Language / Why is the Polish language so difficult? [309]


Your post reminds me of an American literature class I took in graduate school. We had to read William Faulkner's "The Bear" and "The Jail," two "short" stories that will make your mind spin. If you ever get a chance to read "The Bear," you will notice that there is one sentence that takes up five pages and is the longest sentence in American literature. (He will later top his own record in "The Jail," written three years after "Go Down Moses.") I think Faulkner is an exception because the subtlety of his work comes from his narrow usage of vocabulary and the complexity of his sentences. So, it can be done in English.

I just think Polish grammar is very, very tricky to the non-Polish speaking world. I would love to learn Polish, but I just don't understand the word order. There has to be some books out there on Polish sentence word order, there has to be.

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


Ok, whatever. It's not worth me getting upset over. Have a great one!

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


I have some concept, but it is a work in process for me as I just started learning the language.


You misunderstand me, Fuzzywickets. I didn't write my post to state that Polish isn't difficult or that people who find it difficult are idiots or mentally slow, quite the reverse. Polish IS a difficult language, and I see that even though I've just started the language three weeks ago. The cases, the conjugations, etc, etc are very daunting and as I am currently struggling to master the language. (See my post on imperative/ conditional) My post was meant to suggest that you don't have to be a genius to learn how to speak or understand Polish. In fact, the person I was responding to suggested that it was impossible to learn it, which I find a ridiculous statement.

I can feel your pain, Fuzzywickets. I really do. The word order is baffling to me, but that doesn't have to stop me from learning the language. It's all about motivation, as someone else on here mentioned.


I've noted them. I wrote them in a hurry.

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


Not really. If you listen to native Polish speakers and how they pronounce words, you will start to get a sense of how to say the words. If fact, many Polish words are not difficult for a native English speaker to pronounce, namely:

Problem [problem]
Kot [cat]
Lampa [lamp]
Katedra [cathedral]
Okno [window]
Radio [radio]
Telefon [telephone]
Komputer [computer]
Mama [Mom]
Tato [Dad]
Brat [Father]
Numer [number]
Dokument [Document]
Mapa [Number]
Plan [Plan]
Dom [house]
bilet [Ticket]

Also, the consonants are very similar to English consonants. So, the pronunciation shouldn't be too difficult for the English speaker. The vowels and that strange trilled "r" could be difficult, although I'm told that some Poles pronounce it like the French "r."

I'm currently studying the language now, and I do not see what is so challenging about the language besides the word order. You have to understand that Polish is a reflexive language, meaning that the word order is more flexible than in English. I find that I can but the verb in front of the noun, something I can't do in English because of its stringent word order. For example, Mówi Maria, or Maria Mówi.

And another thing. Polish and English are both in the Indo-European system of languages, so there are many traits that they both share.

Wish I could go into this more, but I have some Polish to learn. Gotta go, or as the Poles say, Muszę już iść