Of Course - Asshole
June 25th, 2009Awhile back I decided to teach a couple of boys the phrase “of course”. It’s one I use a lot, even when writing, so I thought it a good idea they understood its meaning. I never know which words or phrases the boys will latch onto, and had my doubts this would be one of them. Much to my surprise this one stuck, and they love using it all the time. It’s one the boys have difficulty pronouncing, but they get close enough for everyone to understand. It actually comes out sounding more like “of cLourths”.
I explained its use by saying it is a common response when you want someone to know there can be only one answer to their question, a question that does not really need to be asked. I went on to explain it can also be used when saying something people already know. This was followed by a series of examples such as…
Would you like some money? Of course I would.
Will you shower before sleeping tonight? Of course I will shower.
Of course my friend was very happy to see me.
Of course I will pay for everything if we go drinking whiskey tonight.
Another one I taught them was Ms Thang. Not that its vital they know this, but I use it all the time as a way to show my displeasure about something while still keeping the tone pleasant. Trying to explain this one took some doing, so I was overjoyed to discover they actually get it. This one is important when communicating with the boys, as they don’t always pick up on the subtle differences in tone we use in English. Thus, a passing comment, of a critical nature, can be taken as too harsh. By tacking Ms Thang on at the end the boys take it in as it was intended and no one gets offended. I use it a lot with Princess, self centered and lazy boy that he is.
I also love teaching waiters words or phrases they can use when interacting with their farang customers. They always appreciate learning something that sets them apart from the other boys.  For example, all the boys know to say “you are welcome” in response to “thank you”. So I taught one boy he can also say “my pleasure” and it would really impress farang that only ever hear one standard reply. The boy was thrilled to learn this new phrase and practiced using it at every opportunity.
Someone taught one of the boys working in Banana Bar “absolutely”. It’s a word that’s well suited to his personality, and one I never get tired of hearing him use. Smart boy that he is, I have no doubt he’s fully aware of the affect it has on his adoring farang customers.
I’m not writing this to imply other words or phrases are less important for the boys to learn. I regularly teach them things to improve their general English skills. Even so, I do enjoy introducing some that are fun to learn, or that directly help me communicate with them more affectively.
While it usually sounds very funny when the boys use English curse words, I don’t teach them any. Despite my best efforts to keep their vocabulary clean, they still manage to pick some up from other sources. One time I was having an argument with the BF and he called me an asshole. It was all I could do to keep from busting out laughing, but the mood was very serious and I wanted to keep it that way. To this day I’m sure he doesn’t realize how opposite the impact was when he pulled that vocabulary card on me.
June 25th, 2009 at 7:36 am
Is Ms Thang the same as Ms Thing?
June 25th, 2009 at 7:51 am
nellouise,
Yes…I’m from Texas.
June 25th, 2009 at 9:19 am
wait, shouldn’t the proper reply to the comment been, “of course”
June 25th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
What’s Ms Thang? Are you inventing phrases just to take the ****?
June 25th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Good, I wondered if a new person was added to conversation. Thang could be a real name.
June 25th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Is it just because I’m British that I can’t understand this Ms Thing business? I’ve racked my brain, but still have no idea what it means. (And if I ever meet the guys you’ve taught it to I’m going to look a real fool!)
June 25th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
gerry,
No doubt there are many American words or phrases folks from the UK and other countries would not understand, just as there are those in your country I and many other Americans would not get. We don’t call elevators lifts in America, so I had no idea what the boys where saying when I first came to Thailand. Our cars don’t have boots and bonnets, they have hoods and trunks, and in America a drop head is a convertible. And I would venture to say most people in America have no idea what a scally is.
If you ever meet the boys I taught this to you’ll not hear it. I guess you missed the point entirely. It is something I use, and the boys understand. It has a very specific purpose, and that was the point I was making.
June 26th, 2009 at 12:14 am
Common homosexual male usage of “gender bending,” Miss Thing can be used both negatively and positively. Miss Thing can be used by gay men to denote someone who (often wihout merit) thinks that they are above every one else
June 26th, 2009 at 12:54 am
Actually, the number one ranked full defenition from Urban Dictionary is as follows…
miss thing
Common homosexual male usage of “gender bending,” Miss Thing can be used both negatively and positively. Miss Thing can be used by gay men to denote someone who (often wihout merit) thinks that they are above every one else, or can be used almost as a homosexual equivalent to “homie”
1. “Oh Miss Thing, don’t you even go there with me… you are NOT wearing the same thing as I am… ”
2. “Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaay Miss Thing!”
June 26th, 2009 at 1:53 am
I understand a young Australian exchange student in the USA caused great confusion and merriment when he asked his teacher for a “rubber” which is what we call a pencil eraser.
We also have a popular brand of beer called XXXX
June 26th, 2009 at 2:20 am
Ironbark,
I’m reminded of something that happened with the first BF. He liked to draw pencil sketches. One day, while working on his latest masterpiece, he asked if I had a rubber. You can imagine the confusion that followed.
June 26th, 2009 at 4:09 am
Jesus, I haven’t heard anyone say “miss thing” in forever, and if I ever heard a Thai boy say it, I’d probably piss myself. I’ve never been one for actively teaching. I will answer questions or provide explanation if I am being misunderstood but do not usually go beyond that. The one exception I can recall occurred after a long night of drinking at a bar in Saphan Kwai, when I inexplicably decided to give a long dissertation on obscene hand gestures. The group seemed to enjoy “flipping the bird” the most. Though flicking the hand from under the chin was a close second. Probably the only thing a group of gay Thai males and Justice Scalia have in common.
-John
June 26th, 2009 at 8:13 am
The miss thing thing is still unclear.
June 26th, 2009 at 9:13 am
OH…get OVER IT Mss Thing!
Now do you understand it?
June 26th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=MS%20THANG