UK, Ireland / Polish opinion of England as a country and the English nation [64]


Don't worry - I know you never said that. I thought I'd just chip that in there.


Here you either get those that love or those that hate.
It's a shame that the representation here comes across as so polarised.

UK, Ireland / Polish opinion of England as a country and the English nation [64]


True.
Most of us aren't out of control.


Can there be a little bit more staying on topic?

As I'm not Polish, it is not for me to comment, other than to pass on opinions of Polish people I know or have known.

Most of these opinions, when put in front of me, have been fairly indifferent.

Language / I want to learn Polish. Where to start? [180]

There are Polish words that come from French.
French was THE language to learn a couple of hundred years ago.

English borrowed a lot then, but it had already borrowed a lot from the Norman era.

Warranty / Guarantee - the first one was from Old Norman French, the second from early Modern French.

Some Polish words from French:
plaza < Fr. plage - beach
ekran < Fr. ecran - screen (related to the English word too, I think)

I also like
usatysfakcjonowanowac
indywidualnie (there is a wy... word from this that's even better, but I don't know how to spell it)

Language / I want to learn Polish. Where to start? [180]


Agree.

One example I heard was an Essex man who started talking like an Italian. Part of this was because his stroke affected movement in his tongue and he started pronouncing t and d in the Mediterranean style. Beyond that, strange things do happen.

I don't recommend intentional self-imposed brain-damage as a language-learning tool.

Language / I want to learn Polish. Where to start? [180]


Some knowledge of French comes from knowing English quite well.
I did a bit of French at school, which would help if I was inclined to take it up again.
This can help as a gateway to any of the Latin-derived languages.
German does look difficult - English is a bit too different.
I imagine that if I were to suddenly switch to trying to learn say, Czech instead, the knowledge I have of Polish would give me a head-start.

Language / I want to learn Polish. Where to start? [180]


They're all difficult - even the easy ones.


Maybe. If you start by learning by ear, the pronunciation is not particularly difficult.
But then, I'm quite good at putting on different accents, doing impressions of people and so on.

Language / I want to learn Polish. Where to start? [180]


I started by asking how to say this or that, then mimicking what I heard, then trying to piece things together, often havin gmy grammar corrected. Swearing and being (jokingly) offensive was my strong point, along with asking my colleagues to go there, sweep this, tie that up...

So I was speaking some Polish before the book(s).


A bit. I've gone over lessons 1 to 5 in the better one of the book quite a few times. I have found that any book will be better used in combination with trying to actually use the language as well.

But the honest answer is yes, but only a bit. That's more of a reflection on the effort I have been putting in for the last couple of months.

Language / I want to learn Polish. Where to start? [180]

It took me a long time to get onto books.
The first one was Teach Yourself Polish by M. Corbridge-Patkaniowska, published by the English Universities Press in 1964.
It delves into a different grammatical area with each short chapter. It is old-fashioned but I like it.
I also have a much more modern one I picked up. It is rubbish, yet in one of the more popular series' of language course books.

But the way I started was learning a handful of phrases for a holiday a few years ago,
followed by learning a load of stuff by ear from workmates. It was only when I was given that first book that I got an idea of how bizarre the spelling system looks.


4 weeks of learning, followed by a lifetime of fluency!

Language / I want to learn Polish. Where to start? [180]

Dzień dobry is as good a place to start as any. Pronounced Jen Dobry (short 'ee' at the end), it means Good Day or Hello.

You can say this to the Polish person working in the bookshop where you buy one of the many books that let you know just how difficult it is.

My technique has been to learn it off Polish people at work.

Off-Topic / PF - The Omnibus Edition [1502]


more or less.

Off-Topic / PF - The Omnibus Edition [1502]


You get so much more in a broadsheet.

Off-Topic / PF - The Omnibus Edition [1502]


Anyone need any grapes crushing or action men wrestling?

category: 1%

Off-Topic / PF - The Omnibus Edition [1502]

If I knew that was coming, you'd have saved me hours of being here.

Life / Famous Polish music and musicians [48]


The Three Colours sountracks are very good.


I never remember the names of the artists, but I have an LP of Polish Jazz.
It is also very good. It kicks the arse of the Czech and Russian jazz compilations I have.

Language / Polish Lessons Units [189]


I can stop holding my breath now.
Welcome back and thanks again.

I notice the L in jablko being pronounced.
I've not heard this before.
Should I learn it this way or take the usual shortcut?

News / What's the stupidest question asked about Poland? [414]

Does everyone in Poland live in flats?
I heard not so long ago.


If you do have a car with the driver's seat on the other side to everyone else,
get a large dog (Owczarek Podhalanski, for example) to sit by your side on the passenger seat.
Then try to make it look as if you are not the one doing the driving.

USA, Canada / What do Polish people think of the USA [287]


.. there - on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Unless you're there, in which case it's here.

News / What's the stupidest question asked about Poland? [414]


Michal finished, and they all lived happily ever after.

But...


infants school - remember the Fisher-Price post-office set?


That reminds me, it's rent money day for my flatmate.


That's your explanation of Poland not even being in the top 49.
edit: oops - it's number 49!
Someone called Bob Geldof and Bono from U2...

What is the stupidest question?
There have been many and there will be many more,

but what is the stupidest answer?

USA, Canada / What do Polish people think of the USA [287]


True.

But it matters to people outside of the US.
I see it similarly for the UK.
People abroad may have their opinions, so they may state them publicly,
but it doesn't affect political discourse at home.

USA, Canada / What do Polish people think of the USA [287]


Agree.
That doesn't mean I could say too much about his achievements at home because I don't know.


Every country needs friends and allies.
If your leader is very unpopular with countries that are usually your strongest allies, is that not cause for a little concern?
We can't vote for other people's leaders, but they can affect what happens in our lives, therefore, their actions are worthy of foreigners' criticism.

News / What's the stupidest question asked about Poland? [414]


The Poles have very few oranges and lemons. That's both the north and the south poles. Scientists and explorers might take a few with them.

I've had several oranges in Warsaw and Lomza (where I also had a watermelon - is non-citrus fruit too far from the topic?)


It doesn't cost money to meet people.

News / What's the stupidest question asked about Poland? [414]

Just as we were leaving Germany, queuing at the border, waiting to enter Poland, I pointed down at the vast river we were crossing, that marked the boundary between the two countries.

"What is that?" I asked the driver.
"It's a river." he said.


It's part of Denmark, but strangely, it's not in the EU.


That is why it should be renamed Kiwiland.

Food / What's your favorite Polish beer? [870]


I wasn't amazingly impressed, but I'd try it again.


Only one: High & Mighty Beer of the Gods.
I didn't try that one.
Most of the foreign beers were German, Belgian or Dutch.
I normally stick to the British ales at these events.

Food / What's your favorite Polish beer? [870]


It made up for the fact I hadn't eaten enough dinner before going out.
It was just a bit of a shame that at the beer festival, there were about 70 beers from outside of the UK, but only two Polish beers.

The other was Witnica Wit Mocny. This one was also quite powerful.

Food / What's your favorite Polish beer? [870]

I can't remember what it was called, and I only drank it this evening.
It claimed to be Polish, yet also had the words Sweden and USA on the bottle.
It was supposed to be a porter, which I normally assume to be somewhere between stout and ale,
but this stuff was like molten lead in a bottle.
I had to climb some stairs after drinking it, but the weight made this a real struggle!

I've found it - Witnica Black Boss Porter.
Evil stuff.

USA, Canada / What do Polish people think of the USA [287]


I always thought that the young Elvis was quite a simple man with a talent.
He could sing in the style of the black singers he heard when he was growing up.
I didn't think he was taking the p!ss - he loved music.
Imitation as a form of flattery, or not?

USA, Canada / American people attitude towards Poles in the USA [98]

This discussion is about American attitudes to Polish people in the USA?
If we widened the debate to include Canada, might someone actually mention the Western side of the Atlantic for a change?

Or perhaps add a little more of a historical context.
How were Polish people seen in America before the end of Communism?
Did things change much?

News / What's the stupidest question asked about Poland? [414]

Wasn't it Mark Twain?

Someone beat me to it.
Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.

News / What's the stupidest question asked about Poland? [414]

There are stupid questions, but it is often better to put the questioner at ease by not making them feel stupid.

News / What's the stupidest question asked about Poland? [414]

Poland is situated between Laalaaland and Tinkywinkyland.