King's Blog

According to Voice of America, Former King Norodom Sihanouk said on Friday that he will stop posting any personal comments related to politics or other subjects that make some politicians unhappy.  Here it is in Khmer language.  As you will note from listening the clip, I heard the words "web site" in English, but not sure if there is khmer word for "web site."  Reminds when I was printing business cards in Phnom Penh last year,  it was hard for .org to get translated - so we left it in English.  My khmer friend pronounced it as "dotch.org" -- (Also hard to translate is my name, Beth.  It got prounounced as "Bat" or rather Mrs. Bat.)

Updated to reflect Wanna's corrections below.  I was wrong and thanks to Wanna, I have been introduced to the khmer word for Web site.  Wanna tells me it is "Web site = Ke Haak Tum Por."   (Wanna, I went back and listened to the clip several times and I did hear the phrase.  But, I swear I also heard "web site" in English too.  Is there a Khmer word that might sound like "web site" to my western ears?  And, what does "Ke Haak Tum Por" literally translate to?)

And, to answer your question about my business card.  Here's what it looks on the Khmer language side.  The "bethkanter.org" is my domain name and we had trouble translating that into a khmer word.  Also, my khmer friend who helped me in Cambodia kept pronouncing the "dot org"  as "dotch org."     And, my  other  Khmer friend in Lowell said my name, "Beth" was pronounced as "Bat" as per the card.    I still can't pronounce correctly the phrase "Nonprofits and Technology" in khmer.  Wanna, I wish you could podcast or I'm thinking about figuring out skype .....

Here's the photo of the card vendor who printed my cards ....

Technorati Tags: cambodia

Comments

[Wanna]

Beth, you may not hear "web site", coz there's translation of the word into Khmer - "Web site = Ke Haak Tum Por". Please try hard to hear this word in the clip ;-)

Hmm...I don't get you on the translations of ".org" or your name "Beth". Anyways, If you let me write them in Khmer, I assure that every Khmer literates will pronounce them correctly, sounding just like what you hear an american say to you. Hmmm... you get my point? :-p

[Beth]

Yes, I got your point. Here's an English slang word: Oops! It means I made a mistake! I corrected my post and thanks for the khmer lesson. We really need find a way to get you to podcast some khmer language lessons for me and my children ... argoon.

[Wanna]

Of course, saying "web site" can be understandable, too. Actually, "Ke Haak Tum Por" comes from a compound noun "Ke Haak"+"Tum Por". "Ke Haak" is from Sanskrit(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit)(Khmer language got much influence from Sanskrit or Pali that're originated in India) - "Ke Haak" means "home or house", while "Tum por" means "page". So, "Ke Haak Tum Por" obviously means "Homepage".

I'm pleased to podcast some Khmer language lesson for you, especially, for Sara and Sarak ;-). But, my English is still poor :-(

[manur]

I haven't listened to the audioclip, but I wouldn't be surprised that Prince Sihanouk used the word "web site". He always use it in its postings in French, even though there is a French translation.

[sopheak Hean]

ke hak tum por =

ke hak = "web" in this situation. 'ke hak' is a borrowed word from 'baley' buddis word for describing something to be similar to store or place to keep or home or place. its a "baley" word so i will have to ask the Monk for better explainatin.

tum por = page; eg: tum por ti
brum =the 5th page. or if you put "brum tum por = 5 pages"

you can ask me if you need help with cambodian language or khmer. i'm happy to help you. Beside i can also read a little bit of thai and laos myself. because Thai and laos are based on an old khmer script.

you can try contact me by my email that i post to u or my msn: maxximuscool@hotmail.com

I'm khmer and resided in NZ for 7years now.My english is decent and my khmer is still ok i guess.I've finished year 10 "khmer class" i've moved to NZ when i was 15yrs old.