Return PolishForums LIVE
  PolishForums Archive :
Posts by Switezianka  

Joined: 17 Jun 2008 / Female ♀
Last Post: 15 Jul 2009
Threads: -
Posts: Total: 463 / In This Archive: 403

Displayed posts: 403 / page 11 of 14
sort: Latest first   Oldest first
Switezianka   
20 Aug 2008
Love / When do Polish girls consider it an exclusive relationship? [10]

I think it really depends on the woman: her world-outlook, social background, beliefs.

Some girls think kissing is a start of an exclusive relationships, some look for chances for a one night stand in disco. It's really hard to say what the norms are for the whole of Polish society.

If you don't know what a woman assumes, thinks and what is her attitude towards the character of your relationship, the best idea is just to ask her.
Switezianka   
18 Aug 2008
Life / "K*rwa"-why do young Poles find this word so cool ? [67]

This is a wonderful, flexible and colourful word that can express anything the speaker wants.
It can be used as a noun, pronoun, particle, exclamation and conjunction although Polish grammar doesn't allow conversion in any other case.
If it is used without skill and imagination, it does not reveal its potential, but an experienced speaker who speaks Polish tongue with finesse, selecting words with expertise and delicacy like a poet, can make an art of using that word.

There are things which can never be expressed without a "k*rwa". Yes, their basic, literal meaning (denotative) can, of course, be conveyed using other words, but the sincere emotional intensity and the power of expression (connotative meaning) achieved by one, simple "k*rwa" is impossible to reach by means considered polite language by non-imaginative, narrow-minded speakers who use human language only in the simplest manner. To use so sophisticated a tool, one must be an artist to some extent. One must know, where to put "k*rwa" in a sentence, to change a simple statement into a complaint, an expression of anger, sarcasm, joke; to change a flat, lifeless sentence into something that cannot leave the listener unaffected; turn a phrase that would be forgotten in a stream of small talk into something meaningful, powerful, striking and changing the whole character of the conversation.

Yes, k*rwa is like violin: if you don't know how to use it, you just make a terrible noise, but if you have enough skill and inspiration, you can play heavenly music.

Therefore: don't take away our k*rwas from us!
Switezianka   
15 Aug 2008
Language / Names spelling, pronunciation for Grandparents [6]

You don't know what you're asking for...

OK, phonetic spelling:
babcia ['bapt​͡ɕ a]
dziadek ['d​͡ʑadɛk]

Dzidzia is something used by 2-year-olds who can't pronounce words correctly. It's not a 'real' Polish word. It's is pronounced: ['d​͡ʑad​͡ʑa]
Switezianka   
15 Aug 2008
Life / Doda - Nie daj sie [11]

toty, wtf are you talking about?
I'd translate the whole of the lyrics but it's such a crap, that I don't feel like doing it. It's not worth translating.
Switezianka   
15 Aug 2008
Life / Will western traditions eventually impact Polish tradition? [13]

I think it's a shame that young Poles adapt those foreign holidays because Polish ones are much more fun.
For example Noc Kupały (21/22 June) was the traditional, original and Pagan-rooted celebration of love, before Valentine's Day became popular. People gathered by rivers, made bonfires where they burnt herbs, and unmarried girls floated wreaths of flowers with candles attached to them on the rivers. Sometimes young man tried to catch them. Unmarried people went to forests to look for the legendary fern flower. And, of course, it was all a great feast outside, at night. Now, it's replaced by buying some cheesy plastic heart and a box of chocolate.
Switezianka   
11 Aug 2008
Language / Girls names in Polish - why do they end in "a"? [10]

I'll explain you on examples:

a cat - singular
cats - plural
a child - singular
children - plural

When you talk about one thing, it's singular, if more than one, it's plural..

Nominative case is the form of the noun that is used when this noun is the subject of the sentence. You have something similar in English pronouns, e.g. you've got the pronoun "he" in three forms: he, him, his. 'He' is the subjective case form, 'his' is genitive or possesive case form and 'him' is objective case form. Now, each Polish noun, nominal pronoun or adjectives has 7 forms (called cases). Nominal case form is the basic form of the word, so when you ask someone about the name, they will tell it to you in this case.
Switezianka   
10 Aug 2008
Language / Rules about when to use "tegoż" in sentences [4]

You replace "tego" with "tegoż" if you want to sound smarter or more formal ;-) But it comes out pretentious.

But sometimes it's a more emphatic form which means something "this one, not any other".
Switezianka   
10 Aug 2008
Language / Girls names in Polish - why do they end in "a"? [10]

Can anyone elaborate on this?

In Polish "a" is feminine gender marker (in singular nominative) just like "s" in English is a plural marker for nouns. And female names in Polish are always in feminine grammatical gender.
Switezianka   
10 Aug 2008
Travel / Possible film shoot in Lodz, Poland - need advice [17]

A bit of Lodz in film (from Inland Empire by David Lynch

If you are looking for interesting locations in £ódź, I can show you around the place. I live there and I know it well. I can also help as a translator.
Switezianka   
8 Aug 2008
Study / how much does a polish citizen pay to go to school in poland? [10]

I haven't bought a single book connected with my studies throughtout three years. I've got everything I need in my institute library. It's enough to spend some time in the reading room. However, I have to spend some 30-40 zł a month for various photocopies.

, some penalty exams

Why do you assume every students needs to re-take exams?! If you f**ck around all year and remember that you're a student 3 days before the exam - then, yes, you have to pay. But you can study regularly and pass everything on zero and first terms.

and obviously for accommodation, food etc.

You pay for food and accommodation whatever you do, not only when you study.

What's more, if you've got a high średnia (something like GPA), you get a scholarship. In my uni it varies from 250 to 400 zł, depending on your średnia. You can also give private lessons in the subject you study or foreign languages (25-35 zł per hour) and get some odd jobs while you're a full-time student, without the fear that you will be overwhelmed with too much activities.

The conclusion is: the lazier you are, the more you have to pay.
Switezianka   
7 Aug 2008
Language / "Pomagac", "robic" - I know this is wrong can anyone help me? [29]

Does a "y" in Polish not represent what in english would be "s"?

No. Polish has very complicated inflection, English has only some remains of inflection so there is no point looking for any equivalents.

Im learning polish for two months= Uczę się polskiego od dwóch miesięcy.

Here "y" is an ending denoting plural genitive of an inanimate masculine noun, which ends with "ąc" in singular nominative and therefore follows some certain declension pattern.
Switezianka   
7 Aug 2008
Language / "Pomagac", "robic" - I know this is wrong can anyone help me? [29]

miesiący
miesiące.
Whats the difference between the two?

The first one does not exist.

Before you start looking for patterns in Polish inflection, you should be aware of one thing: there are 11 verb conjugation patterns and, like in any language, exceptions. In case of noun declension - you don't want to know.
Switezianka   
7 Aug 2008
Language / I need a good dictionary! (book) [21]

In case a pocket dictionary is not enough, I'll give my recommendations.

Students' and librarians' choice: The Great Oxford-PWN Dictionary
A big, heavy 2 volume (A3, about 1500 pages per volume) monster, also available on a CD:
Polish>English volume - merlin.pl/Wielki-slownik-polsko-angielski-PWN-Oxford/browse/product/1,508004.html
English>Polish volume - merlin.pl/Wielki-slownik-angielsko-polski-PWN-Oxford-okladka-twarda/browse/product/1,297694.html

This inconspicuous-looking little thing (A4, I can't find number of pages but no so thick) only looks very unprofessional but it is useful as hell when it comes to translation.

Collins dictionary by Fisiak - nowela.net/ksiegarnia/opt_showbook/idksiazki_22211/idkat_as

I'd recommend you to get both ;)

And what do you need it for?
Switezianka   
7 Aug 2008
Life / HEAT IN POLAND (with no air-condition) [26]

Why would opening windows help when the temperature outside is 30 C? By letting the hot air in?

I have windows directed at the West, so the sun shines to my windows directly all afternoon and in summer it's a nightmare (and I've got a kind of photofobia to make matters worse).

I have thick, heavy curtains covering all the surface the windows, space blankets \ sewed up to them and I use an electric fan. At night I open all windows wide because the temperature is acceptable.
Switezianka   
6 Aug 2008
Language / Verb patterns 'BYC' [29]

You're welcome, ArcticPaul. I just love showing people scary things ;-)
Switezianka   
6 Aug 2008
Life / Present for Polish friends ~ is anything hard to get any more? [57]

If your friends like gardening you could buy them some fancy gardening device. I guess the choice of this stuff in England is much wider than in Poland.

If they're into books, you can bring them some books in English. English classics can be bought in any Empik, but in paperback, and modern stuff is hardly available in original version (and most Polish translations suck, sorry to say that). So maybe some book in a pretty edition?

Another thing which is probably in larger selection in UK than in Poland is old china, glassware, earthenware etc. Yet, to choose something appropriate youy have to know your friends' taste very well.

As far as children are concerned: in Poland it is hard to get toys in good quality and educational toys (when I had to buy a nice toy for a 5-years-old girl, I had a big problem finding something not stupid, not made of awful pink plastic, to say nothing about any kind of an educational toy. And I looked for it in the second biggest Polish city). But I haven't looked for any toy in UK, so I don't know if it's easier or not.
Switezianka   
6 Aug 2008
Love / Attending a Polish wedding on my own (I'm English) [25]

polishgirltx,
Wouldn't it be funny to take some innocent, defensless foreigner, get him drunk and have a laugh?
It happened once to my friend on a train. Some people coming back from Częstochowa (a pilgrimage?) forced vodka to him and when I met him at the railway station, he could hardly walk. So, why can't they do it during a wedding?
Switezianka   
5 Aug 2008
Love / Attending a Polish wedding on my own (I'm English) [25]

Don't worry, it's going to be fun. Just be assertive, or people will get you drunk to make fun of you.

One tip: don't dress all black. My friend once went to a wedding dressed black. Now, the couple is in conflict and they blame her - they say she brought bad luck into their marriage with those black clothes (lol)
Switezianka   
5 Aug 2008
Language / Verb patterns 'BYC' [29]

I'm only trying to familiarise myself with the different verb patterns

Here are Polish verb conjugation patterns. Click on 'Conjugation tables' in the right window and have fun! grzegorj.w.interia.pl/gram/gram00.html
Switezianka   
5 Aug 2008
Work / Moving to Poland in 3 weeks to study! [30]

there are some who will say that if you actually understand what it is you are learning, rather than just remembering it, you will be one step ahead of your polish course mates

Yes, that's the good way. It guarantees better grades and less work (than those who get worse ones).
Switezianka   
5 Aug 2008
Work / Moving to Poland in 3 weeks to study! [30]

And from what I understand I must prepear myself to work my ass off, not trying to argue with the professors even though I might think I am beeing treated wrong or something like that and to be very efficiant when it comes to planning my reading...

Don't take it too seriously. Of course, you'll have to work your ass off, because this is medicine. But about those unfair evil professors - these are things usually said by students who are either too lazy or not intelligent enough to be prepared properly to classes and exams. Many students think they shoul f*ck around for 5 or 6 years and get a paper in the end, and they don't understand how a professor dares to demand some work from them (to be honest, this is the attitude of most Polish students I know). And yes, the professor aren't too nice for them... But if you work hard and get good grades, you are treated well by your teachers. And if some 'accident' happens so you are not prepared, they'll turn a blind eye to it because you're a good student.

I am hardworking, and I actually enjoy reading about subjects that interests me (medicine in general), so I hope I can use those things to my advantage...

Then you should be OK and get on well with the profs. In Poland students aren't treated equally - you can earn some privileges by good academic performance.