The Polish Way to Ask Questions

I think my next questions would be exactly the same as you mentioned above , but first I would like to know your roots, in order to formulate my next questions ( to have an idea about a person`s preferences , background , you know what I mean , small city , big city , village , specific region of Poland ). Asking such questions maybe I would find some similarities , common places with you etc) . For example if I met with Cracovian I would instantly know that he would feel some resentment towards me .

Funny, you are not serious, are you? I thought that such things are all in the past. I remember talks and jokes about people from Galicja ("Galicjaki"), from "Kongresówka" (Congress Kingdom), and "Bambry" (Poznań Bambers). But there were never any ill feelings to any of those - at least in our house. Practical jokes, yes. For example, no warning was ever given to a "Pomorzak" (from Pomerania) when creamy horse radish was served.

I don't think there is a problem with the way Poles ask questions. Some nations have certain peculiarities in the way they speak. For instance the English pretend to be interested in knowing how you are doing. That's alright, even if it is very wasteful - one person lies about wanting to know something and the respondent often lies about how she or he is in fact doing. Simple "hi" or "hello" would be sufficient. But oh well, that's how they talk. I'm not infuriated by that, I just find it hilarious.

I think the problem is with the listener who get infuriated because of a simple act of being asked a not impolite question in a country with a different culture. Not better, not worse - just different.

Personally the English way of asking questions is hilarious and their small talks are annoying I find them entirely as a total waste of time . It is so superficial ....I can never figure out how a stranger might find it interesting to ask me personal stuff eg "how was my day ", If my day was terrible I am not supposed to say the truth I am supposed to tell lies such as "very well , thank you" , even though , for example I was at the funeral of my family member . That is annoying .

I often answer: "Pretty bad, thank you". Very few take notice. But when I say "Ça va mal" in response to "Comment ça va?" it is immediately noticed. Cultural differences? French seem to me more inquisitive, English are easily bored.

Poles are more open - hence they ask and tell plenty of personal details in the first meeting. Others are more reserved and let such details to be told later, during the next beer sessions. Both have their pluses and minuses. The other day I was accosted by a 40-years-old man to interpret something for him. In return he told me all his life story in the first five minutes - including having spent some time in jail, and about having to run out of Poland for fear of his life and of his family one - and then he started grilling me for details - such as my email address and my phone number. When I politely declined he was baffled. I wonder why?

The funniest thing for me is when some beggar/drunk asks for money and he starts the question with 'mam prosba'. It cracks me up everytime

I agree with Maaarysia, this question doesn't translate into Polish at all. It would sound as awkward as in English.

It was spoken in English, and yes, it was awkward.

When a Yank asks/says 'Hi, how are you?', he or she just means "Hi!"

When a Yank says "Have a great day!", they generally mean 'Go f***k yourself!', I couldn't care less!

When a Yank says nothing, consider it a victory LOL

You a lolling for all of us.

Polish group conversations consist of a number of people holding forth and conversations tend to overlap. They hardly ever ask questions. Being English, I often tend to ask questions but this seems to stunt the conversation and put them off or perhaps it's my bad grammar. When I spent my first Christmas in Poland with my girlfriend's family (now wife), no-one asked me any questions even though my girlfriend would talk to me in Polish; I thought perhaps they were shy. I asked my girlfriend during the night why this was so. So when we returned to the table she put this to her 15 family members in front of me. Thanks! But it got the conversation going.