Origins of the word 'farang' ... - Thorn Tree travel forum

Origins of the word 'farang'

Replies: 14 - Last Post: 19-Aug-2005 04:45 Last Post By: Soi_Dog

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Posted
18-Aug-2005 06:56
by: archstanton

Posts: 440
Registered: 10/05/04

Origins of the word 'farang'

I know this has been covered before, but I read a reason for the word's origin that I hadn't heard before:

http://www.chiangmainews.com/ecmn/2005/august05/38_39_farang.php

"From the eternal sea he rises
Creating armies on either shore
Turning man against his brother
Til man exists no more"

Posted
18-Aug-2005 07:00
by: Soi_Dog

Posts: 229
Registered: 20/11/02

1

I thought that was the only origin that ever made any sense historically and linguistically?

Now we will have some nutter saying Farangset = Francais

The inscription on Wood's tomb reads, simply, "He loved Thailand".

Posted
18-Aug-2005 09:00
by: archstanton

Posts: 440
Registered: 10/05/04

2

It is a good example that proves all Thai people have speech impediments. It spelt 'farang' but spoken 'falang'.

Can someone explain to these people that they don't even know how to say their language in a way what's corroct.

"From the eternal sea he rises
Creating armies on either shore
Turning man against his brother
Til man exists no more"

Posted
18-Aug-2005 11:49
by: Soi_Dog

Posts: 229
Registered: 20/11/02

3

THX - you are kidding right - fell for that old chestnut

Your history is out a few hundred years as the Portugese were there well before the Frogs and Farang was in use before they arrived

The inscription on Wood's tomb reads, simply, "He loved Thailand".

Posted
18-Aug-2005 12:11
by: KB2000

Posts: 45
Registered: 13/01/05

4

I agree with Soi Dog, Farang came from Francais or Farangset

ÊÙéâÇéÂ

Posted
18-Aug-2005 12:27
by: Soi_Dog

Posts: 229
Registered: 20/11/02

5

Farang DID NOT come from Francais or Farangset

Farang was used in Thailand before the French arrived and even before the Portugese arrived a few hundred years earlier.

Please do your research and not liten to fairy tales

The inscription on Wood's tomb reads, simply, "He loved Thailand".

Posted
18-Aug-2005 15:16
by: KB2000

Posts: 45
Registered: 13/01/05

6

I still strongly believe that Farang came from the word Francais. It's the most likely possibility. That's why we have the word Farangset (½ÃÑè§àÈÊ) for Francais.

ÊÙéâÇéÂ

Posted
18-Aug-2005 17:00
by: billp

Posts: 3,187
Registered: 25/03/02

7

Well #7 you may well "strongly believe" but the term "farang" or local variations of it is in use throughout Asia, including Afghanistan, Iran, Central Asia etc. etc. It pre-dates France being considered a separate country, and probably (as mentioned in the link in the OP) came from the time of the Crusades and light-skinned Europeans being referred to as "Franks."

Posted
18-Aug-2005 18:50
by: Chanchao

Posts: 6,533
Registered: 03/11/00

8

Good grief..

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Posted
18-Aug-2005 21:24
by: Steve57

Posts: 14
Registered: 28/06/02

9

the transition from franks to farangs seems to me to be more likely ie. frank -> f'rank -> farang.

What I can't tolerate is intolerance ;-).

Posted
19-Aug-2005 02:38
by: travelfish

Posts: 198
Registered: 02/10/03

10

but here they're barang...

good grief indeed

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Posted
19-Aug-2005 02:40
by: Soi_Dog

Posts: 229
Registered: 20/11/02

11

Would that be Barangset as they can not pronounce the F and say B instead and were after all much closer to the French than the Thai's ever were ;-))

The inscription on Wood's tomb reads, simply, "He loved Thailand".

Posted
19-Aug-2005 03:33
by: Batfish

Posts: 1,358
Registered: 24/09/01

12

So what about Ethiopia? or India? or Afghanistan, which all have a word like "Farangi" or "Ferengi" for foreigner..

Try this for size:

baheyeldin.com/linguistics/thai-word-farang-variations-in-other-languages-arabic-origin.html

(or do a Google search)

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Posted
19-Aug-2005 03:36
by: Soi_Dog

Posts: 229
Registered: 20/11/02

13

Batfish

Even Star Trek ;-))

The inscription on Wood's tomb reads, simply, "He loved Thailand".

Posted
19-Aug-2005 03:43
by: Soi_Dog

Posts: 229
Registered: 20/11/02

14

The Gwyn Williams piece is worth posting in full as he is generally accepted as a bit of an expert on this being a linguist and has researched the areas - please not that it may be Farangset was based on farang and not vice versa - strongly beleiving is not enough you need some academic backup ;-)))

"ORIGIN OF THE WORD "FARANG"

A wide-spread belief in Thailand is that the word "farang" (Caucasian)
is derived from the French word "francais". This derivation is implausible
on phonetic and historical grounds. It is in fact a popular misconception.
It is true, however, that these words have the same ultimate source.

The word is attested in various forms in languages in Europe, Africa,
the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. It is clear that the
word orginated as "Frank" in Europe and spread eastwards along Muslim
trade routes.

Thai most likely borrowed the word from influential Muslim Persian or
Indian traders in the 17th century or even earlier. The Persian word was
"farangg". The term probably was used to refer to early Portuguese
traders and subsequently to all Europeans (ie., non-Muslims).

It is possible that the Thai word "farangset" ("French") is a blend
of the word "farang" and the French word "francais", ie., "farangset" is
actually derived from "farang", not vice versa. Certainly, the word
"farang" existed prior to, and independently of, "farangset"."

The inscription on Wood's tomb reads, simply, "He loved Thailand".

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