Language

Style of writing

The language of the short story “Only You Farang Are So Easy to Come and Leave” written by Mai Nardone is simple and easy to follow.

Even though the action is set in Thailand, only a few Thai words appear in the text. The most important of these is “farang” (l. 64). The word is important because it emphasises the idea of prejudices and cultural and language barriers in the parents’ relationship and communication.

The choice of words reveals a preference for descriptive adjectives in relation to the characters and setting: “new territory” (l. 6),  “wholly white girl” (l. 11), “gray dust” (l. 32), “vacant home” (l. 55), “simple tomato sauce” (l. 70), “charming, Parisian place” (l. 88), “blue piping scaffolds” (l. 127). An offensive slang phrase –  “curry cunt” (l. 15) – is used to suggest how teenagers sometimes speak and how they also tend to discriminate their peers at the international school.

Various descriptive passages help introduce the setting such as: “The view was of the twin building. Graffiti was the only embellishment, and inky swamps had formed in what had been intended to be private, balcony pools” (ll. 59-61); “The pasta, angel hair, was coiled elaborately, dressing up its simple tomato sauce” (ll. 69-70). This helps readers to imagine where and how the action takes places.

There are many dialogue passages that let the character...