The phrase, "เรื่องนี้. . . มีความน่าสนใจเป็นสองซ้อน . . .":

Does this mean "this story is interesting on multiple levels" or "this story is interesting from two perspectives" or "this story has several interesting layers of complexity" or does it have some other meaning?

Edited August 13, 200718 yr by DavidHouston

Hi David, that would make sense to me. In my dictionary ซ้อน has many meanings but the most relevant ones in your case would appear to be; side issues, layer after layer, complications.

Sorry but that's the best I can add. My wife, who is still recovering from labor, isn't in the mood for my Thai language related questions today

What the definition of ซ้อน as "overlapping"? Perhaps "related"?

The context is an article by Nithi Eewsriwong in today's Matichon. He is giving a critical review of a new book out of China about Thaksin and the 24 hours following the coup. The book, translated from Chinese, is "24 ชั่วโมงหลังรัฐประหารของทักษิณ ชินวัตร". The full sentence from the article is as follows:

"ผมอ่านแล้วพบว่ามีความน่าสนใจเป็นสองซ้อน แต่ละซ้อนบอกอะไรเกี่ยวกับบุคคลที่ชื่อทักษิณ และอะไรเกี่ยวกับคนชั้นกลางไทยมากทีเดียว จึงขอนำความคิดความรู้สึกนี้มาเล่าให้ฟัง โดยขอเริ่มจากซ้อนแรกก่อน"

"I read [the book] already and concluded that the story is interesting [on two levels/from two perspectives/in a complex manner]. Each [level/layer] tells us something about the individual named 'Thaksin' and a much about the Thai middle class. Therefore, please allow me to tell you about my thoughts and feelings on these matters. Let me begin with the first [level/layer of complexity]."

Perhaps the larger context will help flesh out the interpretation.

We are used to seeing the phrase "ผลประโยชน์ทับซ้อน", which means "overlapping interests" in the context, I believe, of a "conflict of interest" but this meaning appears to be somewhat different.

Thanks.

It seems to me from your translation and the Thai context you provided, that you have already understood the usage of the expression in this particular context, i.e. your suggested translations all cover some parts of the meaning of the Thai word.

Which one of your suggestions to use is perhaps more a matter of English than Thai.

The word สองซ้อน here is not widely used. It's rather the word play of the writer. For two perspectives/layer, ซ้อนสองชั้น is more common.

However, to talk of many layer there also is ซ้อนสอง / ซ้อนสาม, short version of ซ้อนสองชั้น

ie.

These boxes are too fragile, you should not ซ้อนสอง (ซ้อนสองชั้น)

Counter trick = ซ้อนกล

The word สองซ้อน here is not widely used.

I agree

How about instead of สองซ้อน

use.......ซับซ้อน or สับสน.......I think it's better used in this case

twofold

My wife, who is still recovering from labor, isn't in the mood for my Thai language related questions today

Not sure if this means your wife has just retired or delivered a baby.

Either way . . . Congrats to the both of you.

(Interesting that English can be just as ambiguous as Thai)

The word สองซ้อน here is not widely used.

I agree How about instead of สองซ้อน use.......ซับซ้อน or สับสน.......I think it's better used in this case

IMHO

The gerneral meaning is not lost if we use มีความน่าสนใจ ...เพราะเป็นเรื่องซับซ้อน or ...เป็นเรื่องที่สับสน. However, as the writer decide that the matter has two points and explain them one by one, the word that mean "two folds" has more direct meaning.