Maeng and Malaeng

[Kanga Japan]

I noticed the following differences when I automatically changed Thai script into the RTGS system:

แมง MAENG

แมลงดา MAELONGDA (probably an error and should have been MALAENG DA)

แมลงดานา MALAENG DA NA

แมงดาทะเล MAENG DA THALE

When I GoogleTranslated them, the sound was exactly as above.

Although they are written the same, why does one appear and sound as MAENG and another as MALAENG?

Hope someone can enlighten me on this.

Thank you.

[AyG]

Never trust Google Translate. It's absolutely hopeless.

แมง MAENG

แมลง MALAENG

Neither written the same, nor pronounced the same. The first word is pretty standard. AE is written before the first consonant (or consonant cluster), but pronounced afterwards.

The second word is slightly irregular. It has an unwritten (and unstressed) A after the first consonant, and the AE is after the second consonant (i.e. L).

Yes, MAELONGDA is wrong. Whoever, or whatever, did the transcription didn't know the irregularly.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Mairng - most types of insect, for example Mairng Mum - Spider

Ma-lairng some types of insect, for example, Ma-lairng Sarp - cockroach

Unsure what puts the insects into their particular category, most are Mairng.

[Kanga Japan]

Dear AyG,

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate your explanation. Just to confirm, if my understanding is correct, according to you, it should be as follows:

แมง MAENG

แมลง MALAENG

แมลงดา MALAENG DA

แมลงดานา MALAENG DA NA

แมงดาทะเล MAENG DA THALE

Unfortunately, I have to rely on Google Translate quite a bit, but I always make sure to check with 2 other dictionaries, plus Yahoo, Yahoo Japan, MMPND and a couple of other sites for each word.

[Kanga Japan]

Dear AnotherOneAmerican,

Thank you for the information on the prefixes.

I appreciate your help.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Mairng Dar is an insult commonly used to denote a man who lives of women but also a stinky bug that can be eaten.

As far as I know Malairng Dar doesn't mean anything.

Mairng and Malairng are not interchangable, even though the dictionary defines them as the same.

Some insects are prefixed Mairng, others are prefixed Malairng.

[Kanga Japan]

Dear AnotherOneAmerican,

Thanks for your explanation of Maeng Da. Sounds like they are both the same.

I will remove Malaeng Da.

Also appreciate your other explanatin of Maeng and Malaeng.

[kmcnutty]

According to A Reference Grammar of Thai page 33, the prefix แมง- is used for creatures with eight or more legs, but not for octopi. Also, the prefix is used colloquially for insects with six legs. The more formal way to express insects with six legs is to use แมลง-

แมลงดา malaeng da - Giant Water Bug (Formal)

แมงดา maeng da - Giant Water Bug (Colloquial) or Horseshoe Crab

So, to differentiate between the two:

แมงดานา maeng da na - Giant water bug

แมงดาทะเล maeng da talae - A species of horseshoe crab

Note there is no creature called a แมลงดาทะเล malaeng da

[Kanga Japan]

Dear kmcnutty,

Thank you for your detailed information. I think we have cleared this problem up now and I have summarized all the information I have received so far (as well as my checking the internet) on a table as attached.

I hope my understanding of your remarks was correct. Much appreciated.

Maengda PDF.pdf

[nalaknarak]

According to A Reference Grammar of Thai page 33, the prefix แมง- is used for creatures with eight or more legs, but not for octopi. Also, the prefix is used colloquially for insects with six legs. The more formal way to express insects with six legs is to use แมลง-

แมลงดา malaeng da - Giant Water Bug (Formal)

แมงดา maeng da - Giant Water Bug (Colloquial) or Horseshoe Crab

So, to differentiate between the two:

แมงดานา maeng da na - Giant water bug

แมงดาทะเล maeng da talae - A species of horseshoe crab

Note there is no creature called a แมลงดาทะเล malaeng da

Thanks for explaining

[AyG]

According to A Reference Grammar of Thai page 33, the prefix แมง- is used for creatures with eight or more legs,

Could you explain what this book is, please? "A Reference Grammar of Thai" makes me think of the book of that name by Shōichi Iwasaki and Inkapiromu Puriyā Horie, though page 33 doesn't mention แมง-.

(I've also checked "Thai Reference Grammar" and "Thai an Essential Grammar" and it doesn't appear to be either of them.)

[kmcnutty]

According to A Reference Grammar of Thai page 33, the prefix แมง- is used for creatures with eight or more legs,

Could you explain what this book is, please? "A Reference Grammar of Thai" makes me think of the book of that name by Shōichi Iwasaki and Inkapiromu Puriyā Horie, though page 33 doesn't mention แมง-.

(I've also checked "Thai Reference Grammar" and "Thai an Essential Grammar" and it doesn't appear to be either of them.)

Oops, actually it's on page 27 of the paperback reissue of "A Reference Grammar of Thai" by Soichi Iwasaki and Priya Ingkaphirom. Listed under 2.1.1. Section (2) Classifying prefixes.