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**Yswxomvy** · 09-21-2012, 03:51 PM

No not more confused at all, thanks for your comments. Try reading "Cross Cultural Communication; A Topical Paper by Mark Durene (www.apts.edu/jam/7-1/MDurene.pdf).Its from the Journal of Asian Missions. Although it is slanted toward Christian Missionary work (not surprisingly) it is quite informative concerning various aspects of 'face' in Thailand.

Grayem,

Thanks for the link. The paper presented a clear overview of the three categories of losing face in Thai context, namely: 1) sia naa, 2) khaay naa, an 3) raksaa naa.

I cannot help linking this topic to the concept of sin sodt which is often not understood well by non-Thais, that include me. Now I have started to understand a little bit why a perceived small sin sodt can bring loss of face to a Thai family!

I have read that some parents of Thai brides have to withdraw from their savings a large amount and make it appear that it's sin sodt given to them by their farang son-in-law. What a farce, you might say!

But probably it is khaay naa which is in operation here. "This is the face one must protect at all cost. It defines who the person is. It is the essence of their dignity and worth."

It must be a loss of face to be relating with people beneath your actual or projected economic or social status.

What do you think?

09-21-2012, 03:51 PM	#8
Yswxomvy Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 523 Senior Member	No not more confused at all, thanks for your comments. Try reading "Cross Cultural Communication; A Topical Paper by Mark Durene (www.apts.edu/jam/7-1/MDurene.pdf).Its from the Journal of Asian Missions. Although it is slanted toward Christian Missionary work (not surprisingly) it is quite informative concerning various aspects of 'face' in Thailand. Grayem, Thanks for the link. The paper presented a clear overview of the three categories of losing face in Thai context, namely: 1) sia naa, 2) khaay naa, an 3) raksaa naa. I cannot help linking this topic to the concept of sin sodt which is often not understood well by non-Thais, that include me. Now I have started to understand a little bit why a perceived small sin sodt can bring loss of face to a Thai family! I have read that some parents of Thai brides have to withdraw from their savings a large amount and make it appear that it's sin sodt given to them by their farang son-in-law. What a farce, you might say! But probably it is khaay naa which is in operation here. "This is the face one must protect at all cost. It defines who the person is. It is the essence of their dignity and worth." It must be a loss of face to be relating with people beneath your actual or projected economic or social status. What do you think?
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