USA, Canada /
Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]
delphiandomine. It is good to see that you basically like the people in Poland and even the Polonia in other places. However, I have a hard time understanding why you would get so riled up about the Polonia in America. Maybe you have encountered a few jerks on this board or elsewhere. Is it really possible that all the people of Polish descent in America are so terrible that you angrily ask why anybody would put up with them?
I am no expert, but know that many immigrants that came to the USA around the turn of the century had their names mis-spelled and mis-pronounced. They may have shrugged their shoulders and accepted it or might not have been able to read. Their children wanting to be Americans would accept the americanized version of the name.
If you have ever done any genealogy, you may already know that surnames are of relatively recent vintage. When you look at the available records, the names are usually spelled and sometimes pronoucned in a variety of ways. Especially if there were occupying nations. So, if someone pronounces a Polish name the way an American would say it, that is the progression of languages and names. Language is a living thing.
Same thing with "false friends". A recent discussion on here shows that Russian and Polish as well as some Swedish and German words have some common origins. They may be pronounced the same, and spelled the same, but have slightly different meanings. Or they may be spelled a bit different or pronounced differently, but have basically the same or related meaning. That is just what happens when people leave one area and then develop new ways of using words. I find it interesting, not something to be angry about.
Even in England, with the invasions of the Angles, Saxons, Normans and other tribes, many names changed, words developed new meanings and new ways of saying the words. English, and most of the Germanic languages have their common origins. With migration, the language changed, and developed into new languages.
So, why expect that people of Polish descent will be able to preserve exactly Polish as it is spoken in Poland? Maybe they will keep some words frozen in time from when their ancestors came to this country. Maybe they will apply English rules to Polish words and make a nightmare out of it. No one does these things out of spite or malice. I am sure if you came to America and met some of Polish descent, you would also find many people you would like despite their imperfect knowledge.
PS. I never used Busha....I used Babćia. However, to make it sound more loving and sweet, I used an English ending. Had no idea I was doing it, but many in America say it like Bob-chee. Think of dog vs. doggy. Jim vs. Jimmy. We most likely took the right word and changed the ending more like it would be in English.