Bondi
18 Jan 2008
Bondi
16 Jan 2008
Life / Must See Movies in Polish? [65]
Another must see "classic" is Nic śmiesznego (Nothing Funny).
Another must see "classic" is Nic śmiesznego (Nothing Funny).
Bondi
28 Dec 2007
Language / How long to get fluent in Polish? [41]
Rosetta Stone is good, basically, but quite a few times I just had to go barmie at the resolution of the pictures. Sometimes it's so bad that you can't see sod all...
On the learning side, the method is good, but it gives you a passive knowledge, rather than an active one. I found that even if I repeat everything loudly, it's quite hard when it comes to writing. I know, Polish is pretty phonetic but it does have its pecularities for a foreign ear. I remember the first time I wanted to put down drzękuję... It sounds quite simple, but gave me a headache first, i.e. "dzienkuje" etc. :))
Rosetta Stone is good, basically, but quite a few times I just had to go barmie at the resolution of the pictures. Sometimes it's so bad that you can't see sod all...
On the learning side, the method is good, but it gives you a passive knowledge, rather than an active one. I found that even if I repeat everything loudly, it's quite hard when it comes to writing. I know, Polish is pretty phonetic but it does have its pecularities for a foreign ear. I remember the first time I wanted to put down drzękuję... It sounds quite simple, but gave me a headache first, i.e. "dzienkuje" etc. :))
Bondi
19 Nov 2007
Language / How do people mispronounce your Polish names? [60]
They just have to shorten and put nicknames on everything in English, anyway, even when there's no real need to. (And no matter if it's British or American.) Even officially, they call themselves Les, Joe, Dave, Harry, Jerry, Ben, Tony... For me, it's a bit funny that the U.S. even had a president simply called "Bill" like an old mate of yours from the local pub. And when they happen to find a foreign name that can't easily be shortened to their liking, they break their tongues in the rush. :)
My name is István [pron. E-SH-T-V-AH-N], which is hard for them to pronounce at first, but as it is quite international, I usually just tell them to call me Steve. Surprising as it is, but quite a few people have realised so far that it is the same name as Steven, Stéphane, Stefan, Stefano, Esteban etc. in different parts of Europe.
Polish people have no problems to say it, btw!! ;)
(P.S. one more classic: I've got a friend named Máté (i.e. Matt), but they just call him "mate"...)
They just have to shorten and put nicknames on everything in English, anyway, even when there's no real need to. (And no matter if it's British or American.) Even officially, they call themselves Les, Joe, Dave, Harry, Jerry, Ben, Tony... For me, it's a bit funny that the U.S. even had a president simply called "Bill" like an old mate of yours from the local pub. And when they happen to find a foreign name that can't easily be shortened to their liking, they break their tongues in the rush. :)
My name is István [pron. E-SH-T-V-AH-N], which is hard for them to pronounce at first, but as it is quite international, I usually just tell them to call me Steve. Surprising as it is, but quite a few people have realised so far that it is the same name as Steven, Stéphane, Stefan, Stefano, Esteban etc. in different parts of Europe.
Polish people have no problems to say it, btw!! ;)
(P.S. one more classic: I've got a friend named Máté (i.e. Matt), but they just call him "mate"...)
Bondi
28 Sep 2007
Language / The final "ę" [29]
Yes, Polish is a soft language, and most of these things simply come down to the voiced/unvoiced assimilation. For instance, try to pronounce the name "Kwiatkowska". You'll naturally say "Kfiatkofska". :)
b=p
d=t
g=k
v=f if "v" is used in foreign word.
d=t
g=k
v=f if "v" is used in foreign word.
Yes, Polish is a soft language, and most of these things simply come down to the voiced/unvoiced assimilation. For instance, try to pronounce the name "Kwiatkowska". You'll naturally say "Kfiatkofska". :)
Bondi
16 Sep 2007
Life / How do Poles spend their free time? [14]
Forgot to mention the most cultivated leisure activity: having a couple of nice Polish beer with your mates. And maybe a few shots of vodka. Or ślivovica, to celebrate our cross-Eastern-European friendship. :)
Forgot to mention the most cultivated leisure activity: having a couple of nice Polish beer with your mates. And maybe a few shots of vodka. Or ślivovica, to celebrate our cross-Eastern-European friendship. :)
Bondi
16 Sep 2007
News / What do the Poles Think about the Polish Politicians? [13]
This seems to be a sad heritage of Eastern-Central-Europe that we can't just simply shake off. For example, the situation is much the same in Hungary (though I'd say it's worse). The media are almost totally under the control of the post-Communists. Instead of the late Soviet Union, they now serve the European Union. Not to mention the conquest of the Arabic countries by the US and Israel (soldiers were sent to fight in Afghanistan and Irak etc.). The current government have the media under control in nearly 100%. They try to oppress everything that does not speak in their favour. Journalists and news-channels are not in any way objective.
I doubt that we could ever shake off this ominous heritage in Eastern-Europe.
Poland has been governed since 1989 by a bewildering kaleidoscope of party groupings, most of which are at least half based on the Soviet-serving Communists.
This seems to be a sad heritage of Eastern-Central-Europe that we can't just simply shake off. For example, the situation is much the same in Hungary (though I'd say it's worse). The media are almost totally under the control of the post-Communists. Instead of the late Soviet Union, they now serve the European Union. Not to mention the conquest of the Arabic countries by the US and Israel (soldiers were sent to fight in Afghanistan and Irak etc.). The current government have the media under control in nearly 100%. They try to oppress everything that does not speak in their favour. Journalists and news-channels are not in any way objective.
I doubt that we could ever shake off this ominous heritage in Eastern-Europe.