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Posts by Polonius3  

Joined: 11 Apr 2008 / Male ♂
Warnings: 1 - Q
Last Post: 9 Apr 2018
Threads: Total: 980 / In This Archive: 289
Posts: Total: 12275 / In This Archive: 906
From: US Sterling Heigths, MI
Speaks Polish?: yes
Interests: Polish history, genealogy

Displayed posts: 1195 / page 31 of 40
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Polonius3   
26 Oct 2008
Life / HUMOROUS POLISH TOASTS [19]

THERE ARE MANY HUMOROUS TOASTS IN POLISH INCLUDING:
-- No to chlup w głupi dziób!
-- Chluśniem bo uśniem!
-- Zdrowie pięknych pań oraz mojej żony (solenizantki, jubilatki, etc.)!
-- Jan Sebastian BACH!
-- Cztery kąty a piec piąty!
Know any others?
Polonius3   
26 Oct 2008
Food / Polish Ham - How to? [45]

I thought south-side Milwaukee was a Polish stronghold? What about such Wisconsin localities as Green Bay, Polonia, Pulaski, Superior and Wausaukee, not to mention Stevens Point??
Polonius3   
26 Oct 2008
Life / POLISH CULTURAL DIFFERENCES [6]

These questions may show the difference between certain Polish cultural notions and practices from those of some (although not all) other countries:
1. When you nail a good-luck horseshoe up over a doorway, does it hang open-end up or down?
2. What does tracing a small circle on one's forehead mean?
3. If you are a male and are greeting a married couple, whom to you greet first?
4. When do most youngsters fly kites -- in spring or autumn?
5. On which hand do married couples wear their wedding bands?
6 When do you ordinarily eat your main meal of the day?
7. Are you familair with the saying "Nie przez próg!" and when would it be uttered?
8. What does snapping one's neck with one's finger mean?
Polonius3   
25 Oct 2008
Language / DIALECTS IN POLAND? [28]

Do Masurians masurianise (mazurzą) any more than speakers of other peasant dialects? How many (what percentage of) Masuriann are natives and how many are influx popualtion from the east?
Polonius3   
25 Oct 2008
Language / COMAPRISONS WITH 'JAK' (eg pijany jak szewc) [3]

Pijany jak szewc is translated with the ironic English sober as a judge.
How about: bystry jak woda w sraczu! (Untranslatable?)
Anyone know these?
Głupi jak but z lewej nogi.
Stary jak świat.
Spieszyć się jak na czyn społeczny.
Polonius3   
25 Oct 2008
Language / PURE KASHUBIAN/PURE CANADIAN? [NEW]

When we speak of dialects we should also take into accoumt their interaction with the standard language issuing forth from the media, schools, official circle, peer groups, etc. As a result the dialect as it is used on a daily basis gradually becomes diluted.

Dunno if there are any Canadians on this forum, but I wonder if any Ontarians speak "full Canadian", ie incorproate all the features distinguishing Ontarian/Canadian English from Yankee speak to the south. This would inlcude:

-- pronouncing ou as a long ago: abote instead of about
-- against and again rhyming with gain rather then gen
-- schedule pronounced as shedule rather than skedule
-- short o in pot not pronounced like ah as in Yankee paht
-- lieutenant pronounced leftenant

The same holds for Góral and Kashubian in Poland. As for whether Kashuibian is a dialect or a language (army or no!?), here is a sample. How well do native speakers of Polish understand this text? It is much easier because most Poles are familiar with the Gospel acounts in their own language. If this were a totally alien text the difficulty would doubtless be greater:

DZEJANJÈ W GALILEJE

Póczątk dzejanjigò

14 Czej Jan òstôł zamkłi w sôdze, Jezës òdszed do Galileje i tam przëpòwjôdôł Bòżą Ewanjeljã. 15Prawjëł: «Dokònôł sã ju czas i na­deszło królestwò Bożé. Nawrócëta sã i ùwjerzëta w Ewanjeljã».

Zawezwanjé pjerszëch ùcznjów

16Czej szed kòle Galilejszczigò mòrzëca, ùzdrzôł Szimona i Andrze­ja, Szimonowigò brata, jak w mòrzëcu stôwjelë jadra, bò bëlë rebôkama. 17Jezës jim rzek: «Pòjta za mną, zdzejóm, że mdzeta rëbôkama lëdzi». 18Tak zarë òdłożëlë jadra i rëszëlë za Njim.

19A czej szed jesz dali, ùzdrzôł Zebedeùszowigò sëna, Jakùba i jegò brata, Jana, jak w czôłnje narządzelë jadra. 20Jëch téż zawezwôł. Tak ònji òstawjelë swòjigò òjcã, Zebedeùsza, z najątima w czôłnje i rëszëlë za Njim.

Wëbawjenjé òsamãtanigó

21Tak przëszlë do Kafarnaùm. Zarë w szabat wszed do bóżnjicë i naùczôł. 22A bëlë ònjemjałi Jegò nôùką, bò jëch pòùczôł jak nen, co mô mòc, a nji jak ùczałi w Pjismje. 23A béł prawje w jejëch bóżnjicë òsamãtani człowjek òd njëchlëdnigò dëcha, co zaczął wewrzeszczëwac: «Ceż chcesz òd naji, Nazareńszczi Jezë? Przëszed jes naji znjikwjëc. 24Jô wjém, chto Të jes: Swjãti Bòżi». 25A Jezës gò zgromjił i rzek: «Anji mùk, wiñdzë z ne człowjeka». 26Tej njechlëdni dëch zaczął gò szarpac, zakrzik gromjistim głosa i ùszed z nje. 27A wszëtce òstamjelë i gôdelë mjidzë sobą: «Co to je? Jakôs nowô nôùka z mòcą, że njechlëdnim dëchóm rozkôziwô i są Mù ùsłëszni?» 28I wnetk sã roznjosło ò Njim wszãdze w całi Galilejszczi krôjnje.

Doma ù Pjotra

29Pò wiñdzenjim zez bóżnjicë szlë zarë z Jakùbã i Jana dodóm do Szimona i Andrzeja. 30Starka Szimona leża w ògrôszce i zarë Mù ò nji rzeklë. 31Tak pòdszed do nji, a wzął jã za rãkã i pòdnjós, a ògrôszka ùstąpja i jima ùsługòwa.

Wjele ùzdrowjenjów

32Ob sëmrok, czej słuńce zaszło, znôszelë do Nje wszëtczëch, co chòrzelë i bëlë òsamãtani, 33a całé mjasto bëło kòle dwjérzów. 34Wjele wëlékòwôł, co bëlë zległi wszelejaczima chërama, i wjele czartów pòwënëkôł, le nje zwòleł njechlëdnim dëchóm gôdac, jiże wjedzałë, chto Òn je.

W òkòlim Kafarnaùm

35Nad renã, jesz szaro bëło, wstôł i wëszed na pùstã i tam sã mòdlëł. 36Za Njim przëszed Szimon i ti, co z Njim bëlë. 37Czej Gò nalezlë, rzeklë Mù: «Wszëtcë Ce ùzérają». 38Le Òn jima òdrzek: «Pòjmë gdze jindze do sedlëszczów w òkòlim, żebë i tam jem móg przëpòwjadac, kò na to jem przëszłi». 39I biwôł w całi Galileje, naùczôł w jejëch bóżnjicach i wënëkiwôł czartów.
Polonius3   
25 Oct 2008
Genealogy / How to change my Americanized last name to my real (Polish) last name? [23]

A few decades ago there was a Wisconsin politician Okoński (from the word okoń or perch, a fish species), who chanegd it to O'Konsky. I guess he was after the Irish-American vote as well.

By the time the huge masses of Polish immigrants began streaming into America (1870-1900), many Irish had already made it to some extent. They weren't as high up as the Mayflower-type WASPs to be sure, but there was Clancy the cop, firemen, innkeepers, retailers, celrks, even some local politicians, etc. at a time when Poles were at the very bottom. Also the Irish spoke English -- a major boost to their climb.
Polonius3   
23 Oct 2008
Language / DIALECTS IN POLAND? [28]

To what extent are you native speakers of Polish aware of dialects or dialectic pronunciation and/or vocabulary in today's Poland? For instance:
-- pyrki, grule, ziemniaki and kartofle for potato
-- the jezdem, widzieliźmy and czy (instead of trzy) in the Kraków area
-- the śledziowanie of Podlasie (very soft almost Russian-like pronunciation of ś, ć and ź
-- the Silesian dialect
-- the Góral dialect
-- Others...
Not to mention Kashubian which some regard as a separate language in its own right.
Do you hear people speaking this way? Is it considered socially acceptable? How do speakers of standard Polish react to it: with interest, amusement, disgust or indifference?
Polonius3   
22 Oct 2008
Food / MIÓD PITNY = MEAD / dwojniak - trojniak [13]

The Vikings appreciated the honey wines they learn to make from the Slavonic Pomeranians, forerunners of today's Poles, and the name itslef betrays its slavonic roots (Polish miód, Muscovite myod).

Have any of you ever tried it? It ranges from a syrupy herbal-flavoured półtorak, similar in taste to a sweet vermouth, to czwórniak and even piątak (one part honey to five parts water) which can be on the dry side.
Polonius3   
22 Oct 2008
Life / Wedkarski (fishing/angling) questions in Poland [7]

Many Brits are surprised that Polish anglers fish mainly for coarse sepcies (carp, bream, roach, tench, rudd, bleak, pike, etc.) and actually eat them rather than catch and release. I don't know whether walleyes and eels are also regarded as coarse in Britain. Seems the Anglos recognise only trout and salmon, and they're missing a lot.
Polonius3   
22 Oct 2008
News / Polish economy, the US Dollar, the PLN and the Polish real estate bubble. [25]

Independent foregn and Polish analysts are now lowering predicitons for Poland's GDP growth from the government's 4.8% to 3,7-4%, but that still isn't bad considering Germany is expecting almost zero growth.

Polish banks did not offer some of the "modern" (ie risky) financial instruments hence the mortgage crunch is not really a problem. Poles' conservativism, lambasted by some as being bad, in this case was a blessing. About 10% of home purchases in Poland involve mortgages as against 40-50% in ther EU and up to 70% in the states.
Polonius3   
21 Oct 2008
News / US DOLLAR = 2.47 on 2 Oct 2008? [54]

Thread attached on merging:
$1 = 2.72 Z£

Today, 2lst October 2008, the złoty has dropped in value to 2.72 to the USD.
That is good news for outsiders coming to Poland, since their greenbacks will go a long way (last summer the USD dipped below 2 zł). But it is bad news for Poles who used to travel to the US for comparatively cheap computer and photo equipnment, bikes and even cars.

Anyone got a clue where this is all going? Will the dollar or złoty become stronger over the next six months?
Polonius3   
21 Oct 2008
Language / Friend, mate, workmate, pal, true love, passing acquaintance... [24]

Thread attached on merging:
RELATIONSHIPS IN POLISH

Does Polish distinguish between and have good equiavelents for the following:
-- girlfriend
-- fiancée
-- partner
-- live-in lover
--common-law wife
Does one become a fiancée after a zaręczyny -- engagement party attended by both sides' parents, siblings, godparents and close friends or is this just a turn of phrase? Do those living out of wedlock have to have children to be regarded as common-law spouses?
Polonius3   
21 Oct 2008
Language / EATING OUT & SOCIO-LINGUSITICS in POLAND [5]

Socio-linguistics is a branch of language science that focuses on the societal and cultural functions of language. Things that appear to be the same do not necessarily mean the same. One example is the term "eating out" which has sometimes been translated as "stołowanie się na mieście". But the cultural implications are quite different. In the West, eating out is synonymous for many with a higher standard of living, whilst in more familiocentric Poland a person who "stołuje się na mieście" may evoke pity as a unloved old bachelor, poor widower or other lonely single with no family and no home-cooked meals to come home to and therefore forced to take his meals amongst strangers. This particular example may now be changing, as yuppydom gradually takes over, and restaurants are elevated to the rank of culinary temples.

Another example is the word przedmieście -- in America suburbia is usually associated with comfortable middle-class living away from city-centre commotion and congestion. In Poland and elsehwere in Europe, this term often evokes images of grimy industrial suburbs, although luxury residential suburbs also exist.
Polonius3   
21 Oct 2008
Food / COUSINS OF PIEROGI? [5]

Apart from pierogi, which have been called filled dumplings, dough pockets and Polish ravioli in English, there is a fairly large family of other Polish dumplings, doughballs and noodles. These include:

KNEDLE: filled or unfilled cooked-potato dumplings (plum-filled ones are esp. nice)
KOPYTKA: a type or unfilled cooked-potato dumpling
PYZY: raw grated or raw grated & cooked potato balls, filled or unfilled
KARTACZE: large raw grated potato dumplings typical of Podlasie
KLUSKI K£ADZIONE: unfilled egg-batter dumplings
Do any of these sound familiar? Any favourite recipes or ways of eating them?
Polonius3   
21 Oct 2008
Food / PIERÓG LUBELSKI = BUCKWHEAT PIE? [10]

Has anybody ever sampled this dish, typical of the Lublin region, up into Podlasie and south into what is now called Sub-Carpathia? It is a kind of loaf filled with a mixture of buckwheat groats, potatoes and crumbled curd cheese. A pinch of ground mint leaves is added by some for flavouring. It is very nice but for those not accustomed to the hearty, nutty, dusky flavour of buckwheat -- it might take some getting used to.
Polonius3   
20 Oct 2008
Food / Polish food secret recipes [11]

I once had an experience with someone's kotelty mielone. Nobody could figure out why they were so nice. Like all mielone, they were made with mince, milk-soaked bread rolls, fried onion, but there was something enhancing their flavour no-one could put their finger on. It turned out the cook added a teaspoon or 2 prepared mustard to the mince mixture. Not enough to make them taste mustardy, only to produce a richer, fuller, more rounded and deeper-tasting end product. It was a secret in that the cook revealed this only after quite some time and under pressure.
Polonius3   
20 Oct 2008
Food / KOŁDUNY, ANYONE? [2]

Anyone ever had kołduny, a type of pierogi from the Polish-Lithuanian borderlands filled with miced raw lamb seasoned wtih garlic and marjoram. These are served in a bowl of hot broth.

How about lentil-filled pierogi -- a speciality of NE Poland's Podlasie region?
Both are very nice but not too widely known outside their traditional stomping grounds.
Polonius3   
20 Oct 2008
History / Where did the stereotype of Polish people being stupid come from? [131]

Hey Śledź,
In American slang a "pig" can be a cop or a male chauvinist or an ugly girl (Polish: pasztet). College frats used to hold "pig parties" whetere everyone came with the ugliest date they could find. This had nothing to do with Cuba but was deliberately anti-Polish. Since the concept Bay of Pigs was heard constantly in the media back then, some stand-up comic of er, um, let's say Albanian background put two and two together and presto: another "witty" (!?) Pollack joke.
Polonius3   
20 Oct 2008
Genealogy / Tomasz, Maryla Wicha or Wiecha - Finding Relatives who lived in Krakow in the 70's [4]

The Information Access Dept (Wydział Udostępniania Informacji) of Poland's Interior Ministry has on file the names and addresses of all living Poles adn those who have died since 1990. These are available on request providing the sought-after party gives their consent (you know, all this data and privacy protection nonsense we've got nowadays!)

Their address is:
ul. Domaniewska 36/38
02-672 Warsaw
tel. (48 22) 601-1839. They probably purposely do not list an e-mail address so as not to be swamped with e-enquiries.
Polonius3   
20 Oct 2008
History / Where did the stereotype of Polish people being stupid come from? [131]

Strictly an American thing!!! Some examples: What is a Polish seven-course meal? -A pound of kiełbasa and a sixpack! What do you call a swimming pool in which Polish girls are swimming? - A Bay of Pigs! (this may not be understood by those who don't rememebr the 1960 US-Soviet standoff over Cuba). How can you tell the bride and groom at a Polish wedding? - They're the only one wearing clean bowling shirts....etc., etc. an nauseam & ad absurdam....
Polonius3   
20 Oct 2008
News / WAŁĘSA'S LATEST BOOK [7]

Polish super-hero Lech Wałęsa has unveiled his latest book, "Wałęsa: Road to Truth". It comes in response to an earlier book by two historians that alleges he was a communist secret-police informer in the 1970s. Wałęsa calls the latter "a bunch of lies".
Polonius3   
20 Oct 2008
History / Where did the stereotype of Polish people being stupid come from? [131]

Jookes tagretiing diofferent ethnic groups have been as American as apple pie in a multi-ethnic coutnry such as the USA. There were jokes about kikes, dagos, N-words, bohunks, hunkies, krauts, scandihoovians, ukies, camel jockeys, frogs, cannucks, spics, you name it, and Pollack jokes were simply one of many crazes that came and went. Then came the 1968 anti-Semitic purge by Poland's communists. American stand-up comics and otehr entertainers(largely of a certain ethnic persuasaion) couldn't get very well back at Poland's commie regime, so they struck out at Polish Americans who were closest at hand. Proof of this is the fact that such terms as beer, sixpacks, bowling, bingo, etc, (American blue-collar things haivng absolutely nothing to do with Poland) were the stock in trade of such humour. This preoccupation wtih Poles artificially entrenched the Pollack joke, whilst other forms of ethnic humour became politically incorrect.
Polonius3   
19 Oct 2008
Life / 90-DAY VISA-FREE STAYS IN POLAND? [19]

I have heard of this being done, ie stepping over the border and returning. My question is whether this is 100% legal, or do the Polish authorities simply turn a blind eye to such goings-on? And I wonder how widespread this is. Anybody on this forum ever do this?
Polonius3   
19 Oct 2008
Life / 90-DAY VISA-FREE STAYS IN POLAND? [19]

If someone from a non-EU country comes to Poland without needing a visa, he/she may stay 90 days without any formalitieis. When that period is ending, does it suffice to cross the border into Ukraine and return straightaway for a new 90-day visa-free stay to start ticking? Can this be done indefinitely?
Polonius3   
19 Oct 2008
History / Poland's National Heros [17]

Nobody has mentioned Lech Wałęsa who has only just been admitted to the 12-member Group of Wisemen (over President Kaczyński's objections) which are to ponder and help map out the road the EU is to follow in the years ahead.
Polonius3   
19 Oct 2008
Life / UNSHAVEN BUM LOOK - STILL POPULAR in POLAND? [15]

Isn't there anybody who regularly circulates in and/or scrutinises Polish yuppy, macho and wannabee circles who can answer the original quesiton: is the five-day growth still popular or is it declining or what?