Is "farang" Impolite?

[Neeranam]

Last weekend, I was asked to teach an intensive course to 4th year, university Sociolgy Students.

I taught them about describing one's ethnicity but first asked them to fill in a group questionaire as to what was polite to say in Thailand.

I found the results interesting but actually thought as much:-

1 - Black - polite

2 - Kaek(Indian) - impolite

3 - Jaek (Chinese) - impolite

4 - Farang - impolite

PLease don't embarass yourselves by calling yourself a farang.

[koheesti]

I've been waiting for another one of these farang threads. Last week I took a boat/bus up to Bangkok. Just outside Chomporn we stopped at this place:

If it is so impolite (as many claim) WHY would they name the place this when all Seatran buses stop off here with thousands of foreign tourists?

[RakJungTorlae]

Last weekend, I was asked to teach an intensive course to 4th year, university Sociolgy Students.

I taught them about describing one's ethnicity but first asked them to fill in a group questionaire as to what was polite to say in Thailand.

I found the results interesting but actually thought as much:-

1 - Black - polite

2 - Kaek(Indian) - impolite

3 - Jaek (Chinese) - impolite

4 - Farang - impolite

PLease don't embarass yourselves by calling yourself a farang.

lol

[glyph]

Is it polite to call myself "black", even though I'm not? Perhaps you should have asked your "4th year, university Sociolgy Students" for the polite term.

[eek]

My Thai friends say farang, my Thai boyfriend says farang, , all said in polite reference. I have also heard them refer to Indian as Kaek. Kaek means "guest". The parlour in your home where you receive guests is called "hong rap kaek" in Thai.

Everywhere is the reference to farang (as above).

I fail to see how its impolite. Like anywhere it depends on how you use the term. If used with undertones of disdain or disgust, of course it would sound impolite. Same anywhere in any native tongue.

Its just not something i think is worth spending too much time mulling over.

[Ulysses G.]

Its just not something i think is worth spending too much time mulling over.

Right on eek!

[GuestHouse]

Is it polite to call myself "black", even though I'm not?

No that would be incorrect .... Doh!

[mrt273nva]

what are we then?

[gymshark]

Last weekend, I was asked to teach an intensive course to 4th year, university Sociolgy Students.

I taught them about describing one's ethnicity but first asked them to fill in a group questionaire as to what was polite to say in Thailand.

I found the results interesting but actually thought as much:-

1 - Black - polite

2 - Kaek(Indian) - impolite

3 - Jaek (Chinese) - impolite

4 - Farang - impolite

PLease don't embarass yourselves by calling yourself a farang.

Being 4th year students who grew up on Thai soaps I wouldn't get too worried by their answers. It is up to the individual to decide what he consider polite or not and to act accordingly. If one of the "Blacks" that I work with called me a honky in an insulting way it would warrant a slap but mostly it is used at work in humour, I won't even say on here what we call each other most of the time. I accept some older folks in the UK calling me "Boy" but if a stranger used it I might get upset. If it offends you to be called farang then tell them, I would say there are a lot of us here who speak Thai and just accept it as a generic tag for us and don't get too excited by it becuase we know it is not an insult.

[jetjock]

I do not agree with your students view that Thai use of the world farang is impolite. If a Thai wants to make the word farang into something impolite and derogatory they would normally use the phrase "farang keenok" which literally translates into farang bird shit .

[neion2000]

Last weekend, I was asked to teach an intensive course to 4th year, university Sociolgy Students.

I taught them about describing one's ethnicity but first asked them to fill in a group questionaire as to what was polite to say in Thailand.

I found the results interesting but actually thought as much:-

1 - Black - polite

2 - Kaek(Indian) - impolite

3 - Jaek (Chinese) - impolite

4 - Farang - impolite

PLease don't embarass yourselves by calling yourself a farang.

I guess it's on how you presented your question... From what I know what Thai individuals say about your questions 1, 2, 3, and 4...

1.. Black.. No good (those I spoke with) don't like the color... And that is skin color..

2.. Indian.. No good.. (smell, stink, nasty)... It's true and not true..

3.. Chinese.. Very nice white soft silky skin...

4.. Farang.. Is what it is.. You have the good, the bad, and the ugly..

I never call myself a farang while in Thailand, they figure that out all by themselves... Without going to a University...

So, what's your point? The questions you asked your students, seem like general questions.. So, what did your intensive training come up with, after you came up with your final conclusion that we're not supposed to say we're farangs?? Not that I ever heard of anyone introducing them as a farang...

You must be black or even Asian??

[ourmaninbangers]

Last weekend, I was asked to teach an intensive course to 4th year, university Sociolgy Students.

I taught them about describing one's ethnicity but first asked them to fill in a group questionaire as to what was polite to say in Thailand.

I found the results interesting but actually thought as much:-

1 - Black - polite

2 - Kaek(Indian) - impolite

3 - Jaek (Chinese) - impolite

4 - Farang - impolite

PLease don't embarass yourselves by calling yourself a farang.

ahhh.. all this silly political correctness- who really cares?

and remember where we are? how many coups has this place had...? i canot see a drive towards this sort of thing here, can you?

what differnce does it really make?

a name has much to do with how one takes it-it cannot be an insult unless one decides to take it as such

I do not mind at all being all called farang or any other so called ref to some of my ethnic roots.

Okay if they,re really having a go, thats maybe different

And how do the political correctness police decide what is today insult?

Nip was once used to descride japanese, after they got trashed in WW2 by the west it became rude

Sometime names go full circle.

Somehow I cannot see the name farang changing

[britmaveric]

Well just refer to a thai person as thai: "Hey Thai - come here" Interesting reaction...

[barky]

It must be all of only a couple of weeks since I have seen a thread like this come around again. It's all good sport really. Cut and thrust.

Some people object to being called farang in a negative way. Totally understandable. Others just don't care. They switch off. It is my view that generally Thais just don't realise (nor care sometimes) how offensive it can, or in fact is sometimes.

A westener might be forgiven to believe that words like; person, man, customer, client, gentleman, lady, girl, caller, patient, boy etc., do not exist in the Thai language, but they do!

Generally, no matter what the situation is, westeners are "farang", and that's that. You can bitch about it and be offended by it all you like, it's just not gonna change anything.

Of course it could be reasonably argued to some Thais, (or others for that matter) they (Thais) probably would not like to be called "Asian", all, or almost all the time, no matter what the context or situation. But , it still wouldn't change anything, westeners would still be called farang by Thais in almost every circumstance, both here in Thailand, and by Thais talking amongst themselves outside of Thailand too..

It seems that Thais just don't or won't get it.

Westeners, if they want to remain at peace, just have to swallow it, like it or not.

[G54]

I agree with EEK !!

[NHJ]

farang is as i can understand not impolite but it's the use that makes it impolite.

eg : you ask for an info to someone who doesn't know the answer, he then goes to see his friends and says the farang needs to know this. <--- this is impolite

the right sentence should be something like, the person needs to know this. <-- polite way

[TopDogger]

what are we then?

Foreigners?

Depends how the words used IMO, listening to other foreigners refering to themselves and other foreigners as farang's usually makes me laugh and is a sign of their ignorance...

The Thai's do it when they don't know u, and why not? Its pretty obvious if someone is trying to be rude/impolite just by their gestures, ususally its just the easiest way for them to distinguish you from others.. Most foreigners will have done the same in their own language also, how many times have you heard yourself saying "that thai guy/bird over there" when you don't know someone...

Learn their names and they'll learn yours and will not call you falang, simple as that...

[Ulysses G.]

Learn their names and they'll learn yours and will not call you falang, simple as that...

Maybe, but they will still refer to you as farang when talking to other Thais.

[barky]

what are we then?

Foreigners?

Depends how the words used IMO, listening to other foreigners refering to themselves and other foreigners as farang's usually makes me laugh and is a sign of their ignorance...

The Thai's do it when they don't know u, and why not? Its pretty obvious if someone is trying to be rude/impolite just by their gestures, ususally its just the easiest way for them to distinguish you from others.. Most foreigners will have done the same in their own language also, how many times have you heard yourself saying "that thai guy/bird over there" when you don't know someone...

Learn their names and they'll learn yours and will not call you falang, simple as that...

Some of this just doesn't make sence. If you live in Thailand , almost everyone is Thai, so I just don't see anyone saying to themself "that Thai guy over there". I mean they're virtually all Thai.

Also, What do you mean "learn their names"? Like in every encounter: shops, restaurants, bars, department stores, busses, skytrain, taxi, street vendor etc. you are going to introduce yourself and ask for their name just to avoid getting called farang. Utter Rubbish!

[cloudhopper]

what are we then?

chao tang chat

[kiakaha]

what are we then?

chao tang chat

ชาวต่างประเทศ to be more accurate

I call myself a pakeha.

[Stephen Cleary]

what are we then?

chao tang chat

'Chao Tang Chat' is different from 'Farang'. Chao Tang Chat meaning foreigner, can be used for anyone who isn't Thai. Burmese, Malays and Laotians are also Chao Tang Chat.

Farang = Caucasian

[TopDogger]

Learn their names and they'll learn yours and will not call you falang, simple as that...

Maybe, but they will still refer to you as farang when talking to other Thais.

lol... Not from my experience... Khun *****, or just my 1st name...

[Baht Simpson]

My Thai language skills are poor so if they use the term farang at least I know who they are talking about.

I think it's very much how it is used. If a guy snarls "farang' as you walk by then it's probably being used pejoratively. At a local five-side tournament we had an invite farang team and they were greeted by some girls with shouts of "sexy farang, farang" and laughter; all quite innocent.

Perhaps the term is not strictly polite but here in the country it's the word that has always been used and nothing will stop that. Best to just impress them by your deeds and actions, then they'll respect you despite the name.

[LivinLOS]

If it is so impolite (as many claim) WHY would they name the place this when all Seatran buses stop off here with thousands of foreign tourists?

Money.. Pure and simple..

They forgot the last word, it should have read 'We heart farang dollars'

[PoorSucker]

So what shall we call the French if we cannot say falang sait.

[TopDogger]

what are we then?

Foreigners?

Depends how the words used IMO, listening to other foreigners refering to themselves and other foreigners as farang's usually makes me laugh and is a sign of their ignorance...

The Thai's do it when they don't know u, and why not? Its pretty obvious if someone is trying to be rude/impolite just by their gestures, ususally its just the easiest way for them to distinguish you from others.. Most foreigners will have done the same in their own language also, how many times have you heard yourself saying "that thai guy/bird over there" when you don't know someone...

Learn their names and they'll learn yours and will not call you falang, simple as that...

Some of this just doesn't make sence. If you live in Thailand , almost everyone is Thai, so I just don't see anyone saying to themself "that Thai guy over there". I mean they're virtually all Thai.

Also, What do you mean "learn their names"? Like in every encounter: shops, restaurants, bars, department stores, busses, skytrain, taxi, street vendor etc. you are going to introduce yourself and ask for their name just to avoid getting called farang. Utter Rubbish!

You talk to yourself?

Who said every encounter? If you live in Thailand your going to have local bars/restaurants and would be on 1st name terms with a lot of the staff, you think the name cards employees pin to their chests are for fun?!?!? Why anyone in a department store / taxi, etc would have any need to call you farang is beyond me, the correspondance with them just does not go that far...

You seem like the type of person that should be refered to as a farang 24/7...

[petitechevre]

farang means for most, superior being that i envy but wont ever admit it

so i dont see the problem of being called a farang, it's pretty much the same as kids in elementary school making fun of the kid with good grades all the time even though hes not a nerd..

only people who use it in an impolite way are tuktuk drivera and their cousins. and its still out of jealousy

usualy when thais are not jealous of the said farang they will most likely put an insult or name him fat or idiot instead of farang anyways.

all from experience.

[TopDogger]

So what shall we call the French if we cannot say falang sait.

I thought it had almost done a full circle and is now back along the lines of "farancais"..

[Neeranam]

Learn their names and they'll learn yours and will not call you falang, simple as that...

Maybe, but they will still refer to you as farang when talking to other Thais.

Actually, nearly ALL Thai say "mun" when referring to farang behind their backs.