The use of 'man'

[mortenaa]

In another thread on this forum, the use of the word "man" came up. Or 'it' in English.

Check out the following post on a popular social website:

นึกว่า มัน จะ ซื้อของ ให้ ใคร ไม่ เป็น แค่ ไม่กี่ หมื่น ก็ บ่น ซะ แต่ ยังไง ก็ ขอบคุณ น่ะ

néuk wâa man jà séu kŏng hâi krai mâi bpen · kâe mâi gèe mèun gôr bòn sá · dtàe yang ngai gôr · kòp kun nâ

A picture of the gift is attached, with a Thank you.

A friend came to me and reacted the way my GF referred to me. My GF says the way she used it, is not impolite. I don't really care, coz we always joke around, calling each other Goo,Mung, Eeee bah etc.

But on a language perspective, is interesting to hear other peoples opinion.

What do you think?

[MJCM]

I don't like it !

for me it's that the person who is saying this doesn't like the other person very much

Edited October 23, 2013 by MJCM

[Mole]

This is a complicated issue which depends on a lot more than just 1 sample sentence.

I'm a native Thai and I and my friends usually always say เขา (เค้า) when talking about our girl(s) or anyone else for that matter that we usually have some kind of respect of. But we'll quickly change to มัน when the respect is gone or when talking about close friends.

This issue also depend a lot of how a person usually talks. Some people (especially uneducated and/or from upcountry) may talk with a less refined Thai than people in more "upper class". So this may not really have anything to do with how they view another person.

Thais usually have the ability to recognize this after speaking a while with a person.

However, my opinion on that single sentence is that she doesn't seem to really have high thoughts about you... This is based on the way it's written, words used and what the sentence is all about.

Edited October 23, 2013 by Mole

[coma]

It " มัน " is used to address inanimate objects, animals and to talk about inferiors in a degrading manner.. It can and is also used when talking of young children in a non derogatory manner. If my g/f could me that it would be the end of the relationship.

กู and มึง are usually used amongst only the closest of piers. And generally only amongst those deemed to be in the lower classes of society. Rael bar girl talk indeed. Once again I would be p'd off if it was used as a form of address to myself. Nor do I use these two words for addressing others.

[meadish_sweetball]

กู and มึง are usually used amongst only the closest of piers. And generally only amongst those deemed to be in the lower classes of society. Rael bar girl talk indeed.

I'll be sure to tell the middle managers of banks and upscale hotels I hear using these words with their close friends that they are deemed to be in the lower classes of society.

Context is everything, so, to clarify, I have so far not heard anyone use this type of language with a wife or husband, and obviously the academics/office people I talk about would not use that kind of language in a front office work situation.

[Mole]

It's a bit complicated with มึง & กู as well. For example, my parents use มึงกู when they speak with each other.

It's also common for siblings to use this.

And of course close friends always use this with each other. I use มึงกู with all my male friends.

Also, many old people use it with anyone without being in any degrading way.

I've also heard some senior monks use มึงกู when they speak to laymen.

But these are exceptions. For you farangs, it's best to not really use these words to be on the safe side.

[coma]

กู and มึง are usually used amongst only the closest of piers. And generally only amongst those deemed to be in the lower classes of society. Rael bar girl talk indeed.

I'll be sure to tell the middle managers of banks and upscale hotels I hear using these words with their close friends that they are deemed to be in the lower classes of society.

Context is everything, so, to clarify, I have so far not heard anyone use this type of language with a wife or husband, and obviously the academics/office people I talk about would not use that kind of language in a front office work situation.

Close friends / piers same thing dude hey!They would fall into that catagory. Not the lower classes of society catagory.