer Seattle
Washington
I'm glad that she decided to expose her ignorant of the Khmer language, while she was attempting to be a language expert. Shame on you. You're not deserved to be a Khmer.
8:56 PM
Why are you turning this education issue into a nasty show? We should argue as educated kaun Khmers. Right or wrong we must learn how to debate.
Don't carry a Khmer Rouge style into this 21th century.
Why are you too NASTY and insulting your own people because she has her own opinions? You are educated better than Hun Sen so have some manner as a good Khmer citizen.
Deserving to be Khmer or not Khmer it is not up to you, it is up to the Almighty one.
I second 6:24pm statement,
"The language reflects the people. If they are cavemen then they will speak like cavemen. Which is the case with cambodia today.
6:24 PM"
Which remind me the elder Khmer says, "peasa prab chet, mayet prab pout" = (The language tell what is your nationality,and your behavior tell what kind of family you are coming from". As I am listenning to the New Khmer Rich, they speak like Ms. Theary had put it. It is very hard to disgest. Event eating at the five stars restaurant, if the person tell you to "see in stead of pesa" the food tast different (just from my experince). Ms. Theary has her observation correctly, but it is not the language that is in crisis, the people that use it are in crisis. The new rich Khmer need to learn some manner. For that matter, take class that use Khmer language properly! The new Khmer rich should spend time learning the proper Khmer language usage.
Here is the opportunity for the old Khmer rich from the Lon Nol regime to teach the new Khmer rich of the Hun Sen regime!
To care, to share, and to learn is the way to make KHmer language glory again!
We don't want this kind of attitude about Khmer in our society.
Theary is nothing more than another piece of dumb idiot
It's much better if she stick with her white male friends.
The fame does not work on her this, instead it backfires on her.
And she deserved it.
Khmer language is brute and insane. Even spoken in movies, it is silly.
Khmer are chheam toukh. Yes, Cambodian are chheam toukh.
9:23 PM/9:24 PM
No languages or humans created by GOD are silly or chheam thoukh. If so it is our characters that bring us down, such as you who are busy cursing Khmers, you know your Vietnamese languages borrowed from Latin not long ago, sounds so weird but still it is not thoukh. It is you who makes yourself thoukh no the languages.
The Khmer language is extremely rich in dealing with social science since it derives from Sanskrit that occupies a pre-eminent position along with Greek and Latin in Indo-European studies. Indeed, it is not an extinct language yet since it is a language that has more or less 20 million speakers.
Khmer grammar is very rich; however, Khmer language is in the same situation as Greek, French, German, and others in dealing with new Internet and science vocabulary. A Khmer language academy may need to be set up to streamline all the Khmer vocabulary in dealing with new sciences.
It is not wise though to say that one cannot express deep feelings or thoughts in Khmer. I personally encountered many foreigners who can teach any scientific subjects or argue in Khmer. Theary's article nevertheless is doing a good job in awakening national conscience.
don't worry fools! Khmer have many words and ways to desribe thing! Let I use the one I like and you use your!
Stop make me look like you I do not want you to be like me! OK! stop think like Pol Pot! Do good as exemple but not forcing, OK?
ខ្ញុំសូមគាំទ្រលោក លិម សុវណ្ណារិ្ធទាំងស្រង
មកអ្នកស្រី ធារី សេង,
បើជាងមិនកើត កុំបន្ទោសដែក.តើអ្នកសំនេរ
ក្នុងខេអាយមេឌីយ៉ាចេះប៉ុន្មានភាសា?
ពូជសាសន៍ណាក៏ខ្វះពាក្យប្រើដែរ មិនមែនមាន
តែជនជាតិខ្មែរទេ.ភាសាទួទៅទាំងពីភពលោក
សុទ្ធតែខ្វះពាក្យប្រើ ហើយខ្ចីគ្នាប្រើទៅវិញទៅ
មកជាដរាប.
ភាសានិមួយៗ ត្រូវមានការវិវត្តិពីមួយជំនាន់ទៅ
មួយជំនាន់.តើមានខ្មែរប៉ុន្មាននាក់ ចេះអានអក្សរ
ចម្លាក់នៅអង្គរ?
សៀម លាវ បីរយឆ្នាំមុន ប្រើអក្សរខ្មែរមូល
បេះបិទ តែគេបានដូរ និង ឆ្នៃភាសារបស់គេ.
ក្នុងរបប ប៉ុល ពត ៣ ឆ្នាំ ៣ ខែ និង ២០ថ្ងៃ
តើក្មេងខ្មែរបានរៀនភាសាខ្មែរទេ?
ខ្មែរប្រើពាក្យអសុរោះ ខ្វះសីលធម៌ សុជីវធម៌
សុភាវធម៌ នាសម័យនេះ តើអ្នកដឹកនាំខ្មែរកំពូល
ទាំងគ្រហស្ថ ទាំងព្រះសង្ឃនាយក ប្រើពាក្យ
គួរសម និង ពាក្យសីលធម៌ទេ?
ទាំងអស់នេះ មកពីអ្នកប្រើ មិនមែនមកពីភាសា
ទេ.
បើខ្ញុំមិនបៀតបៀនអ្នកសំនេរ អ្នកសំនេរដទៃ
ក៏មិនបៀតបៀនខ្ញុំដែរ.
បើខ្ញុំប្រើពាក្យគួរដាក់គេ គេក៏ប្រើល្អដាក់វិញដែរ.
កំណែពាក្យ និងឃ្លា,
បើខ្ញុំប្រើពាក្យគួរសមដាក់គេ គេក៏ប្រើពាក្យល្អ
ដាក់ខ្ញុំវិញដែរ.
To increase the chance of having more literacy people, we must look carefully at our Khmer language.
It is so complicated, too many legs, too many hairs, etc...
According to the Guinness world book record, it has the longest alphabets in the world. This is one major problem.
We must simplify to make regular people understand faster and easier to learn and read.
Only when they know how to read that they can gain more knowledge.
The dumb Minister of education must wake up and do something proactive to facilitate the learning process of regular people.
Remove those unnecessary alphabets, etc ...
and stop sleeping dumb ass !!
i don't think all khmer scholars in language should be so conservative aboult khmer using in daily comminunications. this means that some people always disagree with newly borrowed-words from other countries like french, english,chinese...etc. and they concern those newly borroweds can affect the existence of khmer culture and language.but as far as i know some advanced countries as japan have accepted a lot of foreign words from english, french and germanese for meeting the needs of their daily use both in witing and speaking.
it is ok for khmer language to evolving with time. another set of research into khmer language and more new khmer dictionary should be in the work as well. it's overdue. when the last time khmer language had a new dictionary? i last i heard was during somdach chhoun nath was alive, if i say his name right. khmer language needs to evolve with time!
-Land grabbing
-illegal eviction
-lawlessness
-corruption
-torture
-vietcong/cpp
-Peace agreement is not enforced
-vietcong infiltration - take a look along the Mekong and Tonle Sep
These are STILL the main prlblem ruining the country and people's lives in CAmbodia today.
and
Border issue with Youn Vietcong
Khmer language is rich and developing, indeed.
Language pictures reality, and it reflects the way of life. The kind
of language people use presents the way in which they live.
Philosophically, language is social / communal; everyone contributes
to articulation of it. It is not subjective. There is no such a thing
as private language. People may have private sensation - of pain and
joy, but the expression of their felling of pain or joy to others,
doctor for instance, has to be done in language. The language used to
represent their pain or joy is public - to make people able to
understand it.
The way that language is used disorderly, in crisis, shows that the
user is in crisis - not language itself. I have heard a lot of young
students talking to one another in a complex way, and not
grammatically correctly and disorderly. They commit linguistic
fallacy, and syntactical ambiguity (faulty grammar / word order).
However, this reflects their way of life - their education and
life-world. This may not reflect academic correctness, but they
understand one another. Yet, if we think about academic correctness and
seriousness, we find that their language usage is in crisis and
disorder. Linguistic articulation, development, depends of all users.
If they allow language in crisis, and if they continue to use it in
crisis, their thought and reflection will also be in crisis.
Heng Sreang
Hey! what is a proper language/?
-beat you up!
-Beat the fuck out of you!
-do lik Pol pot did to you
-kill you!
-close the dor and beat up the dog!
choose one you like and see if ah Kwach do better thing for you!?
when everyone in the country are all blind, the one eye person rules their country. Who have they learnt from?
Theary is certainly got his butt kicked really good.
My hat to the author.
That girl, Theary, is just wanted to heard. Our language is not dying but yet expanding! Amen to the professor! Theary you should zip your mouth sometime. You should be ashamed of yourself cause all languages are expanding not jusf the Khmer language.
Socheata/Ki-Media Team,
As you had done to Ms. Theary Seng's writing, may I suggest make this one a sticky for just a little while, please?
Thanks a million in advance.
At Keo,
North Carolina
You bring up a good point 11:54pm,
Yes, Ki team, why not make this article stick like the one that you had done for Ms. Seng. It will benefit to all Khmer!
Thanks for not at each other throat; this is better and more productive discussion. Please keep it clean.
ISK
WI
DHS
What a bout Thery Seng brought out the future of khmer writing in this computer age????
Do you guys have brain to think about it?
nice intellectual discussion and arguments.
www.khmeroldies.info
You had done a good job Lim Sovannarith. This is the kind of intellecture that we Khmer are capable off...why not show our capability rather than still hinding behind those KR regime just to get foreign aid!! Come ong Khmer govt. promote these intelligent Khmer youth!!
Keep up your good work
Sovannarith --- your contribution is highly appreciated.
Seng Theary has to be more careful in the future with her commentaries. I think she had been too confident in her opinions.
Her take about Khmer language looks really childish to linguists and language educators.
A colleague of Lim Sovannarith
Neang Theary would like use KI to promote herself.
Please don't take care of hers opinions.
Where's Mr. Preacher? If you're here, what's your take on this issue? Or do you think Jesus created the Khmer language(obviously, Theary did not create it)?
Nevertheless, this will stick into Theary's for awhile.
2:31 AM
Yes, I have to concur with you. In addition, she tries enriching herself as much as she could squeeze it in. Now, she needs to squeeze it in a little more deeper to cause more discomfort.
Today khmer people do not speak or write Khmer correctly so Khmer language is dying like some people said. Since April 17, 1975 I cannot find one Khmer new song that is as good as the one before this date- in lyric, and in meaning- not to mention voice.
I see Khmer words mispelled and misused everywhere today- in newspaper, in Karaoke, in public sign , in speech, in books etc.
Theary is too much for herself.
KHMER EMPIRE LANGUAGE...
ក្ក ก ກ
ខ្ខ ข ຂ
គ្គ ค ຄ
ឃ្ឃ ฆ
ង្ង ง ງ
ច្ច จ ຈ
ឆ្ឆ ฉ ສ
ជ្ជ ช ຊ
ឈ្ឈ ซ
ញ្ញ ญ ຍ
ដ្ត ฎ
ឋ្ឋ ฐ
ឌ្ឌ ฑ
ឍ្ឍ ฒ
ណ្ណ ณ
ត្ត ต ຕ
ថ្ថ ถ ຖ
ទ្ទ ท ທ
ធ្ធ ธ
ន្ន น ນ
ប្ប บ ບ
ផ្ផ ผ ຜ
ព្ព พ ພ
ភ្ភ ภ
ម្ម ม ມ
យ្យ ย ຢ
រ្រ ร ຣ
ល្ល ล ລ
វ្វ ว ວ
ស្ស ส ສ
ហ្ហ ห ຫ
ឡ ฬ
អ្អ อ ອ
ប៉ ป ປ
។ ฯ ฯ
ៗ ๆ ໆ
I taught Khmer/Thai/Laotian to bro/sis here in Phnom Pich such as star, karaoke star, local singer. I don't want to mention their name. ALWAYS DRUNK ALONG WITH THEM.
TO ME, LANGUAGE EXISTS AND IT CAN BE GOOD OR BAD DEPEND ON THE PEOPLE WHO USE IT. A SOFT-SPOKEN PERSON IS VERY GOOD TO BE HEARD WHEN HE OR SHE SPEAKS. HUN SEN IS NOT A SOFT-SPOKEN PERSON FOR ME BECAUSE HE RAISED HIS VOICE FOR MOST CIRCUMSTANCES.
Mr. Preacher speaks
There is only one good language to be spoken in the future: the Hebrew language.
Before many languages came about; the whole human race spoke Hebrew. The reason God confused the language of men was to keep them from getting into trouble too quickly and to scatter them over all the face of the earth; not congregated only in one place. Babylon was the origin city where God came down to confused the languages of the people.
Khmer Israel
អ្នកនាង សុជាតានឹងខេអាយមីឌីយ៉ា
ខ្ញុំសុំអរគុណបីកញ្ជើធំៗ ដោយបាន ផ្សាយទុកភ្ជាប់
ជាថ្មីនូវអត្ថបទមួយនេះ។
ដោយការរាប់អានដ៏ស្មោះត្រង់!
កែវ អាត
ន័ត ខារូណាយឡា, សហរដ្ធអាមេរិក
ខារូឡាយណា***
អើ ! ម្នាក់ៗនាំគ្នាស្ងាបហូមៗ ហើយធុញណាស់ នៅពេលណាស្ដាប់អ្នកអាយាយ និយាយសុទ្ធតែពាក្យ មានសិលធម៌ស្អីគេនេះ។ គេនិយាយប៉ាតណាប៉ាតណី មិនមែនមានន័យថាគេភ្លើទេ ជាពិសេស ជាមួយអ្នកជិតស្និត ! ដូចជា ពាក្យថា សូមស្ងាត់បន្តិច អចឹង បើប្រើរបៀបនិយាយដូច្នេះ ជាមួយអ្នកស្និតស្នាល គឺដូចជានិយាយត្បកដាក់គ្នា អាចឹង ។ បើគេនិយាយថា បិទមាត់បន្តិចមើល ឬក៏ស្រែកថា
ថ្លាង់ណាស់វើយ! កុំប្រាជច្រើនពេក! គឺដូចជាទំនងជាង់ ។ បើជាមួយអ្នកមុខអ្នកការ គេច្បាស់ជានិយាយថា អត់ទោសសូមមេត្តាស្ងៀមស្ងាត់បន្តិច ។
មែនទេនទៅ អ្នកដែលសម្ដីប៉ាតណាប៉ាតណណី គឺមែនមានមិនមានន័យថា គេហ្នឹង ជាមនុស្សអសិលធម៌ឡើយ ។ អសិលធម៌គឺជាការប្រព្រឹត្តរបស់បុគ្គលម្នាក់ ៗ។
មានពេលខ្លះ ការនិយាយស្ដីដោយប្រើពាក្យថ្លៃថ្នូរ គឺប្រៀបបានដូចជាសម្ដីមានពិសអចឹង ។ដូចជា
អាម្សៀដែលសរសេរអត្ថបទតបទៅ នាងធារីសេង អចឹង តាមពិតទៅ អាគាត់នេះ វាបានប្រើសម្ដីផ្អែមល្ហែមមែន តែអត្ថន័យវិញ គឺមានចេតនាត្បកក្បាល នាងធារីសេងសុទ្ធសាត៕
ពីអញ
Folks! Right or wrong at least Theary Seng pulled you out from mocking and cursing around all over the place. I Think she is very clever and wise by hekping to pause some jerks' activities who often love to vomit with AA Me ...like ah c*oy mray etc. These low class words often used by old stubborn dogs from old school or no school like Hun Sen. Can we imagine these dogs use these kind of languages when they get upset? These kind of people speak like gangsters and act like gangsters. They need to learn to be civilized people before they hurt themselves like committing suicide. This topic and the debate is very educational, I think we should debate more often. Hopefully the old stubborn dogs watch us debate and learn from us. Yes there are small amount of rude individuals like 9:22pm, 8:56pm using unprofessional languages toward Theary Seng who brought an excellent topic for us to debate is sure having so emotion and should not be like that. Please calm down and have some class if you believe that Khmers "mien pouch".
I supported your ideas,Thai and
Lao was copying Khmer alphabets.
Look carefully what Thai and Lao
stole Khmer alphabets and Khmer
words.
On the left letters are Khmer
alphabets,the middle ones are
Thai,and the third ones are Lao.
Could I read these three languages
Khmer,Thai,and Lao?
Yes,I could.It took me six month
to study Thai and Lao.
How could I learn so fast?
All these three languages are the
same alphabets and words because
they used Pali and Sanskrit as same as Khmer.
How long did I learn English?
One year,not a perfect English but
you could understand what I am
talking about.
I had learned French too,I learned
it for 13 years.Learning French was
harder than learning Khmer.
Vietnamese did not have its own
alphabets,it borrowed from French.
Even Hmong in the US,they just
create their writings.
Khmer ancestors have had created
alphabets and words for more than
thousand years.
Theary Seng just raised her concerns about Khmer language
for all of us Khmer helping
her to somehow to find
the way to up date Khmer language.
Why some of the above postings got real mads at her?. If anybody knew more please help instead of through trash on each others.
តាមខ្មុំបានជួបនូវពាក្យខ្មែរមានបញ្ហាខ្លះៗដូចជា
ពាក្យថា ឯកភាពប្រែថា ភាពតែមួយ=i unit
ចុះហេតុអ្វីបានជាថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំរដ្ឋាភិបាលលោក
ហ៊ុន សែន ច្រើនតែយកពាក្យនេះទៅប្រើ
ជាមួយប្រទេសដ៍ទៃ ដូចជាលោក វ៉ា គឹម ហុង
និយាយថា ភាគីគណបកម្មការព្រុំដែនខ្មែរបាន
ឯកភាពជាមួយវៀតណាមហើយ ពាក្យនេះមាន
ន័យថា យួននឹងខ្មែរគឺតែមួយ បើតាមខ្មុំយល់។
ពាក្យនេះគួតែប្រើជាមួយខ្មែរឯកភាពខ្មែរវិញ។
ពាក្យសំណូមពរ ពាក្យនេះគួរតែយកទៅប្រើ
ជាមួយព្រះសង្ឈ ចំពោះអ្នកមានសិល នឹង
ចំពោះអ្នកមានគុណ ដូចជា ឪពុក ម្តាយ
ជាដើម មិនគួរយកពាក្យនេះទៅប្រើជាមួយ
ថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំនៃរដ្ឋាភិបាលទេ ព្រោះថាអ្នកទាំង
នេះជាអ្នកបំរើរពលរដ្ឋទូរទៅ។ពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរគួរ
តែប្រើពាក្យថា សូមអំពាវនាវ ឬ សុំអ្វីមួយ
ទៅមន្ត្រីរាជការទើបសម។
ដូចជា បក្សខ្មែរខ្លះនាំគ្នាដាក់ឈ្មោះអោយបក្ស
ឈ្មោះថា បក្សខ្មែរឈប់ក្រ មានន័យថាជាតិ
ខ្មែរ គឺជាជាតិរហេមរហាម តាំងតែពីកំណើត
ឫតាំងតែមាននគរខ្មែរមកគឺថាខ្មែរគ្មានអ៊ីៗទាំង
អស់ វាអាចអោយសាសន៍ គេអាចសើចចំអក
អោយយើងបាន។
បក្សមួយទៀត គឺបក្សសិទ្ឋិមនុស្ស
ឧទ្ទាហរណ៍ថាបើ បក្សនេះមានសម្លេងអ្នក
តំណាងរាស្រ្តច្រើនក្នុងរដ្ឋសភានៅពេលខាងមុខ
តើបក្សនេះនឹងត្រូវដោះស្រាយយ៉ាងណាជាំមួយ
និគមយួនដែលមកនៅស្រុកខ្មែរដ៏ច្រើនយ៉ាង
នេះ ព្រោះថាបក្សនេះជាបក្សសិទ្ឋិមនុស្ស
ខ្ញុំបានតាមដានស្តាប់ សមាសភាពធនធាន
មនុស្សក្នុងបក្សទាំងពីខាងលើសុទ្ឋតែមាន
កំរិតសិក្សារខ្ពស់ៗគួរសមដែរ ហេតុអីមើល
មិនបានគិតអោយបានវែងឆ្ងាយផង។
ខ្មុំបាទពុំបានស្អប់បក្សទាំងពីរខាងលើទេ
តែនេះជាឧទ្ទាហណ៏
ខ្លះៗ ឃើញថាយើងមានបញ្ហាមែន សូមយើង
ទាំងអស់គ្នាមេត្តាជួយចូលរួមកែសម្រួលភាសារ
ខ្មែរយើងផង សូមអរគុណទុកជាមុន។
ខ្ញុំបាទសូមអរគុណចំពោះ លោក ឫ លោក
ស្រី 7:11 PM ,Somphot Prasertsrey,
យ៉ាងជ្រាលជ្រៅក្រៃលែងដែលបានចូលរួម
យ៉ាងក្បោះក្បាយ។
សួស្ដី លោកចុយម្រ៉ាយ 8:43 AM you have treated other as stubborn dog , since you considered yourself as a high educated one (បុលស៊ីត) យូ អ វែរី ស្ត៊ូពីត . គ្រាន់តែអានសំនេរ អាម្នាលឯង គឺគេអាចស្គាល់ដល់អាចម៌ នូវផ្នត់គំនិត ម្នាលឯង និងកម្រិតរៀនសូត្ររបស់ម្នាលឯងបាត់ទៅហើយ ។
ពីអាមនុស្សដេលមិនបានចូលសាលា ដែលមិនបានរៀនសូត្រ
Khmer people are very good to give a negative comment to their own people, but they're very afraid to speak out against Youn's aggression. Youn take a lot of Khmer land, but nobody cares to give 60 comments like this Khmer language.
I am totally agreed with Theary Seng and other comments because I heard Khmer who immigrate to the US recently couldn't spell Khmer word correctly. Pro Youn Hun Sen creates and changes Khmer language from correctly spelling to wrongly spelling. For example the consonant Lore and Lor. I heard young people who came to America spell the word Take Examination. Old day we spell Bror Lorng, but recently they spell Bror Long.
I think Youn agents are behind of this changing.
ឯកភាព គេប្រើច្រើន តាំងពីសម័យអាពត។
ការប្រើពាក្យនេះត្រូវ ឬមិនត្រូវនោះ គឺវាមិនសំខាន់ទេ ។ សំខាន់ គឺ ងាយស្រួលយល់ ។ ណាមួយទៀត ការប្រើភាសារ គ្មានច្បាប់ណាដែល គេហាមមិនអោយប្រើពាក្យនេះ ឬពាក្យនោះឡើយ ។ ព្រោះថាភាសារនិមួយៗ រមែងតែងតែវិវដ្ដជាដរាប ហើយប្រែប្រួលទៅ លក្ខណះសង្គម និងកាលះទេសះ ។ ផ្ទុយទៅវិញ វាជាភាពអាមាសមួយយ៉ាងធំ ចំពោះសត្វវតិរិច្ឆានមួយពួក ដែលបែរជានាំគ្នាសរសេរជាភាសារដ៏ទៃដើម្បី ផ្ដល់ទស្សនះទាក់ទងគ្នា ទៅលើប្រធានបទ អក្សរសាស្រ្តរបស់ដូនតាឯង ។ ព្រោះថា ប្រទេសជាតិ របស់ខ្លួន គឺនៅមានវត្តមានអក្សរសាស្រ្តយ៉ាងត្រឹមត្រូវ នៅឡើយ !
please refrain from personal attack. theary expressed her thoughts on the subject, you can agree or disagree.
សូមជំរាបលោក/លោកស្រី 9:27AM,
ខ្ញុំពុំបានប្រើពាក្យអសុរោះចំពោះលោក ឬលោក
ស្រីទេ.ខ្ញុំបានស្កាល់លោកច្បាស់ណាស់ថា,លោក
មិនសមជាអ្នកចេះដឹងទេ ព្រោះពាក្យលោកសសេរ
មកប្រើពាក្យមិនសមរម្យជាចេះទេ.
ត្រកូលសជាតិ មារយាទសពូជ.
ម្ដាយខ្ញុំ ពូជខ្ញុំមិនបានចេះប្រើពាក្យដូចលោកទេ.
មនុស្សខ្វះសុជីវធម៌ សីលធម៌របៀបនេះ.
គេស្គាល់ចរិតលោកដោយកាយវិកា ស្គាល់បញ្ញា
លោកដោយសម្ដី ស្គាល់ថ្វីដៃលោកដោយការ
ប្រព្រឹត្ត ស្គាល់គំនិតលោកដោយការឲ្យយោបល់.
សូមជំរាបលោកថា,អ្នកមានពូជ និង អ្នកចេះដឹង
ពុំប្រើពាក្យដែលខ្វះការអប់រំដូចលោកទេ.
ខ្ញុំសូមចាំការឆ្លើយតបរបស់លោក សូមអរគុណ!
សួស្ដី 11:00 AM
ខ្ញុំឡើងជ្រេញអស់ហើយ នៅពេល បានឃើញ ម្នាក់11:00 AM ដែលអួតខ្លួនថាជាកូនអ្នកមានពូជ ជាអ្នកមានសុជីវធម៌ន រូបនេះបាន ប្រើពាក្យ សុទ្ធតែពាក្យ លោក លោកស្រីយ៉ាងនេះ ។ តែតាមពិតទៅ ម្នាក់ស្អីគេនេះ គឺ៖ ខំធ្វើជាផ្លែម តែលាក់ល្បិច ខំធ្វើជាសើចតែមានគំនំ ខំធ្វើជាយំតែចិត្តត្រេកអរ ខំធ្វើចិត្តល្អ តែមានមាត់ពិស ។
ចំពោះខ្ញុំវិញគឺ៖
សម្ដីអាក្រក់ តែចិត្តមានធម៌
មិនលាបបាំងពណ៌ មិនកេងបន្លំ ឃើញខុសហ៊ានជេរ ឃើញត្រូវថាសម មិនចង់ឧត្ដមតាំងខ្លួនជាពាល !
Folks,
Theary Seng is not in crisis,lim Sovannatith is .
នែហ៏ អាខ្មែរចំគួត កុំទាស់គ្នា។
I totally agree with Mr. Lim. it is a user of language who are lack of understanding how to use the word when to use the word. there is nothing to do with language howerver there are so much things to educate the people how to use Khmer language properly.
This is a matter of education system in Cambodia not the language.
I support Ms. Theary that she is interested in Khmer language. I am happy to join with you all to discuss Khmer language.
Khmer Brisbane
មកលោក១១:៤១AM,
លោកចេះពេក សរសេរពាក្យ ផ្អែម ទៅជា(ផ្លែម)។
ពាក្យគំនុំ ទៅជា គំនំ។
អណ្ដាតពិសពាល ពិសពុលរោលរាល កុំស្ដាប់ពាល
ពោល។
អ្នកចេះពុំគួរប្រើពាក្យអមនុស្សធម៌ទេ។
ខ្ញុំបាទសូមចូលរួមចំណែកខ្លះៗ ដូនតាខ្មែរយើង
បង្កើតអក្សរសាស្រ្តខ្មែរប្រកបដោយមានក្បួនខ្នាត
មានស្រះនិស័្សយ ស្រះពេញតួ ព្យញ្ជនៈ វេយ្យាករណ៍ វណ្ណយុត្តិ ពេញលេញគ្មានខ្វះ
ទុកអោយកូនចៅជំនាន់ក្រោយបានសិក្សារ
ក្នុងភាសារសសេរ ឫទំនាក់ទំនងប្រស្រ័យគ្នា
ក្នុងគ្រួសារ ។ល។នឹង។ល។បន្តរមកក៍មាន
អ្នកប្រាជអក្សរសាស្រ្តខ្នែរគ្រប់កាលជំនាន់
ក៍បានជួយកែលំអរ នឹងចងក្រងជារបៀប
សសេរអោយបានត្រឹត្រូវ ដូចជា របៀប
តែងសេចក្តី សសេរតាមអាន របៀបសសេរ
សំបុត្រ ផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន សសេរជាជំនួញ ផ្លូវការណ៍
និពន្ធ កំណាព្យ។ល។នឹង។ល។សុទ្ឋតែមាន
ក្បួនខ្នាតទាំងអស់ នៅក្នុងកម្មវិធីប្រឡង
អំពីអក្សរសាស្រ្តខ្មែរម្តងៗ បើសិស្ស ឫនិស្សតិ
សសេរមិនត្រូវតាមក្បួនខ្នាតទេនោះ ប្រាកដ
លោកគ្រូនឹងអ្នកគ្រូដកពិន្ទុ ជាក់ជាមិនខាន។
ពាក្យថាក្បួនខ្នាត គឺជាច្បាប់ តែច្បាប់នេះ
មិនបានហាមឃាត់ជាកំហិតក្នុងការនិយាយ
ទេ ប៉ុន្តែការសសេរពិតជាមានពិន័យយ៉ាង
ពិតប្រាកដ។ពិតណាស់ភាសារខ្មែរយើង
មិនរលាយទេ តែយើងតោងតែទទួលស្គាល់
ថាយើងមានការខ្ចះខាតផងដែរ សូមយើង
ជាខ្មែរទាំងអស់ជួយកែលំអរតាមការចេះដឹង
រៀងៗខ្លួនផងចុះ សូមអរគុណ។
I agree with 9:43 AM
it's not like people don't care about cambodia. it's just people are sick and tired to hear politicians using outdated thinking and not reform and using race card for their own benefit. the only time people would believe you whiners are when you guys stop politicize your message, etc, you know! as soon as you politicize your message, people lost confidence in your whining, ok! that's the issue, not the other way around, really!
I dont care who right or wrong, but we are khmer who be proud of many khmer scholars keeping on untill modern language. All literature people should discuss and find good way for our nation like Angkor Wat, which is great empire of khmer kingdom. We are son and daughter of that kingdom, we should study and more research to keep for next generation studying like Angkor wat as a evidence for all khmer. U know when we were born in khmer, what is the first sound we heard is khmer language. Please dont insult khmer like we insult ourself, our family, and our ancestor.
Puok ah Khmer always fighting each other over little things. Now, they're fighting with Theary, but she does not pull out of the competition just yet, while Rada Nong pulled out his article from KI after Puok ah Khmer chheam tuokh despicably insulted him. The action was reprehensible and deplorable.
If you're Khmer, it does not matter what you do, you'll ALWAYS be chheam tuok. Just accept the fact that this is naturally brought up when you were born as Khmer, and yes, you'll always be ah chheam tuok.
You people will never learned anything, until you have another killing fields and your race is no longer existed, and then you'll realize that you're indeed have chheam tuokh. You need not to be ashamed, but I'm ashamed for all of you people.
Pleas by all means, begin killing each other again; after all, Cambodia needs a new killing fields.
You people are disgustingly cheap to live as a human being.
Some bloggers should stop using bad words,insulting others,or
calling name.
They should discuss what is right
or what is wrong.
They should tolerate,be patient,and
understand other bloggers comments.
No one is perfect in writing and
the levels of understanding.
Thank to our Khmer ancestors who created Khmer alphabets and literature for the next Khmer
generation.
អាគារខ្ពស់មានជាន់ ជណ្ដើរយន្តមានថ្នាក់
មនុស្សម្នាក់ៗ មានការរៀនសូត្រខ្ពស់ទាប
ជាងគ្នាជាធម្មតា.
ភាសា និង អក្សរសាស្ត្រជាតិជាពន្លឺជាតិ សេចក្ដីថ្លៃថ្នូររបស់ជាតិរបស់ខ្មែរ.ខ្មែរគួរថែនឹងរក្សាទុក
ជាសម្បត្តិជាតិ.
មែនហើយ ការបង្កើតពាក្យថ្មី និង ការសរសេរ
ឲ្យបានងាយស្រួល រួមទាំងការប្រកបស្រៈផងដែរ.
ឥឡូវនេះ អក្សរខ្មែរសរសេរបាននៅលើ
គណិតូបករណ៍(computer)ហើយ.
សូមអរគុណវិទ្យាសាស្ត្រទំនើបក្នុងពេលនេះផង.
god bless the khmer language.
One last chance for me to say this: It is not the language that is in crisis, it is the people that that use them that are in crisis. I had a conference at Cambodiana hotel, and the conference was suppose to end by 6:00 pm. Around 5:50 pm, there were people dress in white uniform line up. As soon as our conference finished, these white uniform workers came and move our tables rights a way. Amazingly, less than half an hour everything were set up for a birthday party for the new rich Khmer...they told me that the flowers arrangement cost more than $10,000 dollars, the country monitors from Geniva were shocked...this suppose to be a poor country that they came to help. Than there were many teenagers dress very properly in Western clothes, but when they talked, if you didn't look at them, you thought that these people must be a fish seller from new market! I suppose that their parents must speak these kinds of language at home and with their friends that was why their children were speaking these fish sellers' language! It is nothing wronge with the fish seller language, but that language is only use among their group/at the market, but not in high class hotel. While they had more than $10,000 dollors to spent on the flowers, I am sure that they could afford good teachers to teach them with the proper usage of the Khmer language. They are miss use their aquire wealth through absolute corrruption! New rich Khmers, please, spend some money on your children to be able to speak Khmer properly and if they happen to speak English, please make sure that they don't speak the black ganster's language from America! There is a standard English language if you watch CNN news!
Best wishes to all Khmer people, and I hope we could learn and use proper language to each others from now on! Satouk.
Could someone please clarify whether we should use king or royal language when we address Samdech Sanghareach or just simply Sangha language?
Why are people now using completely king language when they address those monk leaders?
Thank you in advance.
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