Lyzko
12 Mar 2020
Language / Diminutive Words for Breads, Loaves, etc [20]
I can remember seeing many of the above expressions in Brooklyn's Polish bakeries.
I can remember seeing many of the above expressions in Brooklyn's Polish bakeries.
Lyzko
12 Mar 2020
Life / Americanization of Poland - good or bad? [49]
You most likely being in either Slovakia, Bulgaria or the Czech Republic, by process of elimination.
You most likely being in either Slovakia, Bulgaria or the Czech Republic, by process of elimination.
Lyzko
11 Mar 2020
Lyzko
11 Mar 2020
Life / Americanization of Poland - good or bad? [49]
Once more, when in Europe are you from, that is, where on the continent do you reside?
Curious only as to which country you are speaking about.
Once more, when in Europe are you from, that is, where on the continent do you reside?
Curious only as to which country you are speaking about.
Lyzko
11 Mar 2020
Life / Americanization of Poland - good or bad? [49]
On the other hand, it someone's always smiling (often the habit in both the Midwest as well as the South), kinda hard to trust 'em.
Either a neutral or honestly angry demeanor when called for is much more believable.
Think somehow that the US has taken her cue a great deal from certain Asian societies, in which non-stop smiling even when bearing bad news is fairly commonplace, I'm told. My business dealings with Asians have also borne this out.
The Arabs, don't forget, are known to smile just before plunging the scimitar into the back of their enemy:-)
On the other hand, it someone's always smiling (often the habit in both the Midwest as well as the South), kinda hard to trust 'em.
Either a neutral or honestly angry demeanor when called for is much more believable.
Think somehow that the US has taken her cue a great deal from certain Asian societies, in which non-stop smiling even when bearing bad news is fairly commonplace, I'm told. My business dealings with Asians have also borne this out.
The Arabs, don't forget, are known to smile just before plunging the scimitar into the back of their enemy:-)
Lyzko
11 Mar 2020
Language / Sentence usage/placements of unstressed vs stressed pronouns Się/Siebie, Mi/Mię, Cię/Ci, Go/Jego, Mu/Jemu, [19]
Yep, makes sense.
Yep, makes sense.
Lyzko
11 Mar 2020
Language / Sentence usage/placements of unstressed vs stressed pronouns Się/Siebie, Mi/Mię, Cię/Ci, Go/Jego, Mu/Jemu, [19]
"Sie" is a pure reflexive pronoun in Polish. "Siebie" is at least for myself a little tougher to explain for elementary Polish learners first time out.
It corresponds roughly to "one another". Then again, a native speaker might well be able to elucidate better:-)
By the way, Polish often uses "sie", the reflexive, in ways quite different from English or other Germanic languages.
Examples: Jak sie masz? = How are you?, literally, "How have you yourself?", which makes no sense in translation,
or, "Jak sie mowi...." = How do you say [..such and such.... in.], word for word "How speaks oneself?", again, anathema
to either English or German speakers!
"Sie" is a pure reflexive pronoun in Polish. "Siebie" is at least for myself a little tougher to explain for elementary Polish learners first time out.
It corresponds roughly to "one another". Then again, a native speaker might well be able to elucidate better:-)
By the way, Polish often uses "sie", the reflexive, in ways quite different from English or other Germanic languages.
Examples: Jak sie masz? = How are you?, literally, "How have you yourself?", which makes no sense in translation,
or, "Jak sie mowi...." = How do you say [..such and such.... in.], word for word "How speaks oneself?", again, anathema
to either English or German speakers!
Lyzko
10 Mar 2020
Language / Etymology of sztuka [5]
It obviously means "art" as in the above photo, perhaps derived from the German.
It obviously means "art" as in the above photo, perhaps derived from the German.
Lyzko
10 Mar 2020
Language / Sentence usage/placements of unstressed vs stressed pronouns Się/Siebie, Mi/Mię, Cię/Ci, Go/Jego, Mu/Jemu, [19]
Word order in Polish can also stress which has priority in the sentence.
Word order in Polish can also stress which has priority in the sentence.
Lyzko
9 Mar 2020
Language / Stenka and stęka - on alleged non-existence of nasal vowels in spoke Polish [17]
Exactly, Maf, but probably not with e "z kreska" in casual or everyday speech.
Exactly, Maf, but probably not with e "z kreska" in casual or everyday speech.
Lyzko
9 Mar 2020
Language / Stenka and stęka - on alleged non-existence of nasal vowels in spoke Polish [17]
Nothing "alleged" about them!
However, certain final nasals in various words like 'prosze', 'kawE' etc.
in my experience are rarely if ever consciously nasalized by native speakers, outside of a classroom setting, especially for foreigners who need to hear the distinction, with or without.
Nothing "alleged" about them!
However, certain final nasals in various words like 'prosze', 'kawE' etc.
in my experience are rarely if ever consciously nasalized by native speakers, outside of a classroom setting, especially for foreigners who need to hear the distinction, with or without.
Lyzko
9 Mar 2020
Life / Americanization of Poland - good or bad? [49]
Interesting, thanks Milo!
Was in Greenpoint a heck of a lot more recently than in either Acton or Ealing ('76).
Interesting, thanks Milo!
Was in Greenpoint a heck of a lot more recently than in either Acton or Ealing ('76).
Lyzko
9 Mar 2020
Language / Sentence usage/placements of unstressed vs stressed pronouns Się/Siebie, Mi/Mię, Cię/Ci, Go/Jego, Mu/Jemu, [19]
That's right!
Be careful though: On jest dobryM nauczycielEM, but, To jest pieknY obraz. In the second sentence, because of the article "to", the Nominative would be used. Cf. "The Night Watch" Rembrandt'a jest pieknyM obrazEM.
That's right!
Be careful though: On jest dobryM nauczycielEM, but, To jest pieknY obraz. In the second sentence, because of the article "to", the Nominative would be used. Cf. "The Night Watch" Rembrandt'a jest pieknyM obrazEM.
Lyzko
9 Mar 2020
Life / Americanization of Poland - good or bad? [49]
Same in Greenpoint!
Was there nearly a year ago and apparently many if not most of those wonderful cafes and shops are now gone, little Polish left, except for Polonia Bookstore(:-
Same in Greenpoint!
Was there nearly a year ago and apparently many if not most of those wonderful cafes and shops are now gone, little Polish left, except for Polonia Bookstore(:-
Lyzko
9 Mar 2020
Language / Sentence usage/placements of unstressed vs stressed pronouns Się/Siebie, Mi/Mię, Cię/Ci, Go/Jego, Mu/Jemu, [19]
Very workable explanations.
Very workable explanations.
Lyzko
9 Mar 2020
Life / Will Poland ever be multicultural like Sweden, Germany or France? [283]
Absolutely right, jon.
Absolutely right, jon.
Lyzko
9 Mar 2020
Lyzko
9 Mar 2020
Life / Will Poland ever be multicultural like Sweden, Germany or France? [283]
The lure of cheap labor as I keep saying but to little avail. Sweden, Germany, and France
may well consider themselves proudly socialist, but they remain capitalist in terms of
keeping competitive with today's market!
This means allowing prices to stay low by having a less expensive work force:-)
The lure of cheap labor as I keep saying but to little avail. Sweden, Germany, and France
may well consider themselves proudly socialist, but they remain capitalist in terms of
keeping competitive with today's market!
This means allowing prices to stay low by having a less expensive work force:-)
Lyzko
9 Mar 2020
Language / Sentence usage/placements of unstressed vs stressed pronouns Się/Siebie, Mi/Mię, Cię/Ci, Go/Jego, Mu/Jemu, [19]
"Kocham Cie" I've seen side-by-side with "Kocham Ciebie". Same with "go" and "niego". It depends then on the register, I suppose.
"Kocham Cie" I've seen side-by-side with "Kocham Ciebie". Same with "go" and "niego". It depends then on the register, I suppose.
Lyzko
9 Mar 2020
Life / Americanization of Poland - good or bad? [49]
But conversely not much Polish except among the larger Polish-American communities
such as Chicago, Greenpoint, Bklyn. and others:-)
But conversely not much Polish except among the larger Polish-American communities
such as Chicago, Greenpoint, Bklyn. and others:-)
Lyzko
8 Mar 2020
Life / Americanization of Poland - good or bad? [49]
Says you!
I know better in this case, based on what I hear from my students.
After all, they live there 24/7 and have no need to either impress of suck up to me. They're expressing their honest opinions, I presume.
Says you!
I know better in this case, based on what I hear from my students.
After all, they live there 24/7 and have no need to either impress of suck up to me. They're expressing their honest opinions, I presume.
Lyzko
8 Mar 2020
Lyzko
8 Mar 2020
Language / Verbal nouns and past-tense adjectives from imperfective & perfective verbs..when to use which aspect? [48]
@Paw, ForumUser,
I understand both your examples, yet I'm not entirely convinced. However, "Maluje mieszkanie." = I'm painting my apartment" only reveals imprecision in that the lack of an article in the sentence is vague and might mean "my", "an" or "the" apartment in question here. To me as a native English speaker, there's no misunderstanding nor even the slightest hesitation translating the sentence!
On the other hand, a language like German definitely has both Polish and English beat, so to speak, in terms of its directional as well as resultative aka perfective specificity.
Maluje mieszkanie = Ich male meine Wohung vs. Maluje sciane = Ich male die Wand AN, whereby the latter specifies the painting of a surface, not
simply an apartment/house in general, thereby requiring the prefixed verb "anmalen".
Polish too of course has numerous verbal prefixes:-)
@Paw, ForumUser,
I understand both your examples, yet I'm not entirely convinced. However, "Maluje mieszkanie." = I'm painting my apartment" only reveals imprecision in that the lack of an article in the sentence is vague and might mean "my", "an" or "the" apartment in question here. To me as a native English speaker, there's no misunderstanding nor even the slightest hesitation translating the sentence!
On the other hand, a language like German definitely has both Polish and English beat, so to speak, in terms of its directional as well as resultative aka perfective specificity.
Maluje mieszkanie = Ich male meine Wohung vs. Maluje sciane = Ich male die Wand AN, whereby the latter specifies the painting of a surface, not
simply an apartment/house in general, thereby requiring the prefixed verb "anmalen".
Polish too of course has numerous verbal prefixes:-)
Lyzko
8 Mar 2020
Language / Short Polish<->English translations [1049]
Still looking for a solid rendering into English of the phrase "Dziadek przemowil do obrazu".
At least this is how I heard the expression recently.
Still looking for a solid rendering into English of the phrase "Dziadek przemowil do obrazu".
At least this is how I heard the expression recently.
Lyzko
8 Mar 2020
Life / Americanization of Poland - good or bad? [49]
When any country becomes "-ized", the results will usually be less than favorable!
Poles are and always will be Polish, Germans German, the French French and so forth.
Motto here? Ya can't fit a square peg into a round hole.....it won't work:-)
Superficially of course, English, in the future most likely, American English, will be used exclusively in nearly every country in the customer service sector, bar none.
This doesn't mean though that a foreigner's knowledge of the whatever local lingo won't still be tremendously helpful, albeit no longer absolutely necessary for basic every day transactions.
When any country becomes "-ized", the results will usually be less than favorable!
Poles are and always will be Polish, Germans German, the French French and so forth.
Motto here? Ya can't fit a square peg into a round hole.....it won't work:-)
Superficially of course, English, in the future most likely, American English, will be used exclusively in nearly every country in the customer service sector, bar none.
This doesn't mean though that a foreigner's knowledge of the whatever local lingo won't still be tremendously helpful, albeit no longer absolutely necessary for basic every day transactions.
Lyzko
7 Mar 2020
Language / Verbal nouns and past-tense adjectives from imperfective & perfective verbs..when to use which aspect? [48]
As you've obviously noticed by now, Polish is much more grammatically precise than English, more exact as well in her lexic function, compare
for example English "to see"/"look" vs. Polish "widzic", "zobaczyc", "ogladac", "patrzyc", "spojrzec"...
I SAW a movie. = Ogladalem film.
I SAW my friend in front of his flat. = Widzialem mojejo przyjacielu przed swoim mieszkaniem.
I've already SEEN the menu. = Juz zobaczylem menu.
Hey, LOOK there! = Hej, patrz tu!
I briefly SAW him standing at the corner. = Spojrzylem go stajacy na rogu.
Certainly English has perhaps even a richer lexic of synonyms, my point being though that English is to an extent relatively more flexible
in her choice, whereas in Polish, "Widzialem film" might sound to a Polish native speaker as if somebody was able to use their eyes to
experience the film (as opposed to another part of the body). Obviously, a film is meant to be seen first and foremost. And it an English
speaker says/writes, "Ogladalem mojego przyjacielu....", a Pole might think that the person was in a movie in which they were moving
as though in a succession of images:-)
As you've obviously noticed by now, Polish is much more grammatically precise than English, more exact as well in her lexic function, compare
for example English "to see"/"look" vs. Polish "widzic", "zobaczyc", "ogladac", "patrzyc", "spojrzec"...
I SAW a movie. = Ogladalem film.
I SAW my friend in front of his flat. = Widzialem mojejo przyjacielu przed swoim mieszkaniem.
I've already SEEN the menu. = Juz zobaczylem menu.
Hey, LOOK there! = Hej, patrz tu!
I briefly SAW him standing at the corner. = Spojrzylem go stajacy na rogu.
Certainly English has perhaps even a richer lexic of synonyms, my point being though that English is to an extent relatively more flexible
in her choice, whereas in Polish, "Widzialem film" might sound to a Polish native speaker as if somebody was able to use their eyes to
experience the film (as opposed to another part of the body). Obviously, a film is meant to be seen first and foremost. And it an English
speaker says/writes, "Ogladalem mojego przyjacielu....", a Pole might think that the person was in a movie in which they were moving
as though in a succession of images:-)
Lyzko
7 Mar 2020
Po polsku / Wielkimi krokami zbliża się... Dzień Przyjaźni Polsko-Węgierskiej [50]
Szeretlek magyarok.
Szeretlek magyarok.
Lyzko
7 Mar 2020
Language / Verbal nouns and past-tense adjectives from imperfective & perfective verbs..when to use which aspect? [48]
Interesting that you mention this since I teach ESL, at the moment, to a rather large group of Polish exchange students, who, though considered
advanced, often make correspondingly similar errors in English:-)
Temporarily thrown off by adjectival phrases such as "...polskomowiacy = [a, the] Polish speaking man, which is technically not a gerund and therefore
not at all germain to the current topic thread.
Interesting that you mention this since I teach ESL, at the moment, to a rather large group of Polish exchange students, who, though considered
advanced, often make correspondingly similar errors in English:-)
Temporarily thrown off by adjectival phrases such as "...polskomowiacy = [a, the] Polish speaking man, which is technically not a gerund and therefore
not at all germain to the current topic thread.
Lyzko
6 Mar 2020
Language / Verbal nouns and past-tense adjectives from imperfective & perfective verbs..when to use which aspect? [48]
Thanks, ForumUser!
I see now that the analogy of mine in this instance was false.
Thanks, ForumUser!
I see now that the analogy of mine in this instance was false.
Lyzko
6 Mar 2020
Language / Verbal nouns and past-tense adjectives from imperfective & perfective verbs..when to use which aspect? [48]
"widzac" would correspond to the English "-ing" gerund form.
"widzac" would correspond to the English "-ing" gerund form.