Wlodzimierz
30 Apr 2014
Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]
Sounds like just one more English-certificate "diploma" mill to me:-)
Sounds like just one more English-certificate "diploma" mill to me:-)
Wlodzimierz
26 Apr 2014
Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]
....but only on his mother's sideLOL
....but only on his mother's sideLOL
Wlodzimierz
24 Apr 2014
Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]
It's the assimilated Jews in Poland (as elsewhere on the continent) who appear to live more comfortably. First sign of kipas, caftans etc.. then there can be trouble:-) At least this is what I've been told by contemporary Polish Jews, living and working in Warsaw.
It's the assimilated Jews in Poland (as elsewhere on the continent) who appear to live more comfortably. First sign of kipas, caftans etc.. then there can be trouble:-) At least this is what I've been told by contemporary Polish Jews, living and working in Warsaw.
Wlodzimierz
24 Apr 2014
Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]
@Harry, what I meant is that the problem of anti-Semitism, while not confined to Poland, nonetheless persists and can turn ugly at the drop of a hat!
@Harry, what I meant is that the problem of anti-Semitism, while not confined to Poland, nonetheless persists and can turn ugly at the drop of a hat!
Wlodzimierz
24 Apr 2014
Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]
Neither do I Kartofel, since as a native-born American, I grew up believing that one is known by one's nationality of birth, NOT by their ethnicity (let alone the ethnic/national origins of their parents etc.)
Poland's remaining Jews originate from those families who have been living there for close to a thousand years, yet until Poland's independence, as subjects rather than as citizens, already a primary distinction! Furthermore, while visiting Poland, even though briefly, I kept reminding myself not to judge European views on national identity based on my own, since such ethnocentrism rarely yields positive results:-)
Jews continue to be judged according to outmoded stereotypes, much like throughout the rest of Europe (the more "enlightened" countries as well.) France for instance was once the cornerstone of the Enlightenment, yet she remained virulently anti-Jewish right up through the present.
Neither do I Kartofel, since as a native-born American, I grew up believing that one is known by one's nationality of birth, NOT by their ethnicity (let alone the ethnic/national origins of their parents etc.)
Poland's remaining Jews originate from those families who have been living there for close to a thousand years, yet until Poland's independence, as subjects rather than as citizens, already a primary distinction! Furthermore, while visiting Poland, even though briefly, I kept reminding myself not to judge European views on national identity based on my own, since such ethnocentrism rarely yields positive results:-)
Jews continue to be judged according to outmoded stereotypes, much like throughout the rest of Europe (the more "enlightened" countries as well.) France for instance was once the cornerstone of the Enlightenment, yet she remained virulently anti-Jewish right up through the present.
Wlodzimierz
24 Apr 2014
Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]
Although I'm Jewish and have visited Poland, albeit only once, I've been assured by Polish-born Jews who still live in or around the major cities that anti-Jewish sentiment is ALIVE AND WELL, not confined to Muslims either, but usually widespread among rank and file Polish Christian fellow citizens. One informed me that all was well and good among his gentile colleagues at work, until one day he let it "slip" that he was Jewish and just by coincedence that evening, his tires were slashed and his car windows desecrated.
Coincedence my eye!!!
Although I'm Jewish and have visited Poland, albeit only once, I've been assured by Polish-born Jews who still live in or around the major cities that anti-Jewish sentiment is ALIVE AND WELL, not confined to Muslims either, but usually widespread among rank and file Polish Christian fellow citizens. One informed me that all was well and good among his gentile colleagues at work, until one day he let it "slip" that he was Jewish and just by coincedence that evening, his tires were slashed and his car windows desecrated.
Coincedence my eye!!!
Wlodzimierz
23 Apr 2014
Language / Polish regional accents? [141]
Essentially, the Shetlanders speak Norn, a language all but extinct, and yet never entirely expunged from the lips of older native speakers! Even the local speech of 'Northerners' in England, such as Yorkshire, Liverpool, especially Northumberland "Geordie", is often so loaded with ancient Nordicisms from Viking times that outsiders literally need an interpreter. I know I did. Frequently too, their English contains so many quaint turns of phrase, like "Oh, it'll be a tidy walk!" if wishing to answer a visiting stranger that a particular place is quite a distance on foot etc.
Jardinero,
Wouldn't it be "Agencja Polska"?? I guess misswritten Polish signage is as irksome to you as it is in reverse for me:
"MEDITRANEAN FOODS SELLS HERE" (a non-Poglish sign in Flushing, Chinatown)
:-)
Essentially, the Shetlanders speak Norn, a language all but extinct, and yet never entirely expunged from the lips of older native speakers! Even the local speech of 'Northerners' in England, such as Yorkshire, Liverpool, especially Northumberland "Geordie", is often so loaded with ancient Nordicisms from Viking times that outsiders literally need an interpreter. I know I did. Frequently too, their English contains so many quaint turns of phrase, like "Oh, it'll be a tidy walk!" if wishing to answer a visiting stranger that a particular place is quite a distance on foot etc.
Jardinero,
Wouldn't it be "Agencja Polska"?? I guess misswritten Polish signage is as irksome to you as it is in reverse for me:
"MEDITRANEAN FOODS SELLS HERE" (a non-Poglish sign in Flushing, Chinatown)
:-)
Wlodzimierz
23 Apr 2014
Wlodzimierz
23 Apr 2014
History / Polish Easter Tradition is also pagan! [47]
A surprising number of European countries term "Passover" as something resembling "The Jewish Easter", side by side, so it seems with a vague reference to "Pascal ____", f. ex. Italian "La Pasqua Ebraica" (some nowadays call it simply "Pesach", just as in the Jewish tradition, from Hebrew, yet also Yiddish!), French "La Paque Juife" etc.. German has "Das Passahfest" and Polish even "Święto Pesach", though that association with "saintliness" in the latter is never far from the surfaceLOL
A surprising number of European countries term "Passover" as something resembling "The Jewish Easter", side by side, so it seems with a vague reference to "Pascal ____", f. ex. Italian "La Pasqua Ebraica" (some nowadays call it simply "Pesach", just as in the Jewish tradition, from Hebrew, yet also Yiddish!), French "La Paque Juife" etc.. German has "Das Passahfest" and Polish even "Święto Pesach", though that association with "saintliness" in the latter is never far from the surfaceLOL
Wlodzimierz
23 Apr 2014
History / Polish Easter Tradition is also pagan! [47]
"Pisanki" appear to be common to Polish as well as Russian and Ukrainian Easter tradition:-)
"Pisanki" appear to be common to Polish as well as Russian and Ukrainian Easter tradition:-)
Wlodzimierz
22 Apr 2014
Wlodzimierz
22 Apr 2014
History / Polish Easter Tradition is also pagan! [47]
Yet this celebration of "Wet Monday" (Śmigus Dyngus) following Easter Sunday is distinctively Polish, I believe, yet clearly in keeping with the Christian concept of baptism as renewal, not a heathen idea at any rate.
Yet this celebration of "Wet Monday" (Śmigus Dyngus) following Easter Sunday is distinctively Polish, I believe, yet clearly in keeping with the Christian concept of baptism as renewal, not a heathen idea at any rate.
Wlodzimierz
22 Apr 2014
Language / Polish regional accents? [141]
Just this morning we were in Greenpoint and I heard what later turned out to be a Polish speaker on his cellphone, almost having sworn that he was speaking Russian, when in fact it was neither Russian nor Ukrainian, but clearly some regional variety of Polish:-) While I can't even remember what he was talking about, it wasn't the words, but the way the "l" sounded continuously "flat", like the Russian "dark l". Only the breathlessly repeated "Co?" and "Wiesz?" oriented me within a few seconds that I was actually hearing Polish:-)
Just this morning we were in Greenpoint and I heard what later turned out to be a Polish speaker on his cellphone, almost having sworn that he was speaking Russian, when in fact it was neither Russian nor Ukrainian, but clearly some regional variety of Polish:-) While I can't even remember what he was talking about, it wasn't the words, but the way the "l" sounded continuously "flat", like the Russian "dark l". Only the breathlessly repeated "Co?" and "Wiesz?" oriented me within a few seconds that I was actually hearing Polish:-)
Wlodzimierz
22 Apr 2014
History / Polish Easter Tradition is also pagan! [47]
For that matter, Christmas is a pagan holiday as well, at least the way it's celebrated in Northern Europe with a tree, gifts etc.
"Easter" is related to "Ostra" and refers to a pre-Christian, Indo-Germanic fertility ritual:-) "Bunnies" were a German addition, the human fascination with the ability of certain animals to multiply in excess, hence the expression "to multiply like jack rabbits".
For that matter, Christmas is a pagan holiday as well, at least the way it's celebrated in Northern Europe with a tree, gifts etc.
"Easter" is related to "Ostra" and refers to a pre-Christian, Indo-Germanic fertility ritual:-) "Bunnies" were a German addition, the human fascination with the ability of certain animals to multiply in excess, hence the expression "to multiply like jack rabbits".
Wlodzimierz
21 Apr 2014
Language / Polish language would look better written in Cyrillic Script? [212]
I think he means that a number of Polish nasals have been retained, whereas they are absent from the other extant Slavic languages! Same with long (closed) vs.short (open) vowels, conversely absent from Polish, yet present in Slovene, Czech and one or more other languages:-)
Cyrillic was doubtless abandoned by Polish as it's language eventually found itself unable to equate certain letters with certain corresponding sounds.
I think he means that a number of Polish nasals have been retained, whereas they are absent from the other extant Slavic languages! Same with long (closed) vs.short (open) vowels, conversely absent from Polish, yet present in Slovene, Czech and one or more other languages:-)
Cyrillic was doubtless abandoned by Polish as it's language eventually found itself unable to equate certain letters with certain corresponding sounds.
Wlodzimierz
17 Apr 2014
Language / Variations of the verb Chodzić [11]
Think in terms of e.g. "zachod" (the Occident = the West, land(s) of the setting sun) vs. "wschod" (the Orient = the East, the land(s) of the rising sun).
In Czech incidentally "zachód" means an outhouseLOL What a hoot!!!
Think in terms of e.g. "zachod" (the Occident = the West, land(s) of the setting sun) vs. "wschod" (the Orient = the East, the land(s) of the rising sun).
In Czech incidentally "zachód" means an outhouseLOL What a hoot!!!
Wlodzimierz
16 Apr 2014
Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4501]
Most Polish family names end either in some variety of "-ski" resp. "-ska","-wicz","-ik", "-ek", "-a" or "-da", often as well "-szczuk"/-"szczak". The latter two though are most assuredly of Ukrainian extraction, as "-ko" might be reason to assume the bearer is of Slovak origin:-)
There're always exceptions, even within as relatively homogeneous a gene pool as Polish. My surname for instance, "Pajdo", has almost never been guessed as a Polish surname (which I can assure you it is). I've heard Italian, Spanish, even Hungarian and all of those guesses were wrongLOL
Most Polish family names end either in some variety of "-ski" resp. "-ska","-wicz","-ik", "-ek", "-a" or "-da", often as well "-szczuk"/-"szczak". The latter two though are most assuredly of Ukrainian extraction, as "-ko" might be reason to assume the bearer is of Slovak origin:-)
There're always exceptions, even within as relatively homogeneous a gene pool as Polish. My surname for instance, "Pajdo", has almost never been guessed as a Polish surname (which I can assure you it is). I've heard Italian, Spanish, even Hungarian and all of those guesses were wrongLOL
Wlodzimierz
15 Apr 2014
Life / Why are the Italians and Polski so much alike? [90]
In our Italian lessons there's a lady from Poznań, an English teacher in Poland, and she often says that Poles have such an easy time pronouncing Italian as opposed to English, French or German. She gives the soft, yet mildly open Italian vowels as the main reason she sees for this, such in "Capri" or "caffe" etc.
In our Italian lessons there's a lady from Poznań, an English teacher in Poland, and she often says that Poles have such an easy time pronouncing Italian as opposed to English, French or German. She gives the soft, yet mildly open Italian vowels as the main reason she sees for this, such in "Capri" or "caffe" etc.
Wlodzimierz
14 Apr 2014
Language / A little Polish grammar. Masculine, animate objects. [64]
Kręcik,
What you meant was that in mochadot18's sentence, "To jest moją matką." should be governed by the Instrumental, rather than the Nominative, case:-)
Kręcik,
What you meant was that in mochadot18's sentence, "To jest moją matką." should be governed by the Instrumental, rather than the Nominative, case:-)
Wlodzimierz
13 Apr 2014
Study / Private Universities vs Public Universities in Poland [31]
Not exactly "on-topic", DominicB, but I must gently disagree with your assessment of Polish literature! While Mickiewicz and Słowacki may not feature highly on literature exams, Polish literature DID in fact come into her own by the 20th century with poets such as Iwaszkiewicz, Tuwim, Miłosz and the late Wysława Szymborska:-)
As far as your advice to Murzin NOT to take courses taught in English but rather to stick with those same subjects taught in Polish, I couldn't agree more. Spot on, mate!!!
Not exactly "on-topic", DominicB, but I must gently disagree with your assessment of Polish literature! While Mickiewicz and Słowacki may not feature highly on literature exams, Polish literature DID in fact come into her own by the 20th century with poets such as Iwaszkiewicz, Tuwim, Miłosz and the late Wysława Szymborska:-)
As far as your advice to Murzin NOT to take courses taught in English but rather to stick with those same subjects taught in Polish, I couldn't agree more. Spot on, mate!!!
Wlodzimierz
12 Apr 2014
Study / Private Universities vs Public Universities in Poland [31]
Absolutely! German universities no longer accept even qualified foreign applicants who do not pass with at least a "two" on their Sprachdiplom-certificates, usually from the local Goethe-Institute or equivalent qualifying testing center:-) To be honest, I think that's no more than right.
Absolutely! German universities no longer accept even qualified foreign applicants who do not pass with at least a "two" on their Sprachdiplom-certificates, usually from the local Goethe-Institute or equivalent qualifying testing center:-) To be honest, I think that's no more than right.
Wlodzimierz
12 Apr 2014
Study / Private Universities vs Public Universities in Poland [31]
In certain European countries, such as Germany, until the last ten years or so, private colleges/universities didn't have the same reputation as the established, traditional state-run universities, e.g. Heidelberg, Humboldt U., Maximillian U. in Muenchen etc.
Perhaps that too is changing as education everywhere is turning into mass consumerism, whereby the student is the 'consumer' rather than the learner and the teacher the 'producer' instead of pedagogue and mentor. Where the as yet UNprofessional (the student) can now sit in judgement of their professors, calls into question whether or not if this trend progresses, teachers can effectively do their jobs anymore.
In certain European countries, such as Germany, until the last ten years or so, private colleges/universities didn't have the same reputation as the established, traditional state-run universities, e.g. Heidelberg, Humboldt U., Maximillian U. in Muenchen etc.
Perhaps that too is changing as education everywhere is turning into mass consumerism, whereby the student is the 'consumer' rather than the learner and the teacher the 'producer' instead of pedagogue and mentor. Where the as yet UNprofessional (the student) can now sit in judgement of their professors, calls into question whether or not if this trend progresses, teachers can effectively do their jobs anymore.
Wlodzimierz
8 Apr 2014
Language / Why are Happy Easter & Merry Christmas the same in Polish [26]
Very useful, Magdalena! Many thanks. I suppose the person to whom I addressed the Easter greetings might have supposed I thought her to be a religious person:-)
Very useful, Magdalena! Many thanks. I suppose the person to whom I addressed the Easter greetings might have supposed I thought her to be a religious person:-)
Wlodzimierz
8 Apr 2014
Language / Why are Happy Easter & Merry Christmas the same in Polish [26]
"Happy Easter!" specifically among more observant Catholics I've heard as "Mokrego Śmigusa Dyngusa!"
"Happy Easter!" specifically among more observant Catholics I've heard as "Mokrego Śmigusa Dyngusa!"
Wlodzimierz
8 Apr 2014
Language / Perfective vs Imperfective - grammar [150]
Actually, Polish has fewer tenses than English! Its verbal aspects compensate for them, For instance, English has simple past, past progressive (continuous), present perfect and pluperfect. In Polish, it's either "pis(-yw)ać", "napisać" or "popisać", hence eliminating the need for "will have been writing" etc...
Actually, Polish has fewer tenses than English! Its verbal aspects compensate for them, For instance, English has simple past, past progressive (continuous), present perfect and pluperfect. In Polish, it's either "pis(-yw)ać", "napisać" or "popisać", hence eliminating the need for "will have been writing" etc...
Wlodzimierz
7 Apr 2014
USA, Canada / Polish Language Newspapers available in the US [21]
Polonius, "Nowy Dziennik" has long since moved to Garfield, NJ (along with their great, convenient bookstore). Other than that, an exhaustive and useful list:-)
The defunct "Polski Dzień" simply ran out of advertisers, plus there was the competition from Super Express, not to mention, Nowy Dziennik.
I prefer "Rzeczpospolita" personally. Unfortunately however, it's not available readily, and so must be shipped from Poland (or, of course, read on-line).
Polonius, "Nowy Dziennik" has long since moved to Garfield, NJ (along with their great, convenient bookstore). Other than that, an exhaustive and useful list:-)
The defunct "Polski Dzień" simply ran out of advertisers, plus there was the competition from Super Express, not to mention, Nowy Dziennik.
I prefer "Rzeczpospolita" personally. Unfortunately however, it's not available readily, and so must be shipped from Poland (or, of course, read on-line).
Wlodzimierz
7 Apr 2014
Language / Perfective vs Imperfective - grammar [150]
Codziennie w kursie on się uczy dziesięć nowych słów na pamięć.
???
@lunacy,
Thanks again! I always reverse "na" instead of (correct!) "w" podróży. Guess it's the German interference once again (AUF rather than IN Dienstreise)...
Codziennie w kursie on się uczy dziesięć nowych słów na pamięć.
???
@lunacy,
Thanks again! I always reverse "na" instead of (correct!) "w" podróży. Guess it's the German interference once again (AUF rather than IN Dienstreise)...
Wlodzimierz
7 Apr 2014
Language / Perfective vs Imperfective - grammar [150]
Thanks, Lenka! Unfortunately (as per usual), I recognized my typo only AFTER I'd sent itLOL
"Right church, wrong pew", we'd say about that:-)
Plus, I miswrote "....podróżY służbowej.."
^^
Thanks, Lenka! Unfortunately (as per usual), I recognized my typo only AFTER I'd sent itLOL
"Right church, wrong pew", we'd say about that:-)
Plus, I miswrote "....podróżY służbowej.."
^^
Wlodzimierz
7 Apr 2014
Language / Extremely Hard - Polish the hardest language to learn [175]
Noone's "expecting" you to know perfect English, that is, to know English other than the way you do, Jan Movie. One would however expect such were you to announce to this Forum that you're an English instructor in Austria, for example:-) Then one might indeed hold you up to a higher standard. Take my Polish as another instance. While noone here expects my Polish to be perfect for someone who spent at most several days in Poland, I don't teach the language either:-)
The latter's another story entirely (eine voellig andere Kiste).
Noone's "expecting" you to know perfect English, that is, to know English other than the way you do, Jan Movie. One would however expect such were you to announce to this Forum that you're an English instructor in Austria, for example:-) Then one might indeed hold you up to a higher standard. Take my Polish as another instance. While noone here expects my Polish to be perfect for someone who spent at most several days in Poland, I don't teach the language either:-)
The latter's another story entirely (eine voellig andere Kiste).
Wlodzimierz
6 Apr 2014
Language / Perfective vs Imperfective - grammar [150]
Następnego miesciąca JEŻD-Ę na podróże służbowej do Warszawy. vs. Codziennie JADĘ do Warszawy. / DOJADĘ pociągiem do uniwersytetu na zajęcia.
The first sentence is clearly PERFECTIVE [next month] compared with the second and third sentences IMPERFECTIVE [every day], [to class].
Następnego miesciąca JEŻD-Ę na podróże służbowej do Warszawy. vs. Codziennie JADĘ do Warszawy. / DOJADĘ pociągiem do uniwersytetu na zajęcia.
The first sentence is clearly PERFECTIVE [next month] compared with the second and third sentences IMPERFECTIVE [every day], [to class].