ศาลาชุมนุม

[r2d2]

deleted

[r2d2]

edited, since

The meaning of the term farang ... (nothing to add, so silent)

[r2d2]

I heard a statement recently that the English language "never met a word it didn't like", and that the English language is rich with foreign words from all parts of the world. My question, is anyone aware of any Thai words that have been incorporated into English?

John

John, your question is also coming in my mind sometimes.

A short story and an attempt for another explanation (for the few Thai terms in English language else than "not like"):

Yesterday, turning from a Wat, my wife brought ลำไย at home and we eat some of these delecious fruits together. Then she asked me: Do you know how they are called in German?
Good question, never asked this myself. To solve her question she was searching with Tl.com for the English translation. The output was Longan. The translation into German was, thereafter, my job. German: Longan! (both English and German term Longan unknown to me until yesterday).

Thinking in English terms for tropical fruits (animals, trees, etc.), and when they needed the first time a "name" in English: Thailand was never colonialised (in comparison with its neighbours) and this explains to me that the root of the English name for ... may I say ... tropical "items" in general is "somewhere in South-East-Asia ... else than in Thailand".

In summary: "English language never met a word it didn't like". I would not explain the - also me exciting - low number of Thai terms in English language in this way since there is a very convincing historical alternative explanation (never colony, but all neighbours).

Allow me an - intentionally - paralogical statement/question at the end (not amending the list of Thai terms in English language ):

Orang-Utan and Lychee, aren't these English terms deriving from the Thai terms อุรังอุตัง and ลิ้นจี่?

[David and Bui]

orangutan - Etymology: Malay orang hutan, from orang man, person + hutan forest
litchi - Etymology: Chinese (Pekingese) li4 chih1

[Source http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/]

[r2d2]

(not amending the list of Thai terms in English language ):