Lyzko
12 Nov 2015
Language / Harmless old-fashioned Polish swear words/phrases [159]
Psiakrew, bydło!
Cholera!
Yes, I agree:-)
Psiakrew, bydło!
Cholera!
Yes, I agree:-)
Lyzko
9 Nov 2015
Lyzko
9 Nov 2015
Lyzko
9 Nov 2015
Language / Short Polish<->English translations [1049]
Once again, usage determines convention.
I've heard "Gratulacja!", though perhaps only by someone being sarcastic:-) "Sto lat!", also after someone has sneezed!
Once again, usage determines convention.
I've heard "Gratulacja!", though perhaps only by someone being sarcastic:-) "Sto lat!", also after someone has sneezed!
Lyzko
8 Nov 2015
Language / Short Polish<->English translations [1049]
"DobrEJ zabawY!" = (literally) "of good play", colloquially translated into more natural language, of course: "Have fun!" aka "Have a good time!"
Scores of similiar examples - Dziękuję z góry! (lit. "I thank from mountain!") i.e. "Thank you in advance!", "Smacznego!" (lit. of tasty) i.e. "Enjoy your meal!" etc....
Often Polish phrases are more involved than English ones, for which sometimes no quick 'n easy equivalent exists, e.g.
"Happy Birthday!" Most Poles will simply wish "Gratulacja!" (Congrats), but most of the time, especially in cards, "Wszystkiego najlepszego z okazji Twoich urodzin!" (lit. All of the very best on the occasion of your birthday!), a bit of a mouthful for first timers.
"DobrEJ zabawY!" = (literally) "of good play", colloquially translated into more natural language, of course: "Have fun!" aka "Have a good time!"
Scores of similiar examples - Dziękuję z góry! (lit. "I thank from mountain!") i.e. "Thank you in advance!", "Smacznego!" (lit. of tasty) i.e. "Enjoy your meal!" etc....
Often Polish phrases are more involved than English ones, for which sometimes no quick 'n easy equivalent exists, e.g.
"Happy Birthday!" Most Poles will simply wish "Gratulacja!" (Congrats), but most of the time, especially in cards, "Wszystkiego najlepszego z okazji Twoich urodzin!" (lit. All of the very best on the occasion of your birthday!), a bit of a mouthful for first timers.
Lyzko
7 Nov 2015
Language / Short Polish<->English translations [1049]
harrysmith, try also watching Polish movies with POLISH subtitles!! This might reduce the annoying need to "translate" and force you to begin to think in the language instead of using the eternal crutch of your native language:-)
I did this for many languages I've learned.
harrysmith, try also watching Polish movies with POLISH subtitles!! This might reduce the annoying need to "translate" and force you to begin to think in the language instead of using the eternal crutch of your native language:-)
I did this for many languages I've learned.
Lyzko
7 Nov 2015
Language / Short Polish<->English translations [1049]
Learning to THINK in another language, without "interference" from one's mother tongue's the hardest part, I find.
Example from a newspaper: "Kiszczak nie doczekał..", referring to his suspended prison sentence. Literally, the phrase says, "Kiszczak didn't wait...",which would sound weird in English within the context of the paragraph. It literally means, "Kiszcak didn't wait [to serve....."], but Polish expresses this concept differently from English. Polish has prefixes, as in "DOczekać", attached to the verb which alter its meaning.
Learning to THINK in another language, without "interference" from one's mother tongue's the hardest part, I find.
Example from a newspaper: "Kiszczak nie doczekał..", referring to his suspended prison sentence. Literally, the phrase says, "Kiszczak didn't wait...",which would sound weird in English within the context of the paragraph. It literally means, "Kiszcak didn't wait [to serve....."], but Polish expresses this concept differently from English. Polish has prefixes, as in "DOczekać", attached to the verb which alter its meaning.
Lyzko
2 Nov 2015
Language / Polish language would look better written in Cyrillic Script? [212]
.....all of which doubtless defeats the original purpose of have having Polish adopt Latin script:-) Presumably, were Polish meant to have retained it's primal script, it would have done so LONG AGO!
.....all of which doubtless defeats the original purpose of have having Polish adopt Latin script:-) Presumably, were Polish meant to have retained it's primal script, it would have done so LONG AGO!
Lyzko
24 Oct 2015
News / School shooting in Sweden. Should Poland be worried about a copycat? [24]
Again, until just ten or so years prior, doubtless noone in Germany or France could have even imagined what would happen in their country, it was an "American phenomenon":-)
Today, it's a worldwide reality, without borders!
Again, until just ten or so years prior, doubtless noone in Germany or France could have even imagined what would happen in their country, it was an "American phenomenon":-)
Today, it's a worldwide reality, without borders!
Lyzko
24 Oct 2015
News / School shooting in Sweden. Should Poland be worried about a copycat? [24]
Shooting, stabbing, goring.... sorry there, Chem, I only know what I read in the papyrusLOL
Of course, the premise is that the attacker a la Mr. Breivik in Norway, had a biased motive. Again, only curious, as this is a Polish, and not a Swedish, forum, whether any Polish schools feel any heightened sense of alert!
Shooting, stabbing, goring.... sorry there, Chem, I only know what I read in the papyrusLOL
Of course, the premise is that the attacker a la Mr. Breivik in Norway, had a biased motive. Again, only curious, as this is a Polish, and not a Swedish, forum, whether any Polish schools feel any heightened sense of alert!
Lyzko
24 Oct 2015
News / School shooting in Sweden. Should Poland be worried about a copycat? [24]
Empathy apart, InPolska, my query was merely as to whether Poland, as Sweden's European neighbor (if not directly) feared a similar type of attack as iminent or not.
That's all:-)
Empathy apart, InPolska, my query was merely as to whether Poland, as Sweden's European neighbor (if not directly) feared a similar type of attack as iminent or not.
That's all:-)
Lyzko
24 Oct 2015
News / School shooting in Sweden. Should Poland be worried about a copycat? [24]
?? Being neither Swedish nor particularly xenophobic (at least, not in public), inPolska, I'm slightly confused right now as to the nature of your rant. At whom are you lashing out, pray? Certainly not at me. So at whom, then:-)
?? Being neither Swedish nor particularly xenophobic (at least, not in public), inPolska, I'm slightly confused right now as to the nature of your rant. At whom are you lashing out, pray? Certainly not at me. So at whom, then:-)
Lyzko
24 Oct 2015
News / School shooting in Sweden. Should Poland be worried about a copycat? [24]
Apropos that shooting in a Swedish school on Monday last in which one teacher was killed, ought Poland be concerned that something similar might happen as occured in around 2002 in Erfurt, Germany or in Toulouse, France several years ago at a Jewish day school?
Apropos that shooting in a Swedish school on Monday last in which one teacher was killed, ought Poland be concerned that something similar might happen as occured in around 2002 in Erfurt, Germany or in Toulouse, France several years ago at a Jewish day school?
Lyzko
20 Oct 2015
History / remember, forget, forgive, blame ... Holocaust Memorial Day in Poland [231]
That's correct. Even after the war, some Germans complained that Eichmann hadn't gotten rid of ENOUGH!!!
Incredible.
That's correct. Even after the war, some Germans complained that Eichmann hadn't gotten rid of ENOUGH!!!
Incredible.
Lyzko
20 Oct 2015
History / remember, forget, forgive, blame ... Holocaust Memorial Day in Poland [231]
Chamonix, Mr. Irving shares with many other historians of his ilk the overriding desire to make his theories fit the facts rather than the other way round.
Chamonix, Mr. Irving shares with many other historians of his ilk the overriding desire to make his theories fit the facts rather than the other way round.
Lyzko
19 Oct 2015
History / remember, forget, forgive, blame ... Holocaust Memorial Day in Poland [231]
No one here on PF, least of all yours truly, has ever stated that Jews have some sort of saintly, martyred aka untouchable status, a sort of monopoly either on suffering or perfect behavior which automatically frees them from being just as human (along with their share of low lives, greedy opportunists and scum!!!) as anyone else. The issue here is whether Poland is as complicit as Pan Profesor Gross, along with his myriad defenders, contend it was.
To be historically accurate as always, Poland was one of the occupied countries which NEVER had the type of puppet government as did Quisling-Norway, Szillasy-Hungary with her Arrow Crossers, Hacha-Czechoslovakia, Vichy France or Romania with her Iron Guard etc. True enough and let's give credit to those sterling members of the (gentile) Polish Resistance as well, who willingly gave their lives for humanity and freedom.
However, we must not dare forget either that Poland's anti-semitism was virulent, and never far below the surface. To suggest otherwise is indeed hostile to both Jews as well as in flagrant disregard for historical fact. Shall we call in David Irving for some lessons in historical revisionism, maybe??!
I think he charges by the lieLOL
No one here on PF, least of all yours truly, has ever stated that Jews have some sort of saintly, martyred aka untouchable status, a sort of monopoly either on suffering or perfect behavior which automatically frees them from being just as human (along with their share of low lives, greedy opportunists and scum!!!) as anyone else. The issue here is whether Poland is as complicit as Pan Profesor Gross, along with his myriad defenders, contend it was.
To be historically accurate as always, Poland was one of the occupied countries which NEVER had the type of puppet government as did Quisling-Norway, Szillasy-Hungary with her Arrow Crossers, Hacha-Czechoslovakia, Vichy France or Romania with her Iron Guard etc. True enough and let's give credit to those sterling members of the (gentile) Polish Resistance as well, who willingly gave their lives for humanity and freedom.
However, we must not dare forget either that Poland's anti-semitism was virulent, and never far below the surface. To suggest otherwise is indeed hostile to both Jews as well as in flagrant disregard for historical fact. Shall we call in David Irving for some lessons in historical revisionism, maybe??!
I think he charges by the lieLOL
Lyzko
18 Oct 2015
History / remember, forget, forgive, blame ... Holocaust Memorial Day in Poland [231]
Thanks!! Why don't you quite posting nonsense and start READING some sense:-)
edited
Thanks!! Why don't you quite posting nonsense and start READING some sense:-)
edited
Lyzko
17 Oct 2015
Polonia / Let's talk about Sweden and other Scandinavian countries [236]
Sadly, many Swedes are beginning to share similar trepidations. In Germany, the Pegidists too are gettin' younger and younger:-) Any illusions of bigotry being an older or middle-aged persons disease should be dispelled immediately!
Sadly, many Swedes are beginning to share similar trepidations. In Germany, the Pegidists too are gettin' younger and younger:-) Any illusions of bigotry being an older or middle-aged persons disease should be dispelled immediately!
Lyzko
17 Oct 2015
Polonia / Let's talk about Sweden and other Scandinavian countries [236]
Ziemowit, I meant figuratively speaking that more than practically every second or third Swede born today will likely be of non-Swedish parentage.
I'm NOT speaking about outside the capital, of course:-)
Ziemowit, I meant figuratively speaking that more than practically every second or third Swede born today will likely be of non-Swedish parentage.
I'm NOT speaking about outside the capital, of course:-)
Lyzko
17 Oct 2015
History / remember, forget, forgive, blame ... Holocaust Memorial Day in Poland [231]
@Dziewanna,
In fact, it is YOU who are in error! Read any report from the World Jewish Congress, as well as responsible Polish dailies, and you will realize that what I've stated is a plain fact. One can respect a people as well as recognize their shortcomings. As I acknowledge the faults of Israel (not to mention the craven response to the Shoah by my own American Jewish fellow citizens during WWII!!), for instance in dealing with the Palestinian issue, Poles too (as have Germans, too belately the Austrians and the Swiss after them) must fess up to the skeletons in their closet and not merely shift the blame from the accomplice to the aggressor (Nazi Germany) back to the victims:-)
@Dziewanna,
In fact, it is YOU who are in error! Read any report from the World Jewish Congress, as well as responsible Polish dailies, and you will realize that what I've stated is a plain fact. One can respect a people as well as recognize their shortcomings. As I acknowledge the faults of Israel (not to mention the craven response to the Shoah by my own American Jewish fellow citizens during WWII!!), for instance in dealing with the Palestinian issue, Poles too (as have Germans, too belately the Austrians and the Swiss after them) must fess up to the skeletons in their closet and not merely shift the blame from the accomplice to the aggressor (Nazi Germany) back to the victims:-)
Lyzko
16 Oct 2015
History / remember, forget, forgive, blame ... Holocaust Memorial Day in Poland [231]
According to today's paper, Poland remains the one EU-country with no extant law for the restitution of private property to its rightful owners (or their heirs)!
Such commemorations are bound to become another lightning rod for extremists, ultra-right-wing nationalists and other fringies out here.
Pity that Premier Kopacz couldn't do a Merkel and call for a little peace and civility:-)
According to today's paper, Poland remains the one EU-country with no extant law for the restitution of private property to its rightful owners (or their heirs)!
Such commemorations are bound to become another lightning rod for extremists, ultra-right-wing nationalists and other fringies out here.
Pity that Premier Kopacz couldn't do a Merkel and call for a little peace and civility:-)
Lyzko
14 Oct 2015
Travel / I'm so bored in Poland! [129]
DougPol, they said the same thing about Prague and it turned out just to be a lot of bad press issued mostly be jealous ex-pats, soured on the job scene here, and so hightailing it over to Europe to "escape", only to find the job scene over there even worse!
You didn't burst my bubble, sorry. 'Have to try harder than thatLOL
Agree with what I've seen in pictures of Wrocław. A friend showed us some images on her iPhone. Drop-dead gorgeous!!
DougPol, they said the same thing about Prague and it turned out just to be a lot of bad press issued mostly be jealous ex-pats, soured on the job scene here, and so hightailing it over to Europe to "escape", only to find the job scene over there even worse!
You didn't burst my bubble, sorry. 'Have to try harder than thatLOL
Agree with what I've seen in pictures of Wrocław. A friend showed us some images on her iPhone. Drop-dead gorgeous!!
Lyzko
14 Oct 2015
Travel / I'm so bored in Poland! [129]
CIty I'd LOVE to explore is Kraków!!! Everything I've seen thus far in books is breathtaking:-)
CIty I'd LOVE to explore is Kraków!!! Everything I've seen thus far in books is breathtaking:-)
Lyzko
14 Oct 2015
Travel / I'm so bored in Poland! [129]
Szczecin's a lovely city too! Bored?? Far from it. I was sad it was only a day trip. Pity I didn't see more of it though:-) Folks didn't speak English there back in the mid-90's when I was first there. Luckily I knew enough of the language to negotiate relatively simple everyday stuff without a hassle (or a translator)!
Figure, as elsewhere in Poland, things have changed someLOL
Szczecin's a lovely city too! Bored?? Far from it. I was sad it was only a day trip. Pity I didn't see more of it though:-) Folks didn't speak English there back in the mid-90's when I was first there. Luckily I knew enough of the language to negotiate relatively simple everyday stuff without a hassle (or a translator)!
Figure, as elsewhere in Poland, things have changed someLOL
Lyzko
13 Oct 2015
Travel / I'm so bored in Poland! [129]
Carlylam, kinda tough without knowing the language sufficiently! Betcha if you learned enough Polish to even communicate, it wouldn't be boring any more:-)
Carlylam, kinda tough without knowing the language sufficiently! Betcha if you learned enough Polish to even communicate, it wouldn't be boring any more:-)
Lyzko
29 Sep 2015
Real Estate / Renting a flat in Warsaw for 9 months (no knowledge of Polish language) and prices [6]
No Polish? Renting a flat from potentially unscrupulous strangers??
Good luck, ol' man. Yer sure gonna need it!
No Polish? Renting a flat from potentially unscrupulous strangers??
Good luck, ol' man. Yer sure gonna need it!
Lyzko
29 Sep 2015
Life / Poles speaking English - examples [263]
Apropos this thread, how about Poles WRITING/POSTING English right here on PF??! Admittedly, a thread called "Foreigners speaking Polish - examples" might well yield similar guffaws, the present thread reveals the problems and pitfalls Poles ( as well as others) have with English.
Did I not recount the (true) instance of the Greek waiter who, upon hearing from my lips the compliment "Excellent, waiter!" on his speedy service, promptly brought me "egg salad", for which though I of course wasn't charged??
LOL
Apropos this thread, how about Poles WRITING/POSTING English right here on PF??! Admittedly, a thread called "Foreigners speaking Polish - examples" might well yield similar guffaws, the present thread reveals the problems and pitfalls Poles ( as well as others) have with English.
Did I not recount the (true) instance of the Greek waiter who, upon hearing from my lips the compliment "Excellent, waiter!" on his speedy service, promptly brought me "egg salad", for which though I of course wasn't charged??
LOL
Lyzko
29 Sep 2015
Life / Poles speaking English - examples [263]
Duda was just in Greenpoint, Bklyn. Although he doubtless spoke only Polish during his brief trip to visit the Polish-American community, apparently he doesn't really speak English. Perhaps some conversational German??
:-)
Duda was just in Greenpoint, Bklyn. Although he doubtless spoke only Polish during his brief trip to visit the Polish-American community, apparently he doesn't really speak English. Perhaps some conversational German??
:-)
Lyzko
26 Sep 2015
Work / English teachers in Poland - why are they so unhappy? [89]
Then again, the issue remains English teacher in Poland - where?? At a well-known university/college, trade or technical college, grammar school or language institute, perhaps.? A person must really narrow down their point of departure or it could be a recipe for disaster!
Then again, the issue remains English teacher in Poland - where?? At a well-known university/college, trade or technical college, grammar school or language institute, perhaps.? A person must really narrow down their point of departure or it could be a recipe for disaster!
Lyzko
26 Sep 2015
Work / English teachers in Poland - why are they so unhappy? [89]
English instruction throughout much of Eastern Europe has never kept pace with the West, i.e. North, such as Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Scandinavia etc.. I agree to some extent with Dominic. While obviously tremendous strides have been made over the past decade or so, Polish friends and colleagues from major cities and towns, e.g. Warszawa, Rzeszów, Poznań, Kraków and Gdańsk., roughly around the same ages (mid-30's up through 40's), have all confirmed that lots of schools continue to struggle to get qualified, English aka American, Canadian, native-born/university trained teachers who are willing to work at salaries not as yet competitive with those back home for basically the same amount of work!
I know one former English teacher from Poland who fits handily into the above category and who is among other things a translator of Polish as well as adjunct Polish instructor in her native city of Poznań. She freely admits that, compared to when she grew up, more than the average person on the streets of her city considers themselves conversant, i.e fluent, in English on nearly any daily subject:-)
English instruction throughout much of Eastern Europe has never kept pace with the West, i.e. North, such as Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Scandinavia etc.. I agree to some extent with Dominic. While obviously tremendous strides have been made over the past decade or so, Polish friends and colleagues from major cities and towns, e.g. Warszawa, Rzeszów, Poznań, Kraków and Gdańsk., roughly around the same ages (mid-30's up through 40's), have all confirmed that lots of schools continue to struggle to get qualified, English aka American, Canadian, native-born/university trained teachers who are willing to work at salaries not as yet competitive with those back home for basically the same amount of work!
I know one former English teacher from Poland who fits handily into the above category and who is among other things a translator of Polish as well as adjunct Polish instructor in her native city of Poznań. She freely admits that, compared to when she grew up, more than the average person on the streets of her city considers themselves conversant, i.e fluent, in English on nearly any daily subject:-)