Chhut-tû ê tiám-siaⁿ

[Ah-bin]

Now that I told everyone important, I think that's sufficient. I've edited it out now! Thanks again for all the messages of support below!

[AndrewAndrew]

Hi Ah Bin, good to have you back on the forum. I've been thinking of you recently because of your Penang Hokkien dictionary project - I hope now you can finish it and publish it under your new name!

You must know that Penang being so close to southern Thailand we are very used to this kind of thing?

Best wishes.

A.

[Mark Yong]

Hi, Ah-bin,

Those of us who have been regulars on the Forum for a few years, know you as Ah-bin, the self-taught Hokkien-speaking ang-moh who also happens to be pretty deft at Classical Chinese and a host of other Asian languages, and one who has contributed immensely to the Forum.

The few of us who have had the pleasure of meeting you in real life (and if I may speak for them), know you as Ah-bin, a person who not only possesses both profound Sinitic knowledge and understanding as demonstrated on the Forum, but is also decent, good-natured and eloquent as a person in the flesh (and if I may add, one who has had the broad-mindedness to keenly explore other cultures). Last I checked, a decent, good-natured and eloquent personality knows neither caste, creed nor gender.

Unless in the past year or so, you have done a 180° turn and morphed into a first-class asshole (and we have encountered one or two around here, haven't we? ), let me just say that everything else is of no consequence.

Welcome back to the Forum, we look forward to your continued contributions, and we look forward to seeing your long-awaited Penang Hokkien Dictionary hit the press.

With warmest regards,
Mark

[niuc]

Hi Ah-bin / 紅毛Cathy!

I second what Andrew and Mark wrote above. You are our precious friend always, nothing change in this aspect.

May this Christmas season bring joy to all of us!

[SimL]

Hi Ah-bin,

Congratulations on your announcement to all of us.

I should also congratulate you on your linguistic creativeness in coining the phrase "chhut-tû ê tiám-siaⁿ". Obviously, this will be useful for Hokkien speakers in all sorts of contexts, not just the TS or TG one.

And I don't mean just the LGBT-context either! Some of us can "chhut-tû" as purists or prescriptivists, or even - as in my case - as (gasp!) a supporter of simplification !

But, jesting aside - thank you for your courageous move in sharing this aspect of your life with the entire Forum. As you can see, the news has been received with overwhelmingly positive and supportive responses.

Welcome back! I certainly look forward to lots more conversations with you in the future about Hokkien.

[Ah-bin]

I am so grateful for all your lovely supportive comments! I don't know why I was so nervous, but it had been playing on my mind for a while. I have had a lot of difiiculties over the last year, but things will only get better from now on!

The Hokkien dictionary will still be going ahead, even though I've only collected one word since last time, and doing quite a bit of work on Thai while I can. It goes in fits and starts at the moment.

I am finding all sorts of amazing things as i learn, like Kheek for "guest". I can;t work out when it was borroed, from Teochew or early contact in the period I studied. Hok for six s also interesting...but I'll have more time to explain about that later.

Looking forward to posting more VERY soon. I've been having afew good times with Teochew here.

[amhoanna]

Ah-bin, kionghí. Ce cinnià bô kántoaⁿ ·ê ·ne. Bāng lí· kèsio̍k tiàmtī· cia, kèsio̍k piàⁿ Hokkiàn.

"Polêthiaⁿ, polêcú, poecûnpo·", ciah'ê gí·sû lí· siu ah boē?

[Ah-bin]

Thanks so much to all of you! As you can see, now I am up and posting again....and soon i'll start collecting word for the dictionary again as well!

[aokh1979]

Hello !

How can I not come back and say something ? Cathy, you have always been one of the most motivating people to me for Penang Hokkien. Welcome back !


Regards,
Ah Long

[Ah-bin]

Very kind of you, Ah-long! Thank you!