No, You Cannot Say 'bong'

DATELINE: July 26, 2013
Patricia E Lyon

I listen intently to conversations, trying to pick up a few words of the Khmer language. Deanna knows many more words than I. Khmer words have a sort of staccato bling to them, not like English. Sometimes I hear Awnglish, or names of places, or I can read body language. Formal lessons begin next week.

It is very difficult for them to say my name. It comes out "Path" or "Pet" so they call to me, "Teacher", or "Madamme". "Deanna" they can say.

As I listen, I hear them beginning conversations with "bong." I hear them start cell phone conversations, with "bong". And at the Blue Pumpkin (Ice cream-bakery place) the waitress addresses an individual with "Bong" to double check an order. Yesterday I asked, "can I say 'bong'?"

This lead to a larger discussion of pronoun usage. You can only use the term "bong" when you are referring to someone the same age or older than yourself. They tell me, "you cannot say ‘bong’ because it is for someone older than yourself." We begin to inquire about ages of various mothers, grandmothers, elders. We cannot think of anyone who is older than I am in the entire circle of acquaintances. Maybe there is one grandmother at the church who has shaved her head, has red teeth from chewing the betel leaf, and leaves in middle of worship to go somewhere every Sunday.

Rats. One word I can remember and pronounce I cannot use.