Admin Saovaluck wrote on 17
th Apr, 2011 at 9:25am:
1. "Manoot" basically means "people" or "human".
"Loohk manoot" basically means "people of the world" or "human planet".
2. "Gum vehn" basically means "sin".
1) 'Human planet' doesn't sound right!
This is ALWAYS uttered when something DEVIOUS happens. If that helps.
2) Are you sure? I asked one of the older generation. One who actually grew up in Laos. So who's right: him or you? I don't mean to put you on the spot like this but I just want to be sure.
You might be right actually. Doesn't 'bahp' translate to 'karma'?
Maybe 'bahp' and 'gum vehn' are synonyms and are interchangable. Who knows? I certainly don't. YOU tell me.
3) I noticed you corrected 'wehn' to 'vehn'. Is the 'w' sound ALWAYS replaced with a 'V' just like the 'R' sound is pronounced as a 'L'? I doubt it because I never hear someone say 'vaow'. 'Waow' is always what I hear when someone says 'talk' in Lao. Isn't the 'v' sound a recent addition brought by the French? You can play teacher and educate me here.