Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]


Yeah, I'm the poppy flower avatar girl :-)


As a Czech, I would ask you to reconsider your proposition. A little knowledge of the last 500 years of Czech history wouldn't go amiss if you wish to say anything on this subject ;-P

Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]


My question was purely rhetorical ;-)

Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]


Nonono. For some reason, "radio" is uncountable in Polish (sounds silly, but why is "furniture" uncountable in English?).

You can only count radio by pieces: jeden radioodbiornik (odbiornik radiowy), dwa radioodbiorniki, etc.
And yes, it is equally acceptable to say "w radio" or "w radiu".
I would strongly advise you not to try using declinated forms of "kakao" ;-)
As for milk, it's uncountable both in Polish and English. Of course, you can say "kup dwa mleka" in the sense of "dwa kartony / dwie butelki mleka", but that's very informal and not considered "good grammar".

Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]


"Prosim" means "please" (as in "I request")

Thank you is "děkuji" :-)

Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]


Absolutely not ;-p

Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]


Before you carry on in this vein, please be advised that BOTH these forms are acceptable in Polish - "dwoma" + Fem is archaic, but not wrong.

Also, Polish is not the only Slavonic language to use different forms in this case - Slovak springs to mind (check the Wiki entry on dual forms for more info).

Additionally, Czech has both
dvema lahvema (informal) and
dvemi lahvemi (formal), and that's just an example, as the formal / informal divide goes right through the language, on the level of vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammatical forms - how easy do you think that is for a learner?

Ty haranty jsou spatne vychovany, potrebujou dostat facku
Tyto deti jsou spatne vychovane, potrebuji dostat pohlavek

To make things worse, the choice of formal vs informal is not always clear, as e.g. a highly educated person might use informal words or forms in their formal speech to lighten the mood, or someone might, while speaking in full informal mode, use a formal phrase or form to create a comic effect, or to inform the listener that they are being serious at that precise moment, etc. etc.

Plus other fun extras like the imperfective verb forms:
Kdyz jsem tam sel, zastekal na mne pes (perfective)
Kdyz jsem tam chodil, stekal na mne pes (in the past, each time)
Kdyz jsem tam chodival, stekaval na mne pes (repeatedly, and some time ago)
Kdyz jsem tam chodivaval, stekavaval na mne pes (a long time ago, several times)

which is the equivalent of roughly "When I went there, a dog used to bark at me".

I agree that Polish is one of the more complicated languages. But I insist it is one of many, and definitely not the most difficult one. Please read up on other Slavonic languages. And that's just for starters.

Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]

And how is that different from other Slavonic languages?

Language / Gospodarzu, dostanę u was trochę jaj? [14]


That will work very well if you are 100% sure about the farmer's background (dialectal and other) ;-)

Language / Gospodarzu, dostanę u was trochę jaj? [14]


No, I hate PC. On the other hand, your turn of phrase sounded unpleasant and patronising, not humorous at all IMHO.

By the way, the best way to ask a farmer about eggs for sale is to say:

Dzień dobry. Czy ma pan może jajka na sprzedaż?

Language / Gospodarzu, dostanę u was trochę jaj? [14]


How do you justify your arrogance?

Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]


I daresay this results from a different classification. I read elsewhere on the net that Polish has 4 main conjugation classes which are then divided into further categories. Unfortunately, I am extremely busy at the moment, so cannot delve further, and I am also no specialist on Slavonic grammars, so cannot provide information off the top of my head. I "only" know both Polish and Czech intimately and my personal feeling is that Czech is indeed more complicated than Polish, for a number of reasons. By which I do not mean to say that Czech is in any way "superior" to Polish - the question of superiority does not enter into this.

Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]


All long vowels are clearly marked in spelling, so no problem there, I should think. They can only pose problems to speakers of languages which have no distinction between long and short vowels.


Sure. I think what really makes Czech stand out though is the verb aspect system and conjugation ;-)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_conjugation#Verb_classes

Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]


I would say that apart from the "i - y" and "ú - ů" pitfalls, Czech spelling / pronunciation is very clear and consistent.

But


I agree wholeheartedly with the above. If anyone thinks Czech learners have it easy, just have a look at the Wikipedia entry on Czech grammar ;-)

(And that's just a very concise overview)!

Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]


How did you come up with that? I studied Russian for 8 years and I know how difficult a language it is.


I would be really very grateful if you could elaborate on this, with examples if possible. Please!

Love / Do Polish Women age well? [153]


That is true; but those same 50-year-olds did care a lot more about their appearance when they were 20, and today's youth will not be so bothered about how they look when they grow older! Sure, there are exceptions in both age groups, but you get my drift. Also, older people who look a bit run down in the clothes and hair department are not a Polish trait - not by a long shot. I see them all the time here in London, but I wouldn't want to generalise about how English / Pakistani / African women age (many don't look that fascinating after passing approximately 40, but I would still put it down to an individual's unfortunate gene pool).

Love / Do Polish Women age well? [153]


I almost feel offended. It seems I must belong to the "older generation" and I am now expected to shrivel up like a prune after spending my youth standing in lines for bread and toilet paper. :-/

Is too hard for you to count the years and realise that someone who is 40 today was not born during WW2, and actually lived all of their adult life in post-communist Poland? I do not know even one woman who would use only the cheapest cosmetics and skimp on hairdressers or nice clothes just because "times were hard". Not only in my generation, but in my mother's generation as well. Some people just don't age well and that's that. It's a question of genes, not money.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

Yeah, I did more than a quick search, and all these links point to one (ONE) story written by Konopnicka, with a note that the pronunciation of "murzać" is "mur-zać", so if "murzyn" were etymologically related, the word should be pronounced "mur-zyn" (two distinct consonants instead of one). Someone seems to have an agenda and is spreading this false etymology around the Polish internet.

The true etymology is from the Old Czech "mouřenín" coming from the Greek "mauros" - dark-skinned, swarthy (the same root as in the English "Moor"). Check it out, master linguist!

Study / "MAGISTER" OR "MASTERS DEGREE" - ARE THEY THE SAME? [75]


Why are you so obsessed about extramural students? Everyone knows that extramural study usually means slightly lower standards. But what about all the hard-working, goody-two-shoes, full-time students? How is their work of lesser quality? I simply cannot comprehend your Pavlov reaction: every time anybody says "magister", you just have to say "extramural". Why? I'm dying to know.

Genealogy / Polish Gypsy Roots & Roma ancestors in their families [205]


Also, it is a part of their culture to not intermarry with the "gajo".

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]



I feel your pain, but still, it's hardly an "overuse" in this case - if I buy stuff online, I jolly well want it sent registered, and the seller probably does too, in case of problems. That said, I have the same problem at my local post office in London - 4 or 5 people blocking the entire area, with huge sacks of packages to be sent via Special Delivery... ;-(

On the other hand, I do buy a lot of things on eBay, so mustn't grumble!

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]


...and that is Poland's "fault" exactly how?
I thought it was the brands themselves who dictated what and how is being produced in different countries? Also, you are the first person I know who says that, and I've worked with plenty Americans (ranging from Texas to Minnesota, with Ohio and Pennsylvania thrown in for good measure, and even a bit of California) ;-)

Food / Confusion over flour names in Poland [46]


Well, what's the problem with adjusting the amounts? The sachet will have info on that. Use this much powder for so much flour. Or use a Polish recipe, then the recipe will tell you how much powder to use ;-p

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]


As if this didn't happen in other countries. I was relieved of a replacement credit card and other assorted correspondence by the wonderful Royal Mail staff throughout the years. I'm posting this just to keep things in perspective.

Genealogy / Polish Romani (gypsy) surnames [64]


Not quite right:

Jerzy Ficowski (October 4, 1924, Warsaw - May 9, 2006, Warsaw) was a Polish poet, writer and translator (from Yiddish, Russian and Romani). (Wikipedia)

He discovered and translated into Polish the poetry of Papusza, a Gypsy poetess, who was subsequently shunned and exiled by other Roma for "revealing secrets to the Gajos". But AFAIK, he was not of Romani extraction himself.

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]


But why is the Western European way better by default? Maybe it's you who are mistaken and should learn from us? ;-)
After all, it's all a question of perspective. There are loads of things in the UK that I think "shouldn't be like that" - but it's not my country, so I don't start threads about "things I hate in the UK".

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]


Of course it does. Just like lots of dissatisfied whinges about Poland that you can read on this forum ;-)
Seriously though - I let rip only because Michal dug up a post of mine from ages ago and kindly asked me to get the hell out of the UK. Well, I sure am getting the hell out.

BTW, I've lived in London for the past 4 years, and have travelled it extensively (community interpreting) from Barking to Croydon and from Wembley to Lewisham, with quite a bit of central London thrown in for good measure. I got to know it all: public transport, council estates and posh suburbs, shops, museums, parks, hospitals and prisons... I daresay it's not all hell on earth all of the time. But I cannot bring myself to accept London and feel at home here.

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]


Don't you fret honey, I'm moving back to Poland soon. And not a moment too soon! I've taken your benefits, stolen your carp, eaten your swans, and lived in your council houses - NOT.

London has left me unimpressed, your museums are just full of the loot of centuries (which I think should largely be handed back to the rightful owners), you have destroyed most of your towns and cities architecture-wise (what's with the drab concrete bunkers-with-tiny-windows that constitute a major part of your "modern" architecture? Lots of them all over - central London and council estates alike), and there is not much good I could say about British fashion or cuisine.

I would love to travel and see the beauty of British nature, but I do not have the time to hunt for discounted rail tickets (I know there is a whole science to this!), and I cannot afford to pay the hugely inflated prices that are offered as "standard". So simply going to the station when the fancy takes me and buying a ticket to somewhere nice is not an option. I am fed up with the British feeling of superiority in all areas of life, which I find unjustified.

Rant over. You can start shooting now. ;-P

Genealogy / Polish Gypsy Roots & Roma ancestors in their families [205]

As I work with the Roma quite often, I spent quite some time researching them on the internet. I just typed in "Roma people", "Roma culture", stuff like that. I did quite a lot of reading in Polish and Czech though (though AFAIR the Czech site had some English translations as well). This was several months ago though. I just tried to re-create some of my paths on this search, but to no avail. I might try again later.

Genealogy / Polish Gypsy Roots & Roma ancestors in their families [205]

Some straight facts about Gypsies (taken from websites written by Roma organisations or ethnographers involved with the Roma people):

1) "Roma" means "human being". We are "gajo". The rules of appropriate conduct, the Romanipen, only apply to those who are truly human, therefore there is no loyalty, honesty or civility due to those outside the Roma society - the gajos.

2) The Roma consciously and consistently place themselves outside general society - by shunning education, not seeking employment, and never, or almost never, mixing with the gajos (a gajo woman marrying a Roma man is sometimes acceptable, but a Roma girl who marries a gajo becomes dead to her family and friends).

3) Inside the Roma social structure, there are two castes. Some Roma are "clean", others "unclean" - this depends on their ancestry. The clean Roma will not invite the unclean Roma to their homes or interact with them socially.

4) There is a number of occupations the Roma would never take up because this would make them unclean - including dentist, doctor, and farmer (due to contact with another's bodily fluids or cutting the body of Mother Earth); thanks to this the Roma have a lot of different excuses for not working for their living.

5) Roma women are expected to defer in everything to their menfolk, marry as young as possible, and have as many babies as possible. Most Roma girls either never go to school at all, or drop out before puberty, despite the best efforts of the education authorities to change this.

Pray tell me why many of you seem to think that I should implicitly trust, respect, and like a society built along the above lines?

I choose not to. I know a number of Gypsies and I know they can be nice to me if they think this will help them achieve their goals. But I have also seen enough to understand that they do not expect or need my approval or respect for their lifestyle any more than they would expect it from a bird hopping about in the yard. I am not an equal to them. They are simply not bovvered.

And so neither am I.

Life / If I could introduce something from my country into Poland, I would.... [175]


I think you were extremely lucky. Seriously.


How about - bits of it aren't? Of course central London is nice and dandy... But if you wish, I can give you a comprehensive, guided tour of the less lucky 80% of London.


Sure - it's just a question of proportions. 100% tidy doesn't exist anywhere - and I have seen beautifully managed villages and towns in England, too. But in the larger cities it's depressing to see that literally no one cares, including the binmen who have been recently instructed by the Councils and their elf-n-safety jobsworths to look after their backs properly, so if a piece of rubbish falls from a bin to the street, there it stays (no bending). After the rubbish collectors pass, the street often looks worse than before!

Also. in Poland the unofficial institution of rubbish-rummager (śmietnikowiec) acts very effectively - recyclable materials are painstakingly extracted from bins without anyone charging you for the service. Most bin treasure hunters are actually quite tidy and don't leave a mess, as they come around daily and don't want people to chase them away.

Dog sh*t is regrettably an issue but, to my surprise, I have recently started coming across doggy traps where I live in London - on the pavements; in PL it's the lawns at least, where you're not supposed to walk anyway, so it looks ugly and may smell, but at least does not pose an immediate threat.

I have spoken.