Ethnic
Vietnamese born in Cambodia walk through a Vietnamese-Cambodian
neighbourhood in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district in August. PHA LINA
Dear Editor,
I was utterly surprised and distressed by the extent to which some foreign nationals residing or working in Cambodia criticised or even condemned the usage of the word “yuon” as pejorative during last month’s legislative elections. Such unmerited condemnation clearly showed the lack of understanding toward the host country and its people. [Read the definition of the word "Yuon" as defined by foreign academics].
During my childhood, I heard my grandparents, parents and neighbours alike routinely referred to Vietnamese ethnic living in my district as “yuon”. Was that word abrasive, offensive or disrespectful? Absolutely not.
The word “yuon” has always been an integral part of therich Khmer vocabulary as it can be found everywhere, whether in common spoken language or ancient textbooks and literature.
We have been using that word without passion or prejudice for centuries, just as we have been using the words “barang”, “chen”, “cham”, “kloeng”, “leav” and “siam”, to refer to the French, Chinese, Muslim, Indian, Laotian and Thai nationals respectively.
After the Vietnamese army took over Cambodia in 1979, people in my village were pointedly told by the authority not to call Vietnamese soldiers “yuon”. For the few who dared to ask why, they never got straight answers. For many home-grown nationalists, however, there was little doubt or secret about the real motives behind prohibiting the usage of the word “yuon” then.
In the history of Cambodia and Vietnam’s often-complicated relations, Cambodia was for most of the time an occupied country. Some scholars and historians even assert that had France not placed the Kingdom under its colonial empire between 1887 and 1953, Cambodia would have disappeared from the world map for good.
Regrettably, when it comes to judging Cambodians’ attitude toward fellow Vietnamese, certain outsiders and media harshly accuse Cambodians of excessive Vietnamophobia – unjustly perceiving Cambodians as an agitator or troublemaker while conveniently downplaying or ignoring altogether relevant history and the repeated misfortunes to which Cambodians had been constantly subjected to.
Many Cambodians, myself included, are totally at a loss with such uncharacteristic perceptions that defy all logic. It is one-sided justice that Cambodians – who are outnumbered by almost ten to one, economically and population-wise, and who have seen the size of their country shrinking to the verge of extinction – be singled out as a troublemaker.
This selective form of justice does not help to heal the bitter wounds of the past. Instead, it only serves to encourage some cunning political leaders tocontinue pushing forward their hidden expansionist agenda.
Cambodia definitely has an incredibly tough job ahead for balancing its “reasonable accommodation” policy toward foreign settlers and its badly needed “self-preservation” policy to safeguard its future.
In the meantime, to suggest, let alone condemn, the customary usage of the word “yuon” as pejorative or anything of that nature is to overstretch the limit of political correctness at best, and tolive in a state of invincible ignorance at worst.
Davan Long
Montreal, Canada
I was utterly surprised and distressed by the extent to which some foreign nationals residing or working in Cambodia criticised or even condemned the usage of the word “yuon” as pejorative during last month’s legislative elections. Such unmerited condemnation clearly showed the lack of understanding toward the host country and its people. [Read the definition of the word "Yuon" as defined by foreign academics].
During my childhood, I heard my grandparents, parents and neighbours alike routinely referred to Vietnamese ethnic living in my district as “yuon”. Was that word abrasive, offensive or disrespectful? Absolutely not.
The word “yuon” has always been an integral part of the
We have been using that word without passion or prejudice for centuries, just as we have been using the words “barang”, “chen”, “cham”, “kloeng”, “leav” and “siam”, to refer to the French, Chinese, Muslim, Indian, Laotian and Thai nationals respectively.
After the Vietnamese army took over Cambodia in 1979, people in my village were pointedly told by the authority not to call Vietnamese soldiers “yuon”. For the few who dared to ask why, they never got straight answers. For many home-grown nationalists, however, there was little doubt or secret about the real motives behind prohibiting the usage of the word “yuon” then.
In the history of Cambodia and Vietnam’s often-complicated relations, Cambodia was for most of the time an occupied country. Some scholars and historians even assert that had France not placed the Kingdom under its colonial empire between 1887 and 1953, Cambodia would have disappeared from the world map for good.
Regrettably, when it comes to judging Cambodians’ attitude toward fellow Vietnamese, certain outsiders and media harshly accuse Cambodians of excessive Vietnamophobia – unjustly perceiving Cambodians as an agitator or troublemaker while conveniently downplaying or ignoring altogether relevant history and the repeated misfortunes to which Cambodians had been constantly subjected to.
Many Cambodians, myself included, are totally at a loss with such uncharacteristic perceptions that defy all logic. It is one-sided justice that Cambodians – who are outnumbered by almost ten to one, economically and population-wise, and who have seen the size of their country shrinking to the verge of extinction – be singled out as a troublemaker.
This selective form of justice does not help to heal the bitter wounds of the past. Instead, it only serves to encourage some cunning political leaders to
Cambodia definitely has an incredibly tough job ahead for balancing its “reasonable accommodation” policy toward foreign settlers and its badly needed “self-preservation” policy to safeguard its future.
In the meantime, to suggest, let alone condemn, the customary usage of the word “yuon” as pejorative or anything of that nature is to overstretch the limit of political correctness at best, and to
Davan Long
Montreal, Canada
7 comments:
If you feel that calling Blacks Niggers as normal, then you are just as wacko as calling Vietnamese Youns. Stop making excuses, stop being arrogant. If you use the words so often that you feel not offensive, then you should understand the implied meanings behind the word to remind yourself how stupid it is to insist on your rights to insult people. Get real, stop playing the victims, okay you are the victims of the Khmer Rouge, and that is all that you can claim as victims or be victimized.
Quelle ignorance!
Ne dites pas n'importe quoi si vous connaissez que trois mots khmers
Also " YUON " means " water spider " - one kind of spider crawling on water surface .
The first generation of Vietnameses who immigrated into Cambodia , preferred to live
in the floating houses where some of them made living as prostitutes . Another figurative meaning of Khmer word for spider is prostitute , as Khmers have said that
both , the spider & prostitute have in common :- using the bottom parts of their bodies
to make their livings .
So " YUON " means " water spider " or " floating house ' prostitute " .
The word "YOUN" came about many centuries ago during the Khmer Empire. We know that Youn Dynasty were Mongol of Kubla Khan's family tree. Youn Dynasty of Mongols were very much the conquer China and most of Southeast Asia of those days. Just for the history record, Khmer Empire was invaded in 12th century by Champa kingdom(modern day central Vietnam). Champa invasion of Khmer in the 12th century was the mastermind of the Mongols. Champa alone would not dare to attack, let alone invaded Khmer. Champa had to turned to the Mongols for help. They(Cham/Mongols)had succeeded with the invasion at first but later was crushed and conquered Champa in the process. Khmer waged roughly a 2 decades warfare with Champa. King Jayavaraman 7 was credited for his leadership to protect and preseved empire. After his death, Khmer withdrew from Champa. Champa was left under the mercy of its neighbor to the north, Annam. Centuries later became part of Vietnam.
Anyway back the word "YOUN", maybe because of the barbaric and savagery of the Mongols, Khmer simply call them Viet "YOUN" refering to the Youn Dynasty of the Mongols.
Prior to modernday Vietnam, there were Dai Viet and Annam. Taking the name Dai(ethinic minority of southern China)and An-Nam, Vietnam was a new name or new nation. So what do people of Dai Viet and Annam call themselves? Viet? I don't think so. I'm just trying to give reason why Khmer call Vietnamese "YOUN". On the other hand, what do Vietnamese call Khmer, considered how they see Khmer, I can only guess. Name calling work both ways. I don't doubt that Vietnamese are innocent little darlings who are getting along wtih their neighbors just fine. Maybe because of their attitude toward Khmer that earned themselves a name "YOUN"
Khmer, Siam, Laos, French have for centuries called Youn the Youn. Now we have the White trash Amerian living and working in Cambodia calling us Khmer are racist?
Whereas Khmer people call Vietnamese people as "yuon" and it's subjective to interpretation as both neutral or degratory term, both academians and common folks would find there is plenty of rooms to agree and disagree as well. Regardless of the past or present history, whenever anyone using any potential degratory terms to call any group of people (with or without hidden agenda) and if such terms could cause certain discomfort and hurtful feelings to them then... STOP; Most Vietnamese would be preferred other people simply just call them as "Viet" instead. Of course, the Vietnamese should also pay due respect by calling their neighbors as "Khmer people" instead as "Mien" due to the similar issue here.
I am a South Vietnamese. I prefer to be called "yuon" instead of "Viet". The pronuncation of "yuon" is closer to the way the Conchinchinese (nam ky)in South Vietname pronounce the word "Viet". I am disgusted to see the "bac ky" (Tonkinese) pretend that they represent all the Viet.
Cambodgian people must have the right to use their language the way that they see it. Foreigners who do not understand their language should not tell them how to use Cambodgian language. This attitute reflects both arrogance and ignorance.
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