Lyzko
18 Jun 2018
Lyzko
18 Jun 2018
Travel / Poland - never again [593]
See that, all ye naysayers and those of little faith!
Thanks a bunch, Atch:-)
See that, all ye naysayers and those of little faith!
Thanks a bunch, Atch:-)
Lyzko
18 Jun 2018
Life / My Last Link To Poland Died - Why Leaving Poland Was My Best Decision [249]
Every industrialized country, to a certain degree, will depend upon (cheaper) foreign-born labor to pick up the slack, so to speak,
often left behind by a native-born, Caucasian, internally-educated work force.
Every industrialized country, to a certain degree, will depend upon (cheaper) foreign-born labor to pick up the slack, so to speak,
often left behind by a native-born, Caucasian, internally-educated work force.
Lyzko
18 Jun 2018
Travel / Poland - never again [593]
You therefore agree that my experience was genuine, if not exactly commonplace. Fine. It's my word vs. your assertion.
Both are equally valid.
You therefore agree that my experience was genuine, if not exactly commonplace. Fine. It's my word vs. your assertion.
Both are equally valid.
Lyzko
17 Jun 2018
Genealogy / Slavs are descendants of Sarmatians? [600]
Yes, I believe so too, if I recall.
Please back on the topic now
Yes, I believe so too, if I recall.
Please back on the topic now
Lyzko
17 Jun 2018
Travel / Poland - never again [593]
@Chemikiem You'll have to remind me please what your answer was, as it has been a while.
@Chemikiem You'll have to remind me please what your answer was, as it has been a while.
Lyzko
16 Jun 2018
Genealogy / Slavs are descendants of Sarmatians? [600]
"A" in Polish is perhaps less specific than "i", e.g. "Spotkalem sie dzisiaj z moimi rodzicami i swoimi przyjaciolmi." = I met with my parents and their friends today.,
as opposed to "Od trzech lat pracowal jako tlumacz a potem zostal lektorem u wielkiego wydawnictwa w Warszawie." He worked as a translator/interpreter for three years and after a while became a reader with a large publishing house in Warsaw."
The first "and" begins the start of a potential series, whereas the second "and" is more of a filler word to link the two ideas:-)
"A" in Polish is perhaps less specific than "i", e.g. "Spotkalem sie dzisiaj z moimi rodzicami i swoimi przyjaciolmi." = I met with my parents and their friends today.,
as opposed to "Od trzech lat pracowal jako tlumacz a potem zostal lektorem u wielkiego wydawnictwa w Warszawie." He worked as a translator/interpreter for three years and after a while became a reader with a large publishing house in Warsaw."
The first "and" begins the start of a potential series, whereas the second "and" is more of a filler word to link the two ideas:-)
Lyzko
15 Jun 2018
Travel / Poland - never again [593]
As I met the gentleman, and you didn't, I will be the judge of his literacy (or lack thereof).
The point I was making was that many Americans mistake the hand kiss for some type of upper-crust ritual, much as in olden France, for example.
What I continue to find so lovely and charming about the Polish hand kiss, is that it's both multi-generational as well as not dependent on one's social status.
I could scarcely imagine the equivalent Anglo-Saxon engaging in such a practice, save for the Royal Court or some such nonsense.
As I met the gentleman, and you didn't, I will be the judge of his literacy (or lack thereof).
The point I was making was that many Americans mistake the hand kiss for some type of upper-crust ritual, much as in olden France, for example.
What I continue to find so lovely and charming about the Polish hand kiss, is that it's both multi-generational as well as not dependent on one's social status.
I could scarcely imagine the equivalent Anglo-Saxon engaging in such a practice, save for the Royal Court or some such nonsense.
Lyzko
15 Jun 2018
Language / Ways to say "bring" in Polish, and differences between them [12]
One also shouldn't forget either the close connection in Polish between the concepts of "bring" and "carry"!
"niesc" can signify taking something by transporting it physically over from one spot to the other. If I'm "bringing" someone a cup of coffee (for which I'd employ "PRZYniesc" vs. "przynosic", for instance), obviously, I'm going to be carrying it to someone. In English though, these two verbs "bring" an "carry" are two separate, unrelated words, even if their actions can be related conceptually.
One also shouldn't forget either the close connection in Polish between the concepts of "bring" and "carry"!
"niesc" can signify taking something by transporting it physically over from one spot to the other. If I'm "bringing" someone a cup of coffee (for which I'd employ "PRZYniesc" vs. "przynosic", for instance), obviously, I'm going to be carrying it to someone. In English though, these two verbs "bring" an "carry" are two separate, unrelated words, even if their actions can be related conceptually.
Lyzko
15 Jun 2018
Lyzko
14 Jun 2018
Travel / Poland - never again [593]
Be that all as it may, it certainly does happen, as I was there on said occasion. Rare perhaps, though not impossible:-)
Why would I lie?? Because it's beyond some of our experience, scarcely means that it's a fiction!
@kaprys, the dude worked as a 'tokarz' in a factory for forty-odd years! Surely he didn't have the literacy of a professor.
Be that all as it may, it certainly does happen, as I was there on said occasion. Rare perhaps, though not impossible:-)
Why would I lie?? Because it's beyond some of our experience, scarcely means that it's a fiction!
@kaprys, the dude worked as a 'tokarz' in a factory for forty-odd years! Surely he didn't have the literacy of a professor.
Lyzko
14 Jun 2018
Genealogy / Slavs are descendants of Sarmatians? [600]
You're onto something with your remark about the Balts. I know any number of Polish women who look as though they might be either Latvian or Lithuanian.
Naturally no surprise if you know the history:-)
You're onto something with your remark about the Balts. I know any number of Polish women who look as though they might be either Latvian or Lithuanian.
Naturally no surprise if you know the history:-)
Lyzko
14 Jun 2018
Travel / Poland - never again [593]
Nonetheless, a truly delightful custom I encountered when first in Poland, and was touched to see men of any economic station, be they a construction worker or an aristocrat get up or if standing gently take the woman's hand and raise it to his lips (not really kissing it, of course) muttering the words "Caluje Pani raczki!".
The seventy-five year-old father (a semi-literate retired lathe operator) of my Polish colleague recently met my wife and at the end of the luncheon before they were both about to leave, Viktor took my wife's hand and went through the usual ritual. My wife was enchanted!
Oh, I know the Viennese have the same ablution, only the difference between "Kuess d' Hand, gnae' Frau!" and the Polish as well as the Hungarian "Csokolom!", is that the Poles mean it:-)
Pity such traditions are going the way of holding a door for a woman and various other civilities.
Nonetheless, a truly delightful custom I encountered when first in Poland, and was touched to see men of any economic station, be they a construction worker or an aristocrat get up or if standing gently take the woman's hand and raise it to his lips (not really kissing it, of course) muttering the words "Caluje Pani raczki!".
The seventy-five year-old father (a semi-literate retired lathe operator) of my Polish colleague recently met my wife and at the end of the luncheon before they were both about to leave, Viktor took my wife's hand and went through the usual ritual. My wife was enchanted!
Oh, I know the Viennese have the same ablution, only the difference between "Kuess d' Hand, gnae' Frau!" and the Polish as well as the Hungarian "Csokolom!", is that the Poles mean it:-)
Pity such traditions are going the way of holding a door for a woman and various other civilities.
Lyzko
13 Jun 2018
Travel / Poland - never again [593]
What would have preferred, Rich, that they call you "***hole??!
Come on, man! Give 'em a bleedin' break already, will you? In order to work with Poles, for that matter any group other than one's own, you must try to accept (if not practice) their culture and respect their rituals. Cuts both ways, right? When Poles come to the US, one expects that they will adapt our infinitely more informal ways, and NOT say "Mr. Rich!", or necessarily feel they have to automatically kiss a strange lady's hand when introduced, feel as though they know it all etc..
Likewise in Poland, a degree of ritual formality is usually appropriate and being too immodest drives most Poles nuts as butt-kissing and disingenuous.
What would have preferred, Rich, that they call you "***hole??!
Come on, man! Give 'em a bleedin' break already, will you? In order to work with Poles, for that matter any group other than one's own, you must try to accept (if not practice) their culture and respect their rituals. Cuts both ways, right? When Poles come to the US, one expects that they will adapt our infinitely more informal ways, and NOT say "Mr. Rich!", or necessarily feel they have to automatically kiss a strange lady's hand when introduced, feel as though they know it all etc..
Likewise in Poland, a degree of ritual formality is usually appropriate and being too immodest drives most Poles nuts as butt-kissing and disingenuous.
Lyzko
13 Jun 2018
Life / How do Polish people see homosexuality? [152]
How do Polish people see homosexuality? Like most overwhelmingly straight Judeo-Christian or Muslim fundamentalists, with one eye closed and their head facing the other directionLOL
How do Polish people see homosexuality? Like most overwhelmingly straight Judeo-Christian or Muslim fundamentalists, with one eye closed and their head facing the other directionLOL
Lyzko
11 Jun 2018
Life / How do Polish people see homosexuality? [152]
On the other hand, Jack Phillips and his defenders who applaud the Supreme Court'd decision, forget one simple item, namely, that in defending "artistic freedom of personal expression", that freedom MUST cut both ways in order to be truly "equitable" to other affected groups, right?
This time, he's defending his right to turn down a wedding cake to a couple whose beliefs are repugnant to him along with many others, I should add. Next time, who's stopping him in the state of Colorado from designing a swastika-cake for an Alt-Right event?? Moreover, in the defense of his artistic "freedom", how would Mr. Jack Phillips feel about a counter group asking him to design a cake showing a the image of a cross with feces smeared on it to represent a criticism of Christianity??!
Free speech, for the umpteenth time, ain't so free.
On the other hand, Jack Phillips and his defenders who applaud the Supreme Court'd decision, forget one simple item, namely, that in defending "artistic freedom of personal expression", that freedom MUST cut both ways in order to be truly "equitable" to other affected groups, right?
This time, he's defending his right to turn down a wedding cake to a couple whose beliefs are repugnant to him along with many others, I should add. Next time, who's stopping him in the state of Colorado from designing a swastika-cake for an Alt-Right event?? Moreover, in the defense of his artistic "freedom", how would Mr. Jack Phillips feel about a counter group asking him to design a cake showing a the image of a cross with feces smeared on it to represent a criticism of Christianity??!
Free speech, for the umpteenth time, ain't so free.
Lyzko
10 Jun 2018
Language / How to write an email properly in Polish? [49]
@Rich, life is made even shorter by indifference to other countries' cultures compared with one's own (American) standard. As one expects foreigners to at least respect the ways and subtleties of the English language, so too ought we try to acquaint ourselves with those of (in this case) the Polish language with all her myriad variety. Otherwise, don't bother speaking it, hire an interpreter so that you can be assured the job'll be done right.
Surely, no native Pole will fault you as a foreigner for not knowing all the permutations of their language. They will though respect you for trying and that can make all the difference.
@Rich, life is made even shorter by indifference to other countries' cultures compared with one's own (American) standard. As one expects foreigners to at least respect the ways and subtleties of the English language, so too ought we try to acquaint ourselves with those of (in this case) the Polish language with all her myriad variety. Otherwise, don't bother speaking it, hire an interpreter so that you can be assured the job'll be done right.
Surely, no native Pole will fault you as a foreigner for not knowing all the permutations of their language. They will though respect you for trying and that can make all the difference.
Lyzko
9 Jun 2018
Language / How to write an email properly in Polish? [49]
Same with mine! I was only allowed to address older friends of my parents as "Aunt" or "Uncle so-and-so!", never as "Oh hi, Phil!", "Hi, Ann!", but "Uncle Phil!" etc.
In France, in many conservative, traditional families, "vous" was used to address grandparents, for example, NEVER by "tu"!
Same with mine! I was only allowed to address older friends of my parents as "Aunt" or "Uncle so-and-so!", never as "Oh hi, Phil!", "Hi, Ann!", but "Uncle Phil!" etc.
In France, in many conservative, traditional families, "vous" was used to address grandparents, for example, NEVER by "tu"!
Lyzko
9 Jun 2018
Language / How to write an email properly in Polish? [49]
I'm sure you're right, dolno!
@Rich,
Poles, like Russians, make no distinction between specific and inspecific noun designations any more than most Asians couldn't give a rat's ass concerning tense or verb conjugation forms:-)
I'm sure you're right, dolno!
@Rich,
Poles, like Russians, make no distinction between specific and inspecific noun designations any more than most Asians couldn't give a rat's ass concerning tense or verb conjugation forms:-)
Lyzko
9 Jun 2018
Language / Czech language sounds like baby talk to most Poles. Similarities? [222]
Nice post, Joss. Thanks!
Nice post, Joss. Thanks!
Lyzko
9 Jun 2018
Language / Czech language sounds like baby talk to most Poles. Similarities? [222]
Exactly, like those false friend "cognate" examples I gave the other day:-)
Exactly, like those false friend "cognate" examples I gave the other day:-)
Lyzko
9 Jun 2018
Language / How to write an email properly in Polish? [49]
Right on, Atch! That's what I've been trying to tell him:-)
Right on, Atch! That's what I've been trying to tell him:-)
Lyzko
9 Jun 2018
Language / How to write an email properly in Polish? [49]
Is then by your definition the vast scale of honorifics in Korean and Japanese "madness" too??
You're judging ethnocentrically, as with most Americans, ignoring the deep cultural divides which constitute the DNA of any society.
Maybe it is we who are mad, not the Poles. Ever occur to you? What makes the current Anglo-Saxon mode of address any the better?
Is then by your definition the vast scale of honorifics in Korean and Japanese "madness" too??
You're judging ethnocentrically, as with most Americans, ignoring the deep cultural divides which constitute the DNA of any society.
Maybe it is we who are mad, not the Poles. Ever occur to you? What makes the current Anglo-Saxon mode of address any the better?
Lyzko
9 Jun 2018
Language / How to write an email properly in Polish? [49]
In the Bible though, hardly in common speech, right?
In the Bible though, hardly in common speech, right?
Lyzko
9 Jun 2018
Language / Czech language sounds like baby talk to most Poles. Similarities? [222]
Can't comment really on Czech, as I've so rarely heard it. However, Polish usually sounds (spoken by both men and women) somewhat chirpy, upbeat, excitable.
By contrast Russian, for instance, reminds one more of a viscous river, oozing ahead ever so slowly and deliberately:-)
Can't comment really on Czech, as I've so rarely heard it. However, Polish usually sounds (spoken by both men and women) somewhat chirpy, upbeat, excitable.
By contrast Russian, for instance, reminds one more of a viscous river, oozing ahead ever so slowly and deliberately:-)
Lyzko
8 Jun 2018
Lyzko
8 Jun 2018
USA, Canada / Would you live in California, USA? [240]
Firing squads though are too costly and not worth it anymore.
Firing squads though are too costly and not worth it anymore.
Lyzko
8 Jun 2018
Language / Czech language sounds like baby talk to most Poles. Similarities? [222]
Though not with the same meaning in Czech:-)
Though not with the same meaning in Czech:-)
Lyzko
8 Jun 2018
Language / How to write an email properly in Polish? [49]
As the English "thee" and "thou"/"ye" in common parlance all but died out more than two centuries ago, the issue isn't comparable with Polish "Ty" vs. "Pan"/"Pani"!
As with all linguistic questions, they are though no end fascinating to ponder, if not particularly useful, except for historical purposes.
As the English "thee" and "thou"/"ye" in common parlance all but died out more than two centuries ago, the issue isn't comparable with Polish "Ty" vs. "Pan"/"Pani"!
As with all linguistic questions, they are though no end fascinating to ponder, if not particularly useful, except for historical purposes.
Lyzko
8 Jun 2018
USA, Canada / Would you live in California, USA? [240]
Not necessary, Dirk! Just suspend their license indefinitely. That'll put the scare on 'em all right.
Not necessary, Dirk! Just suspend their license indefinitely. That'll put the scare on 'em all right.