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HOW MANGO-STEEN (A THAI FRUIT) WAS NAMED
"A 'FALANG' (WESTERNER) ASKED A THAI SALESWOMAN AT A THAI
FRUITMARKET WHAT THE NAME OF A FRUIT WAS. BECAUSE HE ONLY KNEW
MANGO (ANOTHER KIND OF FRUIT), HE ASKED IF THIS FRUIT WAS A MANGO
SINCE HE HAD NEVER ACTUALLY SEEN ONE. SHE REPLIED, 'NO. IT'S
CALLED "MUNG-KOOT."' HE MISUNDERSTOOD AND ASKED AGAIN IF IT WAS
A MANGO TO WHICH SHE REPLIED AS BEFORE. AFTER MANY EXCHANGES
AND FRUSTRATION, THE WOMAN REPLIED THAT IT'S CALLED 'MANGO-SOAN-
TEEN' WHICH MEANS 'MANGO-AT-THE-BOTTOM-OF-THE-FOOT.' THE NAME IS
STILL USED TODAY BUT IS SHORTENED TO 'MANGO-STEEN.'"
Submitter comment:
THE THAIS REFER TO THE FOOT AS THE LOWEST PART OF THE BODY. TO
USE IT WHEN REFERRING TO SOMETHING, AND ESPECIALLY SOMEONE, IS
CONSIDERED VERY IMPOLITE.
THIS IS A POPULAR STORY IN THAILAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: 02-00-1984