Monday, December 10, 2007

“Thatz” With Attitude

The story below reminded me of something else I’ve been meaning to blog about.  The Chinese word for “that” is “niga,” and it’s pronounced exactly how it’s written:  just like “nigga.” Think about how many times you use the word “that” in a day, it’s got to be hundreds.  All day you hear people saying the word “niga.”

But it gets better.  The word is also used in the same context as “ummm” or “errr” would be in English, as a way of pausing a sentence while you think of what to say next.  Take this English sentence as an example.

“Umm, I don’t know.  Ummm, let me think for a minute.  Errrr, shit, I can’t remember his name!”

In Chinese this would sound something like this.

“Niga niga niga… blah blah blah. Niga niga niga… blah blah.  Niga niga, blah blah blah.”

One of the guys I work with is black.  He pointed this out to me.  Honestly, I never would have made the connection.  It’s damn funny, though.  Maybe it’s why Chinese youth like rap so much, they keep hearing a word they understand.

Update: Lest anyone think I’m making this up…