Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Jedi Master Pikachu; ASA Vet
Then it isn't offensive, but is still odd. How often is it that a country's name gets properly translated into English?

Actually if it was correct translation of the Thai name, it would be "Land of Freedom", not "Thailand". The Thai name of the country is "Prathet Thai". Prathet means country, Thai means free. The country's name was officially changed to "Prathet Thai", or Thailand, in 1949 to reflect its status as the only country in SEA that was never colonized.

114 posted on 09/19/2006 10:27:09 PM PDT by killjoy (Dirka dirka mohammed jihad! Sherpa sherpa bakalah!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 112 | View Replies ]


To: killjoy
When translating it is not incorrect to change the word order to conform to the usage of the language into which it is being translated.

Prathet (country/nation/land) Thai (free/independent people) would become Thailand in English and Thailande in Frog.

120 posted on 09/19/2006 10:43:59 PM PDT by ASA Vet (3.03)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 114 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson