"High Noon"

 

Hierarchy in Language

Khmer society is hierarchical. Social relationships are based on rankings. Within the family unit, rankings are based on birth orders, outside of families, social rankings are based on a variety of factors such as religious piety, age, profession, gender and education. As such, the Khmer language (both written and spoken) reflects these hierarchies. Some words you’d use to communicate with your friend are totally different from the words you’d use to communicate with a monk, royalty, a senior citizen, or a kid. 

For example: the word for your aunt or uncle is depended on his or her birth order in relation to your father’s or your mother’s

Your father’s or your mother’s younger sister is ming

Your father’s or your mother’s older sister is oum

Your father’s or your mother’s younger brother is pou

Your father’s or your mother’s older brother is oum

“Perdition” and Unusual Emotional Descriptions

In Khmer literature, authors often talk about intestines, liver, lungs or even blood in connection with emotions. In verse-novels, the character would describe his loved one as precious to him as his lungs, even his lungs. The same descriptions occur in poetry and lyrics. In the song below, the woman describes her suffering as having felt pressure and pain in her liver. These terms probably sound odd to westerners, or to anyone who is unfamiliar with Khmer language. 

"Serenade of Noe and Pich" and Khmers' Love of Repetition

Repetition of words or phrases is a lively and essential part of Khmer language, both spoken and literary spheres. The song below made use of that quite liberally.