Choosing a Race

[x9200]

But I really still want to know whether or not AM is short for AMK.

But does it really matter? Even if it has originated from AMK it does not mean it is still used with the original meaning in minds.

[zzm9980]

I was reading about some cafes on cnngo, and found a place that sounds good near me. Then I read their menu and blog after reading this thread, and now Brah's posts are making me doubt if I should go I have to admit, I'm starting to question "should I ignore it laugh along, or maybe I should be offended?"

http://blog.thegardenslug.com/2012/07/2 ... -sio-kuay/

[sundaymorningstaple]

Looking at their Flickr photostream, the food defo looks interesting (especially their desserts). Call me anything except late for dinner!

[earthfriendly]

Just to provide some cultural context. Chinese are comfortable with identifying people by their physical features. A very well know Hong Kong actress is known as fei fei (fei=fat) when her name is actually Lydia Sum.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008 ... 466794.htm

I found out thru a white friend who previously lived in China that whites are referred to as 大鼻子 (da bi zhi =big nose) due to their higher and more pronounced nose structure . It is a coveted feature and Asians have gone under the knives to achieve that result. And they even put it on official sign. But when the Olympics came around, the govt tried to clam down on the Chinglish signs to appeal to international audience.


"Welcome big nose friends" and another for the Tibetan "Reception Centre for the Unorganised Tourists".

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1988458/posts

[earthfriendly]

I would equate "angmoh" with the term "white". It does not really matter how they say it. If they don't like that particular white person , they can still express their sneer using a politically correct term e.g. "look at that disgusting white guy".

[sundaymorningstaple]

Hey stranger! And, yep, I agree with you 100%!

[earthfriendly]

Hi SMS

[Brah]

Good to hear from you EF, long time.

Agree that probably anything can be innocuous or caustic depending on the way it's used. And in Japan "takai hana" is also a weird sort of complementary descriptor.

But AMK? Have you heard people use that one EF?

Since Lynx seems uncomfortable to answer if she has said it or not.

[the lynx]

Good to hear from you EF, long time.

Agree that probably anything can be innocuous or caustic depending on the way it's used. And in Japan "takai hana" is also a weird sort of complementary descriptor.

But AMK? Have you heard people use that one EF?

Since Lynx seems uncomfortable to answer if she has said it or not.

Hmm, just saw it when the thread got bumped up.

Nah, I'm not uncomfortable. In fact, I'm amused by how tightly you bite at a petty matter. Pretty sure others would agree with me on that. And I'm not obligated to answer you since your intention has been proven to shoot the messenger after all.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Brah, methinks you bit off a wee bit more'n you can chew this time!

[earthfriendly]

AMK= Ang mo kao. "kao" = hokkien for monkey. Not sure why there's a need to add "kao" to it since Ang mo would suffice. It sounds a bit impolite and juvenile-like. I think words derive a lot of meaning through context. N-word is overtly rascist in USA due to a specific historical event i.e. slavery. I don't feel AMK is rascist. Misguided, yes. Just like the term "Jap" is an abbreviation for Japanese when used by Singaporeans.

Also, in Chinese culture they like to draw parallels between the human and the animal kingdom. Manifested in the use of 12 animals in the zodiac. They like to ask each other what animal (year) you are born in. If you want to know how monkeys are percieved, you can look to the most infamous one "Sun Wu Kong" who appears in the well-loved chinese folklore "Journey of the West". He is mischievious, clever, untamable but fiercely loyal and protective of his monk master.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Wukong

But really at the end of the day, it is just my personal take. I cannot represent the entire population of Singapore .

[Brah]

If it's so petty why keep dodging it? Does it really matter whether others agree or not?

As you were the one who mentioned AMK, which I'd never heard in years here, and as it seems to have originated from your country (I don't know if that's the case), to hear from someone from there if they are not only familiar with it but have actually used it is a pretty fair question.

If you haven't you have nothing to hide; if you did you have a lot of supporters here and I doubt that anyone, including me, would condemn you for it. Without hearing it from you it becomes like Romney's taxes.

Sorry you perceive me to shoot the messenger, I don't see it that way and I wouldn't take trying to get a straight answer so personal.

That's not to say that over the years I haven't gone after a few select and deserving people on the forum, you're not one of them and I find your posts among the better ones.


And I do want to know more about whether AM is a derivative of AMK - but I'll ask local friends as I think we've got all the responses we're going to get here.


EF - interesting, and thanks for that. Your post raises the question as to whether this is strictly Malaysian slang.


So how are Caucasians referred to in places like Jakarta?

Nah, I'm not uncomfortable. In fact, I'm amused by how tightly you bite at a petty matter. Pretty sure others would agree with me on that. And I'm not obligated to answer you since your intention has been proven to shoot the messenger after all.

[nakatago]

. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . ,.-‘”

[sundaymorningstaple]

^^^^^
Agreed!

[v4jr4]

So how are Caucasians referred to in places like Jakarta?

A little bit different. We use the word bule. There's no specific details about the "birth" of this word, and we don't use it for insult. But still, some guys don't like it.