Lyzko
3 May 2016
Lyzko
2 May 2016
Love / Do women in Poland change their surnames to a feminine form of their husbands' surnames? [40]
The family name "Semelli" is perfectly valid in its country of origin! That it by coincidence sounds like the perjorative English word, has no merit in and of itself:-)
The family name "Semelli" is perfectly valid in its country of origin! That it by coincidence sounds like the perjorative English word, has no merit in and of itself:-)
Lyzko
2 May 2016
Language / Polish verb aspects: to memorize pairs or not? [8]
Whatever works, Cleiton 1996!
Many such programs turn out to be somewhat gimmicky in my experience and therefore of limited value. Admittedly, verbal aspects are a particularly difficult part of the language for foreigners, owing to the confusing, yet deceptive (and FALSE) similarities with English tenses:-)
While memorizing in pairs may appear a helpful learning aid, often the aspect pairs themselves may be so different from one another that only contextualized usage could tell them apart, e.g. "brać" vs. "wziąć". A non-Polish dictionary in a language which has no such equivalent, usually will give only one definition/translation which can be quite misleading, and thus inaccurate. Both of the above verbs mean "to take", yet one is not interchangable with the other.
For this reason, I'd be slightly wary of those sorts od apps.
As an erstwhile student rather than a teacher of Polish, I can only surmise that there's probably some mnemonic "code" or clever memory device for Polish native speakers as well as for foreigners to help in the rote acquisition of aspect pairs, but hanged if I know what that could be:-)
Whatever works, Cleiton 1996!
Many such programs turn out to be somewhat gimmicky in my experience and therefore of limited value. Admittedly, verbal aspects are a particularly difficult part of the language for foreigners, owing to the confusing, yet deceptive (and FALSE) similarities with English tenses:-)
While memorizing in pairs may appear a helpful learning aid, often the aspect pairs themselves may be so different from one another that only contextualized usage could tell them apart, e.g. "brać" vs. "wziąć". A non-Polish dictionary in a language which has no such equivalent, usually will give only one definition/translation which can be quite misleading, and thus inaccurate. Both of the above verbs mean "to take", yet one is not interchangable with the other.
For this reason, I'd be slightly wary of those sorts od apps.
As an erstwhile student rather than a teacher of Polish, I can only surmise that there's probably some mnemonic "code" or clever memory device for Polish native speakers as well as for foreigners to help in the rote acquisition of aspect pairs, but hanged if I know what that could be:-)
Lyzko
1 May 2016
Language / Is Polish amongst the best-sounding languages in the world? [123]
Polish often sounds almost chirpy to my ears, particularly when spoken by women.
Polish often sounds almost chirpy to my ears, particularly when spoken by women.
Lyzko
1 May 2016
Love / Do women in Poland change their surnames to a feminine form of their husbands' surnames? [40]
Probably because Germany has been more socially emancipated than Poland, and for a considerably longer time:-)
Probably because Germany has been more socially emancipated than Poland, and for a considerably longer time:-)
Lyzko
30 Apr 2016
Life / Warsaw is a difficult city to adjust to (coming from Canada and having lived in South Africa) Prague? [46]
Ziemowit, you misunderstand! I was saying the Szczecin is a provincial, if large, city in comparison with Praha:-)
Ziemowit, you misunderstand! I was saying the Szczecin is a provincial, if large, city in comparison with Praha:-)
Lyzko
30 Apr 2016
Life / Warsaw is a difficult city to adjust to (coming from Canada and having lived in South Africa) Prague? [46]
More Americans live and work in the Czech Republic than in Poland, I believe:-)
More Americans live and work in the Czech Republic than in Poland, I believe:-)
Lyzko
30 Apr 2016
Life / Warsaw is a difficult city to adjust to (coming from Canada and having lived in South Africa) Prague? [46]
As an American, Praha seemed to me a more "western" Central European city than Szczecin. Then again, Szczecin, though a larger city by any standards, seemed relatively provincial and compared to Czech Republic, had more of an Eastern European feel to it.
I've never visited Kraków or Warsaw however, true cosmopolitan areas I'm told, and so I reserve any final judgements up to this point:-)
As an American, Praha seemed to me a more "western" Central European city than Szczecin. Then again, Szczecin, though a larger city by any standards, seemed relatively provincial and compared to Czech Republic, had more of an Eastern European feel to it.
I've never visited Kraków or Warsaw however, true cosmopolitan areas I'm told, and so I reserve any final judgements up to this point:-)
Lyzko
29 Apr 2016
Life / Warsaw is a difficult city to adjust to (coming from Canada and having lived in South Africa) Prague? [46]
Czech-Canadian, how hard (or easy) was it to learn Polish? You never quite answered my question before:-)
Apropos your ancestral home, I visited Praha and like most, fell immediately under her spell, particularly the Haradzin, Vaclav Nemesti and the Karlovy Most. Praha and Budapest probably are the most unspoiled beautiful European capital cities!
Czech-Canadian, how hard (or easy) was it to learn Polish? You never quite answered my question before:-)
Apropos your ancestral home, I visited Praha and like most, fell immediately under her spell, particularly the Haradzin, Vaclav Nemesti and the Karlovy Most. Praha and Budapest probably are the most unspoiled beautiful European capital cities!
Lyzko
29 Apr 2016
Love / Do women in Poland change their surnames to a feminine form of their husbands' surnames? [40]
In some countries, Germany for example, the husband may choose to take his wife's family name IN ADDITION to his own surname, e.g. Arndt Braun marries Annette Mueller, thence becoming "Arndt Braun Mueller":-)
Normally though, this is only done where both of the couple are working professionals.
I know of a woman from Kraków, married to a man with a different family name, yet the woman still identifies herself as "Jola Adamowa", instead of "Jola Adamowa Pocztowska" or even "Jolanta Pocztowska", thus assuming only her husband's surname "Pocztowsky".
In some countries, Germany for example, the husband may choose to take his wife's family name IN ADDITION to his own surname, e.g. Arndt Braun marries Annette Mueller, thence becoming "Arndt Braun Mueller":-)
Normally though, this is only done where both of the couple are working professionals.
I know of a woman from Kraków, married to a man with a different family name, yet the woman still identifies herself as "Jola Adamowa", instead of "Jola Adamowa Pocztowska" or even "Jolanta Pocztowska", thus assuming only her husband's surname "Pocztowsky".
Lyzko
29 Apr 2016
Life / Warsaw is a difficult city to adjust to (coming from Canada and having lived in South Africa) Prague? [46]
"I may be Czech..."
Aren't you sure? Just kidding!
Coming from The Czech Republic then, I assume you don't have a language barrier (albeit Czech and Polish are not mutually intelligible). Or are you using some variety of English?:-)
I'm from the States and have only been to Szczecin. Wasn't there long enough unfortunately to form any meaningful opinion either of the city or its inhabitants, but my overall impression was generally positive.
"I may be Czech..."
Aren't you sure? Just kidding!
Coming from The Czech Republic then, I assume you don't have a language barrier (albeit Czech and Polish are not mutually intelligible). Or are you using some variety of English?:-)
I'm from the States and have only been to Szczecin. Wasn't there long enough unfortunately to form any meaningful opinion either of the city or its inhabitants, but my overall impression was generally positive.
Lyzko
28 Apr 2016
Genealogy / Angela Merkel is partially Polish. Her family name could be Kaźmierczak [208]
Your (clearly idiotic) point escapes me, Wulkan:-)
Your (clearly idiotic) point escapes me, Wulkan:-)
Lyzko
28 Apr 2016
Genealogy / Angela Merkel is partially Polish. Her family name could be Kaźmierczak [208]
...supported by what, pray??! Sounds like rubbish to me:-)
And Barack Obama's actually a testtube baby or an alien foreign agent, right?
LOL
...supported by what, pray??! Sounds like rubbish to me:-)
And Barack Obama's actually a testtube baby or an alien foreign agent, right?
LOL
Lyzko
28 Apr 2016
Genealogy / Angela Merkel is partially Polish. Her family name could be Kaźmierczak [208]
Were she Angela Guermann (nee Gursoy on her TURKISH grandfather's side, thus changed to sound more German) for instance, her heritage would indeed become a significant issue, given the relations between Germany and Turkey!
Germany's relationship with Poland is equally contentious.
Were she Angela Guermann (nee Gursoy on her TURKISH grandfather's side, thus changed to sound more German) for instance, her heritage would indeed become a significant issue, given the relations between Germany and Turkey!
Germany's relationship with Poland is equally contentious.
Lyzko
28 Apr 2016
Genealogy / Angela Merkel is partially Polish. Her family name could be Kaźmierczak [208]
This information has been well known for some time now. The cross-pollination over the centuries between Poles and Germans is legion! Often, I can't intuitively tell the difference any more between Polish and German tourists I frequently encounter here on the streets of New York.
I will say that, for obvious reasons, while Ms. Merkel has never once denied her Polish origins, she has never broadcast them either:-) This in itself is telling.
This information has been well known for some time now. The cross-pollination over the centuries between Poles and Germans is legion! Often, I can't intuitively tell the difference any more between Polish and German tourists I frequently encounter here on the streets of New York.
I will say that, for obvious reasons, while Ms. Merkel has never once denied her Polish origins, she has never broadcast them either:-) This in itself is telling.
Lyzko
28 Apr 2016
Life / Are there many crypto-Jews in Poland? [67]
True indeed, Delph:-) Jan Brzechwa, Jan Keipura (through his mother!). Julian Tuwim, Tadeusz Różewicz (both FULL, unbaptized Jews!!), Bolesław Leśmian, Kantor, the famous theater director etc.. were all Polish by birth as well as nationality, though they identified themselves first and foremost as Poles, second as Jews.
Even the most identifiable Artur Rubinstein considered himself a true man of the world, a musician, who described himself as a Pole "through and through" (Polak z krwi i kości) with a Jewish soul (z żydowskiej duszy):-)
True indeed, Delph:-) Jan Brzechwa, Jan Keipura (through his mother!). Julian Tuwim, Tadeusz Różewicz (both FULL, unbaptized Jews!!), Bolesław Leśmian, Kantor, the famous theater director etc.. were all Polish by birth as well as nationality, though they identified themselves first and foremost as Poles, second as Jews.
Even the most identifiable Artur Rubinstein considered himself a true man of the world, a musician, who described himself as a Pole "through and through" (Polak z krwi i kości) with a Jewish soul (z żydowskiej duszy):-)
Lyzko
28 Apr 2016
Life / Are there many crypto-Jews in Poland? [67]
Really? Polish Jews I know, as opposed to ethnic or gentile Poles, have led me to believe that most are ultra careful NOT to reveal their Jewishness in public (wearing kipot, prayer shawls, other identifiable garb) for fear of reprisals, even in the larger town and cities such as Warsaw and Lodz.
Why would they lie?
@Exactly, Delph! I think gumishu's exaggerating somewhat:-)
Really? Polish Jews I know, as opposed to ethnic or gentile Poles, have led me to believe that most are ultra careful NOT to reveal their Jewishness in public (wearing kipot, prayer shawls, other identifiable garb) for fear of reprisals, even in the larger town and cities such as Warsaw and Lodz.
Why would they lie?
@Exactly, Delph! I think gumishu's exaggerating somewhat:-)
Lyzko
27 Apr 2016
Life / Are there many crypto-Jews in Poland? [67]
[moved from]
Well, apart from John Godson, how many non-POLES serve or have ever served in the Sejm? How many professing Jews?
[moved from]
Well, apart from John Godson, how many non-POLES serve or have ever served in the Sejm? How many professing Jews?
Lyzko
27 Apr 2016
Life / Number of church attendees in Poland [54]
As Poland remains such a Catholic stronghold to this day, I was merely struck by the lack of uniformity in the choice of a non-Catholic to represent Poland, that's all:-)
There are non-Jewish Israelis aka Palestinians who represent Israel in her Knesset!
As Poland remains such a Catholic stronghold to this day, I was merely struck by the lack of uniformity in the choice of a non-Catholic to represent Poland, that's all:-)
There are non-Jewish Israelis aka Palestinians who represent Israel in her Knesset!
Lyzko
27 Apr 2016
Life / Number of church attendees in Poland [54]
Didn't know that:-) Interesting. Must have been the glaring exception!
Didn't know that:-) Interesting. Must have been the glaring exception!
Lyzko
27 Apr 2016
Lyzko
27 Apr 2016
Language / Polish vs Russian grammatical cases (accusative and instrumental) pronounciation [4]
Of course! By the way, the vestigial Polish form was "vremię" (or possibly "vręmie"), I'm no longer certain. My point was, that knowing Polish will not help as readily with speaking, reading, or writing in Russian as some might assume. Compare briefly below:
Russ. tjas = Pol. godzina
Pol. czas = Russ. vremya
Pol. szukać = Russ. iskat'
etc........
Another curious point is that Polish nasals have been "replaced" by non-nasal, frontal vowels in Russian, for example:
Polish: "Czytam książkę." vs. Russian: "Ja chytayoo knigu." In addition, Russian requires an adverb in such a construction whereas Polish doesn't, except for emphasis cf. "Ja czytam...", as opposed to someone else reading, etc.
Of course! By the way, the vestigial Polish form was "vremię" (or possibly "vręmie"), I'm no longer certain. My point was, that knowing Polish will not help as readily with speaking, reading, or writing in Russian as some might assume. Compare briefly below:
Russ. tjas = Pol. godzina
Pol. czas = Russ. vremya
Pol. szukać = Russ. iskat'
etc........
Another curious point is that Polish nasals have been "replaced" by non-nasal, frontal vowels in Russian, for example:
Polish: "Czytam książkę." vs. Russian: "Ja chytayoo knigu." In addition, Russian requires an adverb in such a construction whereas Polish doesn't, except for emphasis cf. "Ja czytam...", as opposed to someone else reading, etc.
Lyzko
26 Apr 2016
Language / Polish vs Russian grammatical cases (accusative and instrumental) pronounciation [4]
I too learned some Russian, only AFTER I already knew Polish:-)
Russian cases are different enough so that merely because you've studied one of the two languages, by NO means is any sort of guarantee of either mutual intelligibility, much less "fluency" in the other!
Aspectual distinctions are nearly identical to Polish, e.g. Russian verbs of motion 'khodit', 'idit' etc.
Pronounciation however, much less basic, daily vocab?? Forget about it, if you haven't actually sat down and earnestly studied the other language! Russian, as previously observed, is far more palatalized than Polish, and it contains many sounds not found in Polish.
Once more, everyday words for "time", "look for something", etc. are NOT identical between Russian and Polish, not to mention the myriad false friends you're likely to encounter along your journey!!!
I too learned some Russian, only AFTER I already knew Polish:-)
Russian cases are different enough so that merely because you've studied one of the two languages, by NO means is any sort of guarantee of either mutual intelligibility, much less "fluency" in the other!
Aspectual distinctions are nearly identical to Polish, e.g. Russian verbs of motion 'khodit', 'idit' etc.
Pronounciation however, much less basic, daily vocab?? Forget about it, if you haven't actually sat down and earnestly studied the other language! Russian, as previously observed, is far more palatalized than Polish, and it contains many sounds not found in Polish.
Once more, everyday words for "time", "look for something", etc. are NOT identical between Russian and Polish, not to mention the myriad false friends you're likely to encounter along your journey!!!
Lyzko
26 Apr 2016
Life / Number of church attendees in Poland [54]
Righto! Not that I have much but deep dislike for House Speaker Ryan, he does on rarest of occasions say things with which I concur and and one of those was that there is a lingering, deep-seated anti-Catholic bias throughout this land, witness university president Gordon Gee several years ago complaining that it "it weren't for those d----d Catholics, ......"
Pretty disgusting for someone in his capacity, don't you think?
Back to Poland, I can't imagine the Lutheran minority having a great deal of say. Even the Jews are more politically representedLOL
Righto! Not that I have much but deep dislike for House Speaker Ryan, he does on rarest of occasions say things with which I concur and and one of those was that there is a lingering, deep-seated anti-Catholic bias throughout this land, witness university president Gordon Gee several years ago complaining that it "it weren't for those d----d Catholics, ......"
Pretty disgusting for someone in his capacity, don't you think?
Back to Poland, I can't imagine the Lutheran minority having a great deal of say. Even the Jews are more politically representedLOL
Lyzko
26 Apr 2016
Life / Number of church attendees in Poland [54]
Although I haven't followed specifically the question of church attendance in Poland, I'd imagine (if the New York tri-state's any guide!) that it's up from nearly any other European country, particularly neighboring Germany, where it's been declining for literally decades.
I think that Catholic nations tend to take their religious practices more seriously than Protestant ones. I'm speaking of course, of Europe, as the US is still predominantly Protestant, Methodists and Presbyterians mainly, and Americans outside of New York or L.A. tend to be very serious and regular church attendees in my experience:-)
Although I haven't followed specifically the question of church attendance in Poland, I'd imagine (if the New York tri-state's any guide!) that it's up from nearly any other European country, particularly neighboring Germany, where it's been declining for literally decades.
I think that Catholic nations tend to take their religious practices more seriously than Protestant ones. I'm speaking of course, of Europe, as the US is still predominantly Protestant, Methodists and Presbyterians mainly, and Americans outside of New York or L.A. tend to be very serious and regular church attendees in my experience:-)
Lyzko
25 Apr 2016
Love / Do women in Poland change their surnames to a feminine form of their husbands' surnames? [40]
Wonderful, kpc21!
Appreciate the infos:-)
Wonderful, kpc21!
Appreciate the infos:-)
Lyzko
25 Apr 2016
Love / Do women in Poland change their surnames to a feminine form of their husbands' surnames? [40]
Then how about, for instance, the surname "Nowak"? Should the correct form(s) therefore be?
Pan Nowak
Pani Nowak(-owa if married)
Panna Nowak(-ówna if unmarried)
Very helpful as always, kpc21:-)
Then I should have written "Nowak(-OWSKA)"
:-)
Then how about, for instance, the surname "Nowak"? Should the correct form(s) therefore be?
Pan Nowak
Pani Nowak(-owa if married)
Panna Nowak(-ówna if unmarried)
Very helpful as always, kpc21:-)
Then I should have written "Nowak(-OWSKA)"
:-)
Lyzko
24 Apr 2016
UK, Ireland / The best way for a Polish person to learn English? [34]
ENGLISH close caption TV (on a daily basis!!), BBC/ABC/CNN/C-SPAN news broadcasts or podcasts and English (not Polish) subtitles in the beginning of the English phase, when watching a movie!
ENGLISH close caption TV (on a daily basis!!), BBC/ABC/CNN/C-SPAN news broadcasts or podcasts and English (not Polish) subtitles in the beginning of the English phase, when watching a movie!
Lyzko
24 Apr 2016
Language / "Hardening" of soft-sign endings of certain plural Polish nouns [4]
A most enlightening, native-speaker explanation, kpc!
Most welcome indeed, thanks:-)
A most enlightening, native-speaker explanation, kpc!
Most welcome indeed, thanks:-)
Lyzko
23 Apr 2016
Language / "Hardening" of soft-sign endings of certain plural Polish nouns [4]
Hate to answer my own query, but it occurred to me it may have to do with syllable stress; most Polish nouns are accented on the first, rather than on the penultimate or ultimate, syllable in the singular. This, of course, would depend on how many syllables in the word, for example "odpowiedź" has four. For instance "od - POW -iedź" vs."od - pow - IEDZI".
Something like this. Perhaps Poles find it simpler to velarize when forming the plural?
Hate to answer my own query, but it occurred to me it may have to do with syllable stress; most Polish nouns are accented on the first, rather than on the penultimate or ultimate, syllable in the singular. This, of course, would depend on how many syllables in the word, for example "odpowiedź" has four. For instance "od - POW -iedź" vs."od - pow - IEDZI".
Something like this. Perhaps Poles find it simpler to velarize when forming the plural?