Reason why I’m usually absent from my daily coffee haunts, Twitter convos and blogging: Khmer language classes! I finally took the plunge and the time out to do some serious Khmer language learning. I know a couple of my friends tell me wow, finally. Hahaha. I know I should have done this a couple of years ago, but I was really thinking Khmer was a difficult language to learn, and what I needed to learn Hi-ace can teach me.

The problem with hubby teaching me is that we only get to do some serious learning on the first day and then we revert to our usual habit of talking to each other in English. It’s a hard habit to break and it really got in the way of me learning the language.

So when a friend told us that Khmer classes for foreigners at Institute of Foreign Language were accepting students for this term, I signed up.

I’m pretty much amazed that there are lots of foreigners learning to read/write/speak the Cambodian language. And contrary to my previous expectations that I would have a really hard time to learn it, well, I’m surprisingly learning it well and at a steady pace. And to think I don’t really have that much aptitude for languages!

IFL’s Khmer for Foreigners teaches both reading/writing as well as spoken Khmer, but level 1 focuses more on reading and writing. And if you ask me, I find it particularly better to learn all at the same time, instead of learning speaking first then reading and writing later. And I find writing Khmer scripts so so awesome. They have really beautiful and ornate characters.

I actually wrote these!

Now I’ve something to look forward to everyday, something new. Learning the language means I can get a lot more closer to the Cambodian experience and the thought that I’ll be able to converse in Khmer and I can bargain like a local for plus size clothing just makes me happy. Hahaha. And also, I’m making a dream come true: learn a 3rd language before I turn 35. Yay for me!!!

It’s  been a crazy while since I last posted anything about learning Khmer language. I was too busy shopping for surge protectors. Lol. Just kidding. Life just happened and I must also admit to being so lazy to learn more of the language. I think my daughter is making a lot more progress that I am. The difference is that she has a more diligent teacher in school and she is so eager to learn, while me, I think hubby and I have gotten so used to speaking English or Filipino with each other that we tend to lose the momentum when it comes to him teaching me Khmer. Sigh.

Anyway, there are moments when I encounter a Khmer word I don’t understand or I want to express myself in Khmer but I don’t have the word for it so what I do now is just write it down and once he’s not too busy I ask him to make the translations for me.

Here’s one thing I’ve been having a hard time to learn – days-weeks-months-year. I think this would come in handy when you’re giving instructions or you are setting a date etc..

Note that these are not actual Khmer words but just approximate English sound equivalents to how the actual Khmer word sounds. As usual Khmer phrases for days and months start with the ‘base’ or ‘root’ words. And here they are:

Year – Chan’am

Month – Khai

Week – Sup’ada (formal) or A’tat (spoken)

Day – T’ngai

There are times I want to say this – “Excuse me, but I AM HERE!”

Why?

Here’s an observation of how some Khmers usually talk. Note that I am not generalizing all Khmers, but living in Phnom Penh for the past three years have made me acutely aware of how most Khmers converse. At first, I got offended. Who wouldn’t be? I mean I’m right there, I’m humongous, one’s eyesight cannot miss me!! but I still get ignored in conversations. Lol!

A lot of Khmers like talking in third person. For example, all my Khmer relatives know my name, but to date they still refer to me as ‘Chinkee Mama’. Lol! I know it sounds like a brand of noodles, but I’ve learned to live with it. Also, even when you are present and participating in the conversation, they would still refer to you as a third person.

I think they also consider this polite if you refer to yourself in third person. Perhaps this  is part of their language or culture. Another reason could be most of them are shy particularly around foreigners. A friend of mine who is also married to a Khmer told me she talks about herself in third person specially when speaking with elders. Example, when she’s about to leave for work, she tells her mother-in-law, ‘ Ma, your son’s wife or your daughter-in-law is now leaving for work.’

So, though at first it piqued me, coz it strikes me as impolite, but its not. So now, I find amusement whenever I’m referred to as a ‘third-person’ I think there are really things that one has to learn specially when dealing with another culture. And I always remind myself now not to be quick to judge.

I haven’t been diligent in learning Khmer language. Although I know tik theat (little) and it could get me by when I go to market or go out but I still have a hard time. I guess I was just too caught up with life and work. Anyway, I decided I have to at least slowly get back into learning the Khmer language bit by bit. It would definitely make living in Cambodia a lot easier for me.

Two days ago I was in the market for some errand. I was looking for wilson electronics cell booster, small throw pillows, DVD’s and some cotton shirts. When I was at the shirt selling stall, I had a hard time telling the seller what colors I wanted lol! We resorted to pointing to pointing to objects around the market to get her to ‘get’ what I meant.

So I figured, its high time I learned some colors in Khmer. When I got home I bugged the kiddo and hubby to translate for me. Note that these are just rough translations and I follow the way the English alphabet is pronounced to get the approximate Khmer sounds.

The root word for COLOR in Khmer is PH-OA. If you want to refer to a color, then you have to start the phase with the word phoa first.

• Black – Phoa Kha Maot
• White – Phoa So-w
• Red – Phoa Krohom
• Yellow – Phoa Leung
• Blue – Phoa Kiev
• Green - Phoa Baitong
• Orange – Phoa Teuk Krewt
• Pink – Phoa P’ka choup
• Violet – Phoa Svay
• Brown – Phoa  Thnout
  
• Silver – Praa
• Gold – Meas

I have this listed now in my little notebook and hopefully could help More later.

It’s been awhile since I last posted any tidbit about learning Khmer/Cambodian language. Let’s see, I’ve written about Counting the Cambodian Way and also some Basic Khmer for the Traveler.Those are really very basic and would be helpful to travelers. Now I’m thinking, what about those expats settling here?

One of my dilemmas when I was just new here was ordering food from local restaurants and buying food from the markets. There are groceries here but they are a lot pricier and learning how to haggle and bargain your way in the wet markets would mean huge savings plus that interesting interaction with locals. And one big reason to learn a bit of these – the local food is really good and most a must try so a little Khmer would go a long way in asking for what you want to try.

Here are some Khmer words about food that I learned early on, making buying food a lot more easier. Lol! For a girl who is always in search for best diet pills for women, I sure am fixated with food. Note that the transliterations are just approximate sounds of Khmer words, so there might be some errors. It would help if you can listen to a Khmer to ‘get’ the exact pronunciation.  All thanks to Hi-ace and my Khmer relatives whom I bugged endlessly to translate for me =) any errors would be mine.

What’s typical:

• Rice – bai
• Bread – nom pang
• Eggs – pong thea {duck egg – more common} and pong mowan {chicken egg}
• Fish – trey
• Beef – saik gow
• Pork – saik chrook
• Chicken – saik mowan
• Crab – k’daam
• Lobster - bawng khawng
• Shrimp – bawng khia
• Squid – meuk
• Vegetables – buhn plae

Here’s one question I am often asked by my family and friends back home and also some blog readers who email me. “Is it hard to converse with Khmers in English? Do I have to learn Khmer language when visiting or if I live there?

My answer to the first question is.. No it’s not. I actually find it easy to converse with Khmers in English. Yes, they do have an accent when they speak, but most people do anyway. Even in the Philippines, though a lot of people are considered fluent in English but the regional dialects and accents still come in. It’s the same way here. Remember, English is not their native language and also  not all can speak English but those who can are generally easy enough to understand.

For a new expat or a Phnom Penh visitor, it may take a little adjustment. I must admit I had to train myself to listen well and if I really can’t understand then I just politely ask them to repeat what they said. When I first visited Cambodia in 2004 I found it a bit hard to look for people to talk to in English but now its a great thing that most youngsters can converse in English. Even some tuk-tuk and motodup drivers knows some basic English.

It also helps to be polite and understanding of other peoples English and grammar errors. I, for one is not super fluent in English, and that doesn’t give me the right to be critical of how others speak in English. Never, never laugh at someone’s speaking flaws and that applies to all settings, in any place. Here’s what I always remind myself of..Everyone makes mistakes, and you will find it more enjoyable to just let go of your inhibitions and connect with them. Do not be too rigid and place too high expectations on their English usage. Just go with the flow, so to speak.

On the second question, Do I have to learn Khmer when visiting or I live there? My answer, it depends. If you’re visiting, you can get by without learning any Khmer although knowing even just the very Basic Khmer will go a really long way. At the very least you need to know how to say hello (“jum reap sour”), thank you (“ow-kohn”).Check out my previous post for some more phrases..

If you’re living here, then I would say its essential to know more than the basics. For one, you will need to get around and if you plan to take moto-dups or tuktuks its much easier to tell them where to go if you know some Khmer. Another reason is that it give syou more haggling power during your regular market hopping jaunts so brush up on your Khmer numbers and amounts. Third, you can learn more about the Khmer culture and can have more local friends if you know Khmer. And those are my reasons why I’m trying hard to be at least conversant in Khmer language. For now, I know the very basics, counting and numbers (most!) and I know a lot of kids playing terms courtesy of my daughter.