Language Use

Sunday, October 17, 2010
Opinion by Theary C. Seng

I have been a reader of KI Media from the very beginning but only religiously within the last couple of years and would like to send a belated public congratulations on its 5th anniversary and its 10 Million visitor milestone. I am pleased to be mentioned as an “inspiration” for its inception, especially when I have such a high regard for KI Media for its value and contribution to democracy in Cambodia.

Recently, I have been delighted with the postings of Khmer Democrat. Where have you been the last 5 years?! Personally, I may not adopt some of the manner of speech but my appreciation extends beyond my own sensibility to the values these postings have for democracy and freedom of expression in Cambodia.

First, I like the edgy, irreverent, sly subversive, intelligent tone. KI Media commentaries, specifically those of Khmer Democrat and Sacrava, are different from the often vulgar comments in the free for all section where, due to a lack of imaginative shaping, these personal, racial, sexist attacks usually remained at the level of invective.

Second and related, KI Media runs counter to the political correctness of this CPP fear-infested culture still functioning with a Stalinist orthodoxy. The voice (of KI Media generally, Heng Soy, Khmer Democrat and Sacrava specifically) rings with irony and disapproval rather than the cultural deference and feigned public reverence. Their voices pierce through the public façade of hypocrisy and entrenched fears and provide private release for the high-strung population under the stress of poverty, corruption, domestic violence and other ills. They are not afraid to give offense on behalf of the oppressed, the ill-used, the victims of a kangaroo court/political machinery run amok etc.

Third, these voices provoke us to think more expansively about politics as they relate to cultures, traditions, class, upbringing, education-level, background and experiences, religion etc. Theirs is a voice of educated communication, with pungency, wit and flair. In a society and under a leadership trained on thought-control, KI Media is refreshing in breaking the taboos – mildly or with pointed sharpness, depending on the topics to be addressed.

We live in a society where we have lost all sense of proportions: when a boy steals a piece of bread, he is sent to jail; when a man kills 2 million of his fellow Cambodians, he is invited to Paris for a peace agreement. We are overwhelmed by the magnitude and constant myriad abuses and violent crimes. So, we focus disproportionately on the pettiness, as the pettiness is within our realm of reaction and it makes it seem that we are doing something about a pet moral issue offending us.

For example, the word “ass” is not a nice word but it’s not on the same level of the f- word. Moreover, it’s a clever play on word; in English a donkey is also called an ass. This manner of speaking may not be within my sensibility, but this is qualitatively different than the meaningless vulgarity on display in the free for all comment section as well as the earthy vulgarity heard and seen on the streets of Phnom Penh. More generally speaking, KI Media explicitly dissuades vulgarity and itself does not engage in it. The once-in-awhile off-the-beat usage of “Ass”, “Shit”, “Idiots” is comic relief, public release and I appreciated it for its “punchy-ness” to address a serious problem. An “aw shucks” is not appropriate when a “SHIT!!!!!” is called for. (It may surprise you that this is coming from a person who can’t swear, in any language, for the life of hers.)

For me, KI Media (mainly Heng Soy, Khmer Democrat and Sacrava) give expression to the collective frustrations and they provide comic relief and public release – an attempt at a proportionate response via wit and humor to the violence and abuse in society.

In this regard, KI Media follows in the footsteps of The Onion, "Le Canard Enchainé" and Nokor Thom of Soth Polin of another era. More power to you, KI Media, for your contribution to democracy and free expression in this often time humor-less society devoid of wit and intelligence.

Wishing you another 10 (thousand) years of political offense and taboo-breaking on behalf of the oppressed and voiceless of Cambodia, the majority.

Theary C. Seng

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P.s. Below are some random and not-so-random comments of searches I made on language and humor.

Other cognitive psychology and cognitive linguistics works indicate that word-choice has significant “framing effects” on the perceptions, memories, and attitudes of speakers and listeners

Obscenity is a matter of subject; vulgarity is a matter of tone. Although obscenity might be a vehicle for brilliantly perceptive expression, when it is not used as a device in educated communication, it will descend to vulgarity.

Sarcasm should not be like a saw, but a sword; it should cut, and not mangle —Lord Francis Jeffrey

caustic remark, irony, sarcasm, satire - witty language used to convey insults or scorn; "he used sarcasm to upset his opponent"; "irony is wasted on the stupid"; "Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own"--Jonathan Swift

Buffoonish - a tendency toward coarse joking.

Facetiae - coarsely witty stories or books. — facetious

Ribaldry - coarse, vulgar, or obscene language or joking. — ribald

Blendword: Have you ever tried combining two words to make a completely innovative and funny word? Blendword comedy is nothing but the creation of funny words by blending two or three words.

Burlesque: This is a form of satire, since Burlesque comedy involves ridiculing any basic style of speech or even writing. Burlesque is theatrical entertainment of broad and parodic humor, which usually involves comic skits. It is said to have originated from the Italian Commedia dell'arte.

Caricature: Caricature involves exaggerated portrayal of a person’s mental, physical, or personality traits in wisecrack form. Caricatures can be insulting, complimentary, political or can be drawn solely for entertainment too.

Parody: Parody is defined as a work created to mock, comment on, or poke fun at an original work, its subject, or author, by means of humorous or satiric imitation. Parody is nothing but a composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's style, in a humorous way.

Satire: Satire is defined as a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own. Satire is a branch of comedy, which makes use of witty language to convey insults or scorn. In satire, human or individual vices, follies, abuses, or shortcomings are held up to reprimand by means of ridicule, burlesque, derision, irony, or other methods. Although satire is usually meant to be funny, the purpose of satire is not primarily humor, but an attack on something or some subject the author strongly disapproves of.