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Posts by Magdalena  

Joined: 15 Aug 2007 / Female ♀ 		Last Post: 27 Jan 2015
Threads: Total: 3 / Live: 0 / Archived: 3
Posts: Total: 1827 / Live: 423 / Archived: 1404 		From: North Sea coast, UK
Speaks Polish?: Yes
Interests: Reading, writing, listening, talking

Displayed posts: 423 / page 4 of 15
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Magdalena   
23 Aug 2013
Language / Slang term for "pants" in Polish? Gacie. [32]

Beliefs, as discussed in other threads, cannot be questioned. It is a matter of Faith.

I understand now. I stand corrected. I thought we were discussing etymology, diachronic and comparative linguistics, stuff like that. Facts. Research. Science. If it's a matter of Faith - please, continue believing in your theory. I wouldn't want to warp your Faith.
Magdalena   
23 Aug 2013
Language / Slang term for "pants" in Polish? Gacie. [32]

Your personal beliefs, I am sorry to say, are neither here nor there. Do you have even the slightest proof of any such break in continuity?

BTW, the surname is not necessarily a Jewish one.

OK then. Let me tell you a story...
A long, long time ago, there was an underwear producer called Gaciowski. Or maybe Gatkes. It must have been at least a 1000 years ago. In a time before factories and marketing, he was able to start underwear production on such a mass scale that his name became the synonym not only for underwear itself, but also: the furry hindlegs of bears, insulation, feathery bird's legs, and many other similar objects, animal parts and concepts. His production was so prolific that the word seeped into every corner of the Slavonic world - but nowhere beyond it, for some reason.

Sounds legit - not.
Magdalena   
23 Aug 2013
Language / Slang term for "pants" in Polish? Gacie. [32]

however words work a little differently to that,

...a little differently to what - exactly?

I believe strongly that the word in its present form was recycled from Yiddish

Again - why? I see a strong continuity between "gać / gacić / gace / gacie / gatki".

though the surname theory is compelling.

I think the surname theory is absolute tosh, if only for the reason that surnames in general, and Jewish surnames in particular, are a thing of the very recent past, while the word has been used for a hell of a long time (and all over Central and Eastern Europe).
Magdalena   
23 Aug 2013
Language / Slang term for "pants" in Polish? Gacie. [32]

but it still doesn't explain how the term gadżki (and gacie and variants) came into common use

The word "gadżki" does not exist. You might mean "gatki" - an abbreviation of "gacie".

The word "gacie" is and was a very common word. It didn't have to "come into use" - it WAS in everyday use, and still is as regional / slang word in Polish, and a regular / dialectal word in many other Slavonic languages.

As per your earlier post:

"You've certainly made some interesting points, however they don't quite ring true"

Please explain.

" and seem like you're trying to prove a pint."

Well, yes - I am trying to prove my point. What's wrong about that?

"One that isn't backed up by any evidence".

Except the history of Slavonic languages, that is.

" There is however a traceable history of the word's use in Yiddish."

I am not saying the word was not used in Yiddish. It obviously was / is. But it seems to be a borrowing from the Slavonic languages, not the other way round. Or is "kasza" also a borrowing from Yiddish, as "kasha" is a legitimate Yiddish word? How about "boychik" - is "boy" an English borrowing from Yiddish?
Magdalena   
23 Aug 2013
Language / Slang term for "pants" in Polish? Gacie. [32]

pl.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=Strona:PL_Aleksander_Br%C3%BCckner-S%C5%82ownik_etymologiczny_j%C4%99zyka_polskiego_149.jpeg&action=edit&redlink=1

Please read carefully the entry for "gać".

Thank you.
Magdalena   
23 Aug 2013
Language / Slang term for "pants" in Polish? Gacie. [32]

The old Slavonic word is most likely unrelated.

And why would it be unrelated if it has the same meaning?

Also, as the linguist that you are, please explain to me how the word "gatkes":

1) lost the "kes" part in all its "host" languages
2) traveled backwards in time to a period when it initially just meant "covering" (of any type) and products were not industrially made and marketed under a particular surname / brand name.
Magdalena   
23 Aug 2013
Language / Slang term for "pants" in Polish? Gacie. [32]

Gacie / haće / gatě are a word found in many different Slavonic languages, and they mean "covering", "lower limb underwear", "pants", "trousers". There is also the Old Slavonic word "gatja". Overall, it seems much more logical that the word was assimilated into Yiddish than the other way round.
Magdalena   
23 Aug 2013
Life / Help me find this Polish band and song.... [117]

Nope. Not Polish. I know it's garbled, but it doesn't seem to have been Polish originally either. I think you might have more luck searching by the tune than the words. It might be difficult, but not impossible. It would probably entail listening to lots and lots of Lithuanian folk songs (I would throw in Belorussian songs as well, as the linguistic borders were quite blurry), which isn't such a bad thing in itself :-)
Magdalena   
13 Aug 2013
Life / Typical Polish house and family [46]

There is nothing inherently "special" about a Polish house or family, at least when compared with other European nations. I think Sobieski was hinting at this in his post. If you have specific questions, fire away and we might be able to help.
Magdalena   
7 Aug 2013
Language / Polish slang phrases - most popular. [606]

I never said "only until"; and you should read up on "hyperbole". Also, you are decidedly giving this convo a sick and pervy vibe. Over and out.
Magdalena   
6 Aug 2013
Language / Polish slang phrases - most popular. [606]

I don't know what you mean by that. I will never see my 10th birthday again, so "fresh", "innocent" and "wholesome" are not adjectives you could describe me with. On the other hand, if you described me as mature, intelligent, funny, sexy, wise, and creative, you would not be far off the mark ;-)
Magdalena   
6 Aug 2013
Language / Polish slang phrases - most popular. [606]

Seems a young priest teaching catechism in school heard kids saying siema, nara and spoko and wanted to sound cool and trendy himself. So when he entered the classroom he would greet the kids with a rousing POCHWA! (short for Niech będzie Pochwalony Jezus Chrystus).

OMG. You really believe that's a true story? It's a joke that's about 15 years old. Yeah, kids have been using siema, nara, spoko and the like for at least that long. I use spoko quite a lot when I'm in an informal setting. Actually, I use quite a number of slang expressions. It's probably because I'm not a wholesome innocent lass ;-)

"Mrs B.

They like to say 'siemanko' instead of 'good morning' at register time. I understand that this is slang for 'hello', but is it disrespectful? I like them to speak 'Polish', but don't want them to think I am an idiot!"

I would say they are trying to be "funny". Tell them firmly that you know what it means and to cut it out. It's waaay too informal and relaxed for a class setting.
Magdalena   
27 Jul 2013
Love / Polish women care about traditional values [34]

Poland may be a "traditional" society, yes. Women might be quite happy to get married, and they often adore children. But it all takes place within a matriarchal, not patriarchal, structure. At first, and maybe second glance, it might not seem obvious. But if you look closer... as a rule, the wife is the final decision-maker in the family; the mother in law is more important than the father in law; girls are brought up to be rather assertive, independent, and neither exceedingly meek nor modest; and most teachers from kindergarten to upper secondary school are female. In other words, marrying and have kids in such a society is often seen as much more desirable than it might be perceived in the so-called West. As I see it, many Polish women of the most recent adult generation have managed to combine all the advantages of feminism with all the perks of being a stay-at-home-mum, and ditched most of the responsibilities: they stay at home with the kids, and demand their partner works his backside off for them, but on the other hand, they also expect that the same partner will share their domestic duties, because they want an "equal relationship". Nice touch.
Magdalena   
11 Jul 2013
Genealogy / Polish Gypsy Seliga (Szeliga) and Bunk (Bak) ...Need opinions [32]

right, ok, so you are still going to argue with me that they look Polish?

Yes. They could be Polish, no questions asked.

Now you have decided based on the name that they could have some Jewish influence?

Please quote me saying that.

you decided to be a condescending b1tch

Why, thank you for the compliment, it's really appreciated.

my great grandmothers moms maiden name was Czaja.

Another typical Polish surname :-)

In my opinion prime examples of typical looming Slavs would have be Pope John Paul II or Vladmir Putin.

I am afraid there are almost as many types of Polish "looks" as there are Polish people themselves. I only realised this after moving to London though ;-) I would see people from all over the world who would often have facial features like my friends and relatives back home (even though they might have a completely different skin colour!) ;-)
Magdalena   
11 Jul 2013
Genealogy / Polish Gypsy Seliga (Szeliga) and Bunk (Bak) ...Need opinions [32]

Selig being an 'easier' Anglicised version of Szelig perhaps?

AFAIK the name Selig coexisted alongside Szeliga in Poland. They might both ultimately have come from the same Germanic word, as both Polish and Yiddish share a lot of German influence, nevertheless - they are distinct names. Also, Selig seems to function as a given name, while Szeliga is definitely a surname only.

thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Selig
Magdalena   
11 Jul 2013
Genealogy / Polish Gypsy Seliga (Szeliga) and Bunk (Bak) ...Need opinions [32]

Newpip:

Are you a trained anthropologist?

He is saying they are from south west former Austro Hungarian, so it makes sense.

What he did say was that they came from southeastern Poland, which then formed a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Saying they came from the

south west former Austro Hungarian

is like saying an English person comes from the "northeastern European Union" - that would make about as much sense ;-)

IMHO, the only trace of possible "foreign" origin could be found in the family's surnames.
As for Szeliga:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szeliga_coat_of_arms

This does not necessarily mean that Scotty's ancestors were nobility, it might also mean that they were peasants who were given the surname (and possibly the coat of arms as well) by their master when he freed them (not an uncommon practice). An example of this is to be found in the conclustion to Pan Tadeusz.

As to Bak / Bunk: the spellings suggest it was Bąk in Polish, with the Bunk spelling variation trying to preserve the nasal vowel of "ą".

The surname Bąk is also associated with nobility, with the same reservation as above:

genealogia.okiem.pl/bak.htm

All in all, good Polish surnames with ne'er a trace of foreign influence ;-) Which is not to say it can't be there, but you would have to dredge up other names - maybe from church records?
Magdalena   
10 Jul 2013
Genealogy / Polish Gypsy Seliga (Szeliga) and Bunk (Bak) ...Need opinions [32]

And dark hair and dark features are not Slavic

Really? So I am not Slavic, nor is a vast number of other Polish people I know ;-)
Actually, Slavic does not equal blonde and blue-eyed, while most Poles are a very mixed bunch, genetics-wise, so I don't think it would be wise to say that the people in the photos are definitely mixed with some other (non-Polish) group. They might be, but their facial features don't seem particularly "foreign" to me, while the women's fashions and hairdos, plus their free mingling with men in a social situation, somewhat exclude the possibility of their being Roma (or at least Roma who would be conscious of their ethnic identity and cultural heritage, and who would see themselves as a distinct group, different from the Polish).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavs#Physical_characteristics
Magdalena   
4 Jul 2013
Language / Slavic languages words similarities with Polish [238]

It may be related to Polish CHYwalić, resp. "POchywalić", indicating "inclining toward(s)",

Sorry, completely wrong on this one. You've messed up pochwalić, pochwalony (verb "to praise", adj. "praised") with pochylać, pochylony (verb "to stoop, to bend over smth.", adj. "stooping", "leaning"). There is absolutely no connection between those words.

BTW, "pochwalony" does not mean "your servant", it means "praise (the Lord)" - the full phrase is "niech będzie pochwalony Jezus Chrystus" to which the correct response would be "na wieki wieków".
Magdalena   
27 Jun 2013
Food / Bigos Recipe [183]

I'm a bit worried for a different reason. There shouldn't be too much liquid sloshing around in bigos if you're doing things right. Bigos is a fatty food, so you can relax on that count, unless you've really overloaded on the grease part ;-) Also, if you think the proportions ain't right, you can always add more sauerkraut to even things out - that's the beauty of it! I wouldn't add more raw cabbage at this point (I'm guessing you've been cooking for some time already), as it might take too long to blend in with the rest. As long as the taste is OK, I wouldn't worry too much about the rest. But do boil most of any excess liquid off, leaving it just comfortably moist.