Language / The letter combo "ch" and a thing about "ść" [11]

The best way to explain Polish ch pronuncaiton to Brits is to cite the Scottish loch.

Genealogy / Looking for my Jewish Family - Jarmark, Yarmark - from Wojtkowa [5]

I have found 2 localities named Wojtkowa - 1 in NE Poland's Mazowsze region the other in the country's extreme SE corner (Podkarpackie region).You would have to know which one was your family's more likely place of domicile. Otherwise it'll be a stab in the dark.

Genealogy / Looking for my Jewish Family - Jarmark, Yarmark - from Wojtkowa [5]

The Polish word for fair jarmark was borrowed from German Jahrmarkt (annual fair). If the name was spelt Jarmark or Jarmak then it most probably originated on Polish soil

As for Brick, that couild have been a respelling of German Brücke (bridge).
Yiddish (from Jüdisch) is a dialect of German.

Life / Polish Christmas Movies [9]

"Noc św. Mikołąja" of about 10 or 12 years ago with naturszczyk Buczkowski - a comedy about a few prisoners being let out of prison for Christimas to help distribute gifts to orphans.

There are intersting Chrsitmas scenes in other movies including "Katyń". The most imrpessive was that in the film verison of Reymont's "Peasants".

Genealogy / Last name Nahinurk [7]

There is 1 person surnamed Nagórniak living in SE Poland's Zamość area along the Ukrainian border. No-one currently uses the Nahirnuk spelling in Poland.

Genealogy / Last name Nahinurk [7]

Could it have been Nahirnuk? That would be the Ukrainian equivalent of Nagórniak, a patronymic nick meaning the son of the bloke who lives on the hill.

Life / Toilet Signs in Poland and Continental Europe [18]

Hasn't anyoen seen ther M and D (męska - damska) letters on public loos in Poland? That syncs with the German Männer - Damen and French Messieurs - Dames.

Language / Dostał buta - genitive / accusative [25]

To Krysia: In some cases using the -u as a nominative may reflect a laid-back style and be used for light-hearted or humorous effect. But both in Poland and even in States I have encountered Polish families where Jasiu, Stachu, Zdzichu, Zbychu, etc. were the nornmal colloquial forms of the nominative (Zdzichu przyjechał) with no comic effect intneded.

My question to you or any other lingo-savvy PF-er is whether that phenomenon is characteristic of a certain region of Poland.

Genealogy / Family Name Iwanowski [3]

Iwan is the Russo-Ruthenian equivalent of Jan (John). Iwanowski may have been a patronymic nick but more likely than not it originated as a toponymic one from some palce called Iwanów, Iwanowo, Iwanowa or the like (roughly translatable of Jonhston or Ivanville).

Typical patronymic nicks would include Iwański, Iwańczyk, Iwańczuk and Iwanowicz.

Language / The Dative Case [62]

Merged: -u ending in dative of masc. sing. nouns

The few masc. nouns, usually the oldest and most basic ones in meaning, that have -u in dative singular are: ojciec, brat, Bóg, pies, diabeł and czart. Know of any others?

What about kot? One sometimes hears both kotu and kotowi.

USA, Canada / Any Polish high schools in Chicago/Chicago area... [12]

I have heard of St Ferdinand's Polish Catholic High School in Chicago, but I presume all the instruction is in Polish. Check into it, however, to make sure.

Genealogy / Smolanaj Poland, Manderewicz Surname and Location Help [6]

Back in the 1920s a great many rural Poles were illiterate or semi-literate, meaning they could read and write but were very shaky about spelling, grammar, etymology, etc., so confusing individual letters is not inconceivable.

Maybe it was Mendelewicz. If so the root would have been mendel (15 pieces), from German but used in Poland since the 14th century. Once used as Anglos use a dozen for eggs, apples, etc. There was also a mendel chłopski (peasant's mendel) which counted 16 (like the English 'baker's dozen' - an extra one thrown in for good measure).

Mandelewicz would have as its root Mandel (German or Yiddish for almond) or a Yiddish form of the Hebrew name Menachem.
Note: I am not suggesting your family is Jewish. I am simply trying to conduct a purely linguistic analysis with what little I've got to work with.

Genealogy / Goralczyk and meaning of czyk [14]

Chicago is the 'second Zakopane'!

Genealogy / Smolanaj Poland, Manderewicz Surname and Location Help [6]

The spelling you gave cannot be found. There is a locality in former German East Prussia which the Gemrans called Schmolainen. In Polish it is Smolajny or Smoljajny, and in Russian - Смоляйны. In the Podlasie region there are 2 places called Smolany. Smolanaj might conveivably be the Lithuanian version of one of the above or some former Polish locality that now is in Lithuania.

No-one in Poand currently uses the Manderewicz surname. Could it have been Mendelwicz (10 users)? That would mean "son of Mendel" (probably a Jewish patronymic surname).

Food / Whatever happened to gęsina? [6]

Unfortunately, nur für Deutsche!

Genealogy / NESGOTA or NEZGOTA - Do I have this name correct? [3]

There is one person in Poland caleld Nezgoda and more thna 5,000 who spell it Niezgoda.
Niezgoda means disharmony, disagreement, etc.

USA, Canada / How do I reach any Polish in Chicago looking to rent a room? [9]

Try: polonia.net/ogloszenia/mieszkanie-do-wynajecia.cfm?category=Mieszkania%20w%20Chicago

Genealogy / Polish and Slavic too(?) [7]

Yes, this is an American thing. I finally got off my bum and did a bit of Googling. This may be of interest. It deals with the local culture of Pennsylavnia immihtnat coalminers iof various nationalities in the early 19th and 20th centuries. A brief fragment ocntaining a reference to Slavisch:

Irish -- Lace Curtain vs Shanty: The shanty variety was a penniless immigrant. He/she became Lace Curtain when he got himself situated and began to get a decent wage.

Slavisch: Or Slovish. Or Slawvish. A variation on Slavic. What the local Irish, Italians, everybody not of Slavic descent, (and even some of those) called the Slovak, Ukrainian, and Byzantine churches. Or called the Slovak and Rusyn peoples.

Italian Police Dog: (Hazleton only) -- A goat, Billy, or Nanny.
Cat Eater: (Hazleton again). Irreverent Italian name for Tyroleans.
Tiroler: Hazleton Tyrolean for 'Tyrolean'.

users.erols.com/sfpayer/CoalR/commcoalr.htm

Genealogy / Polish and Slavic too(?) [7]

I know it's hard to get my idea across. This is not a question of intellecual discourse but common street talk by ordinary people. So like the quoted chap said he'd only just learnt from his uncle he had Polish roots AND SLAVIC ONES TOO. Does that not suggest that Slavic here is being treated as something separate.

No-one would say he's got Dutch roots and Germanic ones too, would they?

Life / IS IT MY NAME DAY IN POLAND TODAY....? [73]

Janusz started out as a hypocoristic (endearing) form of Jan, but already by as early as the 12th century it began functioning as a separate name. It was probably reinforced by Hunagrian Janos (John) which came into Poland via Bohemia (Czech Janoš).

pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janusz

Life / Son's First birthday - Poland tradition celebration? [3]

An old Polish tradition on the 1st birthday is to set the baby on a carpeted floor. Round him/her should be equidistantly arranged: a book, a banknote, a rosary and a vodka glass (kieliszek). The thing the baby reaches for first is supposed to foretell its future (intellectual, business tycoon, priest/nun or drunk). Naturally it's all tongue in cheek but it does provide the family with a bit of diversion.

Language / 'Gateway' slavic language? [54]

What about Sorbian (aka Wendish or Lusatian)? Lord's Prayer seems no more difficult than in Kashubian.

Wótèe naš (Upper Sorbian)

Wótèe naš, kiž sy w njebjesach.
Swjeć so Twoje mjeno.
Přińdź Twoje kralestwo.
Stań so Twoja wola, kaž na njebju, tak na zemi.
Wšědny chlěb naš daj nam dźens.
Wodaj nam naše winy, jako my tež wodawamy swojim winikam.
A njewjedź nas do spytowanja,
ale wumóž nas wot złeho.
(Přetož Twoje je kralestwo a móc a sława na wěki)
Amen.

Wóśce nas (Lower Sorbian)
Wóśce nas, kenž sy na njebju,
wuswěśone buź Twójo mě;
pśiź k nam Twójo kralejstwo;
Twója wóla se stań
ako na njebju, tak teke na zemi.
Wšedny klěb naš daj nam źinsa,
a wódaj nam naše winy,
ako my wódawamy swójim winikam.
A njewjeź nas do spytowanja
ale wumóž nas wót togo złego,
Pśeto Twója jo to kralejstwo a ta móc a ta cesć do nimjernosći.
Amen.

Genealogy / What nationality is Slavic? [23]

As far as I know, all were US-born.