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Posts by Ziemowit  

Joined: 8 May 2009 / Male ♂
Warnings: 1 - O		 Last Post: 8 Nov 2023
Threads: Total: 14 / In This Archive: 7
Posts: Total: 3936 / In This Archive: 2187 		From: Warsaw
Speaks Polish?: Yes

Displayed posts: 2194 / page 71 of 74
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Ziemowit   
19 Feb 2010
Work / Why Poland employers are afraid of hiring any foreign nationals? [171]

Yes, of course a Polish teacher who is not fluent in English will be able to prepare students for CAE and CPE!

Non vitae, sed scholae discimus, Harry? [Translation from Latin to English: Does everyone learning English does this for passing CAE or CPE only?]
Ziemowit   
19 Feb 2010
Life / Why Poles are so crazy about their country? [55]

I think not always and not all Poles are so crazy about their country. The sentences which you quote then refer to several brave Polish people whose personal courage and commitment to the cause they fought for was exceptional. I don't think you may say that of every man or woman in Poland (or anywhere else for that matter), but you formulate your question precisely in this way, but why? To provoke insults and attacks from those who constantly offend the Polish people and country on this forum saying that all what is Polish is crap?
Ziemowit   
19 Feb 2010
Work / Why Poland employers are afraid of hiring any foreign nationals? [171]

Some of the best teachers of english in poland are, imo, polish. Not all but some of the best,

In the phrase "teacher of English" the emphasis should be put on "teacher" rather than "of English". Of course, he or she should know English very well, but it's not necessary for them to be fluent in English to be a good teacher. For example, my Polish teacher of English at the office where I work and where our employer pays for our lessons of English twice a week, isn't so fluent, but he's very good. I mean his methods are good, so he's able to teach you a lot even if he's sometimes not as fluent as, for example, myself. I imagine a native speaker of English may not teach you much if he's not a good teacher; you may simply be delighted to listen to the Queen's English of his/her during the lessons, but it would not necessarily mean you would develop this kind of language yourself; it's even possible that you may not progress much beyond the actual level of yours (especially if you don't make the effort in the learning yourself).
Ziemowit   
19 Feb 2010
Work / Why Poland employers are afraid of hiring any foreign nationals? [171]

I still think it's a racist comment as I interpret this as: "we don't like you because you're not Polish and if you don't like our treatment of you then leave".

It could have been true in the very narrow sense of the parents' behaviour. But I'm more inclined to assume that they wanted a teacher who would be able to explain the complexities of the English language and grammar to their children in Polish (not a very justified expectation, in my view). If you knew Polish sufficiently well to do so, then I should say you're right, they behaved like racists. But if you didn't know Polish well enough, I'd say their motives were more likely to have been "educational" rather than "racial".
Ziemowit   
18 Feb 2010
Work / Polish qualifications, what are they worth ? [137]

I remember two of them laughing at the requirements for the 'thesis' on the licencjat course we were all teaching. Apparently a Canadian BA student would face somewhat stiffer specifications.

I think 'licencjant' isn't the equivalent of BA. It would be the Polish 'magisterium' which is.
Ziemowit   
16 Feb 2010
Language / have a sip - Chcesz łyka? [56]

I think the general rule on this forum as well as on other forums is not to correct someone else's mistakes, unless it is in the special context like the one here where people ask for advice or correction. It is impolite to correct the English language of a non-native person who gives advice. Likewise, it is impolite to criticize the Polish language of a non-Polish person who has a command of the language and expresses his or her views on a particular grammatical problem or usage of Polish in Polish (in other words, when that person presents himself as a "teacher" and not as a "learner" as is the case of Seanus here).

It is precious to receive advice on language, but we must consider first if a person is really asking for it. If not, it is best to avoid any unfavorable comment on that person's language abilities.
Ziemowit   
16 Feb 2010
Language / have a sip - Chcesz łyka? [56]

I just pick randomly a tense is bad word order, Ziemowit.

Is "I just randomly pick a tense" better?
Ziemowit   
16 Feb 2010
Language / have a sip - Chcesz łyka? [56]

I have no bloody idea what you are talking about, I just pick random tense and see how it looks

... randomly a tense ... , I think
Ziemowit   
16 Feb 2010
Language / have a sip - Chcesz łyka? [56]

Seanus
You seem to have lost your nerve, but you're right: no one should be called an ignorant for making even the very basic mistakes in a language that is not his mother tongue. Perhaps TIT has been critisizing you on friendly terms, "reproaching" you in a deliberately exaggerated way (I don't know, it might be attributed to a certain difference in mentality between the two cultures, Polish and British?).

By the way, the proper use of definite/indefinite articles gives away even those Poles whose command of English is pretty good. In the case of our friend TIT,

every pole who goes to English speaking country knows ...

it would be the ommision of "an" before "English speaking country" or am I wrong?
-----------------
P.S. I've been posting this before I've seen the preceding post of TIT.
Ziemowit   
15 Feb 2010
Language / have a sip - Chcesz łyka? [56]

is łyk żywotne? have some nice reference books but alas. inaczej mówiąc, czemu "łyka" and not "łyk"?

This problem - along with many others - has been discussed on PF more than once. People just don't bother to use the search engine.

Wouldn't it be 'Chcesz łyką?'

Excellent! I've been laughing for about ten minutes as this inevitably associates in one's mind with "Chcesz łychą?". [Not that I would like to offend anyone, but looks like a jolly good piece of advice for those not wanting to use the search engine here.]
Ziemowit   
12 Feb 2010
History / Books on the Partitions of Poland? [5]

I don't know of any specific books on the subject, but every decent book on the history of Poland will tackle it. Any of the books on the history of Poland covering the relevant period by Norman Davis (a Welsh historian) will tell you the information on the partitions that you need (all his books were published both in English and in Polish).
Ziemowit   
11 Feb 2010
Travel / Poland trains in winter [7]

Avoid Poland in most time of the year!
[Only on the Tłusty Czwartek it is worth staying.]
Ziemowit   
11 Feb 2010
News / Polar bear attack - a Polish guy survived [38]

A recent survey conducted by the Daily Mail has revealed that ...

The Daily Mail is famous all over the world for its scientific surveys. Did they publish anything recently on Polar Bears eating out swans from ponds in England and Wales?
Ziemowit   
11 Feb 2010
Language / Old Polish Vs New Polish [29]

Generally, I agree that most of his language is comprehensible today (but he is a rather remarkable exception, other authors of the epoch are not so "clear" for a contemporary reader). Let's consider one of his poems, commemorating the erection the first fixed wooden bridge over the Vistula river in Warsaw in the times of King Sigismundus Augustus in 1573.

NA MOST WARSZEWSKI [today: warszawski]
Nieubłagana Wisło, próżno wstrząsasz rogi,
---[today: na próźno potrząsasz rogami]
Próżno brzegom gwałt czynisz i hamujesz drogi;
---[today in this context: ... i przegradzasz drogi]
Nalazł fortel król August, jako cię miał pożyć,
---[znalazł sposób ... jak cię ujarzmić]
A ty musisz tę swoje dobrą myśl położyć,
---[sorry, sorry, I don't understand sentence, though I do understand words]
Bo krom wioseł, krom prumów już dziś suchą nogą
---[Bo oprócz ... oprócz promów ...]
Twój grzbiet nieujeżdżony wszyscy deptać mogą.
Ziemowit   
9 Feb 2010
Language / Declension of młody and stary [9]

No, it wouldn't. You'll say: młode i stare kobiety; młode i stare zwierzęta, so you'll use the plural adjective młode when refering to the niemęskoosobowy gender.

You'd say: młodzi i starzy mężczyźni, młodzi i starzy żołnierze, so for the męskoosobowy gender it is the młodzi form.

For a mixed group of people, you'll use what you use for a group of males: [ten] chłopak i [ta] dziewczyna; oni nie są starzy, oni są młodzi.
Ziemowit   
6 Feb 2010
History / Can Poland allow itself to refuse Slavija? [32]

If Russia is in it, Poland would surely say 'no'. Russia is too big and powerful, and she would certainly wish to dominate Poland and the rest of company in such a confederation, so we would say: "No, thank you; we just know you too well, you Russian bear and our so dear friend. Please go away and form a federation with the Scottish and the Welsh, they just dream of being liberated from the oppressions of the English".

If Russia is out of it, Poland would surely say 'yes' to it. Poland would welcome all other Slavic nation under her leadership and guidance (although not under her control, as Russia would have done it). Maybe Poland would feel inclined to invite along the Scottish and the Welsh people as well, telling them: Come on, be not so stupid to continue for ever in this ridiculous alliance you've been in for so long. Think of a brighter future for yourselves and your children".
Ziemowit   
5 Feb 2010
Language / brakować, braknąć, zabraknąć [9]

If anyone could shed some light on these words ...

First of all, they only come in the 3rd person singular. The dictionary says:
Braknąć is an imperfecive verb: "Brakło mi tchu / Brakło nam odwagi".
Brakować is an imperfective verb, too: "Brakowało nam odwagi / Tego tylko brakuje!".

Frankly, I don't understand why the dictionary says "braknąć" is imperfective. I feel it as a perfective one. "Zabraknąć" is described in the same dictionary as a perfective verb.
Ziemowit   
3 Feb 2010
USA, Canada / Do you speak English? Have you lived in America? New LOVE/HATE list......... [144]

bbq beef

According to what you've said on similarities between America and us, Poland should be soon applying to join as a 51st state of the union.

Considering the other side, however, you should admit that Polish people would certainly not be consuming such a plenty of coca-cola and hamburgers on a visit to a Disneyland. That is one of the major differences, I think.
Ziemowit   
2 Feb 2010
USA, Canada / Do you speak English? Have you lived in America? New LOVE/HATE list......... [144]

And no Ziemowit, you don't get a free pass just because you think that "everything in America is fantastic."

OK, I'm not going to interfere with the thread any more, but please notice that although I think everything is great in America, I neither count hamburgers nor coca-cola among the best things Uncle Sam may offer.
Ziemowit   
2 Feb 2010
USA, Canada / Do you speak English? Have you lived in America? New LOVE/HATE list......... [144]

I was only once in America. It was a luxurious Mariott hotel in Florida. Everything was splendid: airport at Orlando, motorways, hotel, swimming-pool, Cap Canaveral museum (but the Disneyland was a little boring and too many people there had hamburgers and coca-cola at a time), even the small tornado at a distance was fine. Since then I am of an opinion that everything in America is fantastic, even tornados (seen from a distance) are fantastic!
Ziemowit   
1 Feb 2010
News / The Economist: time to rethink old notions about Poland [67]

it was Jaroslaw's decision to call an election - they had the largest amount of seats in the Sejm and could have attempted to go it alone

Jarosław acted on the mafia's advice who knew the PiS would loose the election to the Civic Platform; that is how Jarosław and company were ousted by the mafia (life according to Think Twice).
Ziemowit   
1 Feb 2010
Language / weź/wej - Pronunciation questions [4]

I think you are right. I've never realised myself that Polish people speak like that, but it is true. The two words in "weź_sobie" flow into one word in which the ź tends almost to disappear, so it is a very weak sound which may remind a weakly pronounced j indeed.

The same with "coś_zrobić" in which the ś is strongly reduced (into a very weak s perhaps).
Ziemowit   
1 Feb 2010
News / The Economist: time to rethink old notions about Poland [67]

There are many contributing factors to why Poland did not go in to recession, the fall in the strength of the Zloty (increase exports and internal consumption), the banks lending policies, Billions of Zloty coming back from Polish people working abroad, the money being pumped in to Polish infrastructure (increase in jobs) etc

I fully agree with SeanBM: the fall of the zloty and the lack or very little of credit spree on the part of the banks here in Poland were major factors in my view. Lithuania, for example, had a fixed rate to the euro, so it renounced to herself the devaluation of her domestic currency.

It is sad that some Polish people comment the Polish economic situation badly just because the Civic Platform is in power. If it were the PiS, their comment on the same situation would have been totally different. But in fact, the present succes is the joint effort of all previous Polish govnts, so if they ridicule one party, they ridicule other parties, PiS included, as well.
Ziemowit   
31 Jan 2010
Language / Polish Language test using the European Language Frameworks [9]

The test is really difficult even for a native speaker of Polish. I got 14/15 in part one; 15/15 in part two; 11/15 in part three.

[I was wrong in this one of part one:]
2. Reżyser dzięki użyciu sugestywnych środków wyrazu ..................... na wyobraźnię widzów.
a. oddziaływuje
b. oddziałuje

[I was correct in the following of part two, but it is diffcult in my view:]
5. Nawet wytrawnym graczom trudno ....................., jaki ruch wykona teraz komputer.
a. domyślić się
b. domyśleć się

In part three, I was wrong in four questions: choosing between baby-sitter and baby-sitterka for a female baby-sitter; in two questions on declining numerals (trying to be "overcorrect"); and I didn't know the correct meaning of the plural noun "enuncjacje" in Polish.
Ziemowit   
27 Jan 2010
Travel / Poland trains in winter [7]

As of today, winter in Poland appears truly mild - I'm even inclined to call it "warm" - compared to what we had until yesterday.

On Monday when I unexpectedly found myself at the railway station in Żyrardów waiting for a train back to Warsaw, I didn't feel cold only for the first ten minutes of waiting; then the cold was becoming so piercing at minus 22 Centigrade that I suddenly remembered the good old Polish winters just as they were in the time of my childhood.

On Monday I got on a "podmiejski" train at Warszawa Zachodnia station as I commute to a town which is situated on the railway line to Żyrardów/Skierniewice. The train "podmiejski" stops at every stop on its way. But this one did not. The train was a trap for some of us. It took me as far as Jaktorów, the eighth stop from Warsaw West. The "Koleje Mazowieckie" railway company have recently introduced a new type of commuter train, a "faster" train, but not actually a fast train as it is. Fast trains have completely different looks than commuters trains both in the Mazowsze region and elswhere in Poland. "Faster" ones in Mazovia are exactly the same by their looks as commuter trains. Fast and faster trains to Żyrardów or Skierniewice stop by different platforms than do commuter trains at station Warsaw West. This one did otherwise. No information at loud-speaker that this one wouldn't stop before Jaktorów. There were about a dozen of us who unwillingly boarded their trap-train. After about twenty minutes of waiting, a return train to Warsaw arrived and we went all to the guard demanding to travel back free which was duly accorded to us.

Surprisingly enough, I was entrapped into such a train for the second time this harshy winter! The first time, due to harsh weather conditions, passangers travelling in the direction of Skierniewice were "shifted" from the commuter trains platform of Warsaw West to a fast trains platform. Then a train which looked exactly like a commuter train arrived (no proper announcement was made in spite of the fact that passangers were being re-directed to unusual platforms), I got on and then got off in ... Żyrardów as we were not given any chance to get off the train earlier on. There were about two dozen of furious us who were demanding a free ride back on a train to Warsaw, the wish which we were duly accorded. Since that incident I swore to myself to watch out every time I was about to board a train at Warsaw West, but the railway operator was even shrewder. This time they shifted the train rather than passangers just to play their dirty trick against which even an experienced commuter like me had no chances to act.
Ziemowit   
25 Jan 2010
Language / Usage: Freedom in Polish and in English [30]

I'm not sure I can give any concrete examples, but it's very common that I don't understand Polish sentences even when I know all the words in them. In part that's because Polish has different constructions that don't translate well for grammar reasons, but I also have a feeling that more things are omitted in Polish, and that you have to piece more things together from the context.

I think you have the point here (especially in "more things are omitted in Polish"). As to the example you've given, I'd say she ought to say "trafny wybór?" to spare you the trouble of guessing as the adjecive trafny is mostly used with wybór (or the nouns resembling it in meaning, like osąd or decyzja).

[Your original post to which I asked my question to which you have given the answer being here in my quote above have been erased by the moderator. I am very surprised because of that as both post and question were neither in German nor in Swedish (nor were they in Finnish for that matter!), but they were in the language of the forum (English) and concerned the Polish language. God only knows what are the principles of moderating posts on PF!]
Ziemowit   
25 Jan 2010
News / The Internet totally uncontrolled in Poland? [19]

The Polish govt was preparing lots of stuff in the past, was forgetting about them afterwards and moving on to new, more exciting issues on the agenda ...
Ziemowit   
23 Jan 2010
Language / Usage: Freedom in Polish and in English [30]

Wolnomyśliciel = free thinker
Wolno myślący = slow thinker
There are a number of colloqiual expressions for describing "slow thinkers" in every language, I believe. One in Polish that comes to my mind is "zakuta pała". Any other ideas?