News / Polish myths. Poland is one of the countries that count in the world. [49]

Stefan,

Sometimes words people write say nothing about the object of these words, but a lot about the author. Your post isn't really about Poland. I think, however, it reveals a lot about your limited knowledge of the subject.

Language / Żeby and Aby, versus in polish [4]


I'm not sure I'd agree.
"zeby" does not sound right here. It should be:

"gdyby nie Tomasz..."

News / Women on the Political Scene in Poland - Women's Party [17]


This is nothing new, and politicians have been doing much worse for centuries. IMO, bending over for big corporations and pimping entire countries the the big corporate interests is worse than showing boobies and such

I'd be glad to join the Polish Party of Women ;-)

History / Ancient Polish History thread [180]


Not true.

Russians live in Russia, while Ukrainians live in Ukraine. While they share predominantly common ancestry, they use different languages, although the Russian language admittedly does sound like a dialect of the Ukrainian language ;-)

Life / "Wrong" Polish music [13]

timekcatkins,

if you can do the one below, everyone will be more than impressed.
The text is very poetic, albeit difficult even for a Polish native speaker.

you can sample it here:

wgb.eps.gda.pl/2vol_03%20Pejzaze%20Harasymowiczowskie.mp3

More songs by the same group:

wgb.eps.gda.pl

UK, Ireland / Is violence in the UK vs Poland natural? [19]

Violence is completely unnatural.

All the wars, misery and death that resulted from religious fighting, colonization, nationalist policies, crusades, theft, jealousy etc, were purely accidental.

UK, Ireland / Is violence in the UK vs Poland natural? [19]

I'm surprised my previous post was taken seriously :D

Life / Sending teabags to Poland as a gift [20]

Funny, my wife brought me tea as a present from Poland.
Don't remember the brand (the tea is gone now), but it was great.

USA, Canada / It's Official... I'm finally moving to Canada... [76]

In Canada, our favorite pastime is paying taxes.

And we do have parties here too. That's the guys who increase our taxes on a regular basis.

News / Made in Poland products? [66]

In Ontario we have a lot of Polish glassware, cookware, some clothing and shoes.

Imported Polish food is available in most super markets and is very popular. Mostly jar stuff and candy. You can get what they call "Polish kolbasa" but it aint Polish at all. For that we go to Polish, German or Russia stores.

Love / Should I come to visit my Polish girlfriend in Poland or not? [26]


sounds kinky, doesn't it?

UK, Ireland / Polish Thoughts on Britain and the British [273]


I wonder why language tuition is free.
I think it should be each person's individual responsibility.

News / Positive features that distinguish Poland from other countries? [63]

First, Poland's population IS larger than the combined population of the other eastern-block countries which joined EU, so the 70% suddenly looks a little less than it seems, doesn't it. (most US and Canadian populations are Brits, are they not patriotic?)

Second, if you know anything about Polish history, just bare bone basics, you'd never even consider thinking about Poles being less patriotic than pretty much any nation you can think of.

Love / Men attitude towards women in the Polish culture [82]

I guess you might want to start with learning about his personal situation. Is he married? Involved? I think that would be gentle enough, and yet revealing to him. Just like you don't want to come across as "the bold American woman", he might be afraid to be perceived as "the bold Polish man".

Oh, and you may want to keep in mind a Polish saying. It deals with a family situation but can be applied outside it: a man is the head of the household, the woman is the neck that controls the head. Try the trick, see where it leads you.

Good luck.

News / My view on Poland's Future [22]


why, did you just lose your job?

Love / Need advice on "vacation friend" from Poland [13]


Define "things"

Life / Some help with lower grader's school project? [4]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland or polishforums.com :)

Love / Desperate future polish housewife (From Brasil) [7]

One good thing is that of all major languages the Portuguese phonological system is the closest Polish. That's like 50% of work out of the way.

OK, maybe 37.3%.

News / Poland 2007 Elections: PO Won, PIS second [232]


As far as I know, there is freedom of religion in Poland.
Is anybody really stopping you from practicing your religion?

News / Third World War and the role of Poland [82]


Indeed, there was no official treaty before the war, but there were promisory agreements struck during WW2.

Oh, and that cute photo of Roosevelt in front of the map of Poland with 1939 borders. But then, it was only an election photo op, with about 6 million Polish voters at stake. These were the voters unaware that Roosevelt had already turned his back on Poland.

So yes, I'd say the USA did sell Poland, or (if you prefer) betrayed it.

Language / Przedstawiam się [24]


It's not your Poznan "conditioning". It's one of the rules in the Polish language, i.e. Udźwięcznienie or sonorization aka voicing. A voiceless consonant becomes voiced if a neighboring consonant is voiced, except for fricatives consonants.

some info on how to tell sounds apart:

1. voice-voiceless
pronounce a sound while holding tips of your fingers against your "Adam's apple". (toes may work too but, I'm told, are less practical). If you feel vibrations then the sound is voiced, otherwise is voiceless. Check it out using "g" vs. "k".

2. fricatives (spolgloski półotwarte)- are sounds which can be continuall pronounce (as long as you have air in your lungs to exhale). Examlpes: sz, z, h, s.

3. Afficates (or stops) are sounds that are produced after a certain amount of air is first compressed and then released suddenly. Examples: k, d, t

so:
"jednakże" is correctly pronounced as "jednagże" because k is not fricative (you can't pronounce it continuously), and ż is voiced.

but

"urosła" will NOT be read as "urozła" , even though ł is voiced, because "s" is a fricatrive, i.e. it CAN be pronounced continuously, so it kinda cancels the voicing influence of ł

The above may be rough on the edges. It's been years and years ago when I had to know these things, but this is pretty much the gist of it.

Love / how do you tell a polish guy he's sexy?? [54]


One could also add: I can also take dictation.

Love / how do you tell a polish guy he's sexy?? [54]

you can praise his weapons and invite him to a shooting range to see his skills

Love / how do you tell a polish guy he's sexy?? [54]

well, if he's a good soldier then eventually you may have to wave a white flag. If you don't have a white flag, be creative and wave whatever comes handy at the spur of the moment ;-)

Love / how do you tell a polish guy he's sexy?? [54]

Sure I can. But there are two issues here:

- you never met me :D
- I've lived outside Poland long enough to not be "offended" by the word sexy

OK, seriously, I kinda have the same problem when a woman tells me I'm sexy, or even handsome. I am handsome (my mom told me 20 years ago, so I know).

How about telling him he's manly. That kinda says he's sexy without much of what he perceives as "gay undertones" Some Amercian women told me that and it was acceptable to me :)

Love / how do you tell a polish guy he's sexy?? [54]


It's not about the meaning of the word. I never felt uncomfortable hearing a girl (or even stating myself) that some guy is handsome. In general, I feel rather uncomfortable receiving that kind of praises, and I gather many other guys may feel the same way.

Love / how do you tell a polish guy he's sexy?? [54]


Nah, you can still convey the meaning, but perhaps by saying what is the effect of his presence. If "sexy" means what I think it does, then why not kill two birds with one stone: "you turn me on" means you think the fella is sexy, and at the same time you declare your full combat readiness ;)

Love / how do you tell a polish guy he's sexy?? [54]


I think you may be missing some subtle points. I'm not sure if I still retained my feel for the Polish language, in my time "sexy" was used mostly in regards to girls.


I find that disturbing :)

Love / how do you tell a polish guy he's sexy?? [54]


Not at all! Rather, not telling that to the person you find attractive.

Love / how do you tell a polish guy he's sexy?? [54]


Now, wouldn't that be sexy! :D