Is English Difficult? 2

[CajunCenturion]

What is the most difficult part of English to deal with for those who've learned English as a second+ language?

Good Luck
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As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[rosieb]

ChrisHunt
Sorry to disappoint you, an American friend visiting did the very same thing. Though I'd have to grant, you need a special reason to visit dear old Loughborough, or Leicester for that matter.

Rosie
"Never express yourself more clearly than you think" (Niels Bohr)

 

[toolmantwo]

Stella740pl
Can you read/write any Polish? My father speaks the language, yet I have no idea how to spell the words.

Maybe you might know of someone who can read/write/speak Polish?

Thanks

 

[Stella740pl]

toolmantwo,

I cannot write or speak Polish, but I can understand a few words here and there when spoken, and a little more when written. It's relatively close to Ukrainian, but uses Latin alphabet (Ukrainian uses Cyrillic). I've seen a few people here in Tek-Tips who live or used to live in Poland. I might recall 2-3 handles. Do you need something in particular?

 

[Chance1234]

In polish the word for earings sounds very much like cold turkey, the language is filled with gems like that.



Filmmaker, gentleman and [#Error]

http://WWW.5YLAC.S5.COM

http://WWW.HOWTOBESPOOKY.CO.UK

 

[Dimandja]

First encounter with american food.

"Would you like a hot dog?"

"Absolutely not! In my country, we don't even eat them cold!

 

[toolmantwo]

Stella740pl

Thanks
I am just trying to learn more about the language. I can remember some words my Dad used. One for the word hammer sounds like "maw-tek. I know one for "Old man", but cannot spell the word. Likewise some greatings.

My Dad is 92 years old just yesterday. He said he could understand some Russian (Which version is unknown).

If you know how to reach someone from Poland, let me know.
One person told me that in Polish they have many more words than english, yet they are short, quick to say and do not have several meanings like as in the case of english.

 

[Stella740pl]

toolmantwo,

The word for hammer I would have understood, at least when reading. In Polish it is "MLOT" or "MLOTEK", and in Russian and Ukrainian it would be "MOLOT" or "MOLOTOK" (if you spell it using Latin letters). All 3 languages have somewhat different pronunciation, though.

Are you in USA? How long ago your dad came here? He might be able to understand a great deal of Russian and Ukrainian.

As for the language, you can find a lot of resources on the Internet. Here is one link:

http://www.yourdictionary.com/languages/slavic.html#polish

You might be able to find some groups, also.

If you make a keyword search here on "Polish" or "Poland" and check the threads that come up, you might find a few members from Poland here (you might be able to find some contact information there, check profiles whether they come here often, or you could just wait that the member in question would come to this thread). A quick search I made brought me 4 names, 2 of them I knew before.

 

[toolmantwo]

Thanks Stella740pl

I will check that out soon. I am in the USA, my Dad was born here, but my grandfather came from Poland (Not confirmed at this time). I have some tools from my Great Great grandfather from Poland. I also collect old tools and have been doing that for 40 years. I now work as a MFG engineer and design hand tools and machine tools for production. In WW2 my dad slated to help translate Russian, but not utilized.

 

[Stella740pl]

I've just noticed that one letter in the Polish words appears not exactly what it should (and what it looked like to me in the preview mode). The second letter is not just regular letter "L", it's letter "L" crossed with sort of a small slash.

 

[KenCunningham]

Sorry to butt in here, but when studying Russian at a very basic level, I found the glossary in Anthony Burgess' book 'A Clockwork Orange' quite useful as a reminder for several words, one of which was molotok as mentioned above. More at:

http://soomka.com/nadsat.html

for those interested.

 

[AnanthaP]

Ken,

Where does one get the glossary for a clock work orange.

End

 

[sleipnir214]

AnathaP:
Is the link KenCunningham provided in his last post not working for you?



Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!

TANSTAAFL!!

 

[Stella740pl]

Language is an amazing thing. I was browsing through a brief English-Polish dictionary online, and while I understood great deal of words (have no clue how to pronounce them, though), some of them I would hardly guess even if they sound very familiar. Say, that same word that means 'employment' in Polish, in Russian means 'difficulty' or 'trouble'. Interesting twist. Originates from the same word in both languages, though - from word meaning 'work', 'labor'.

 

[toolmantwo]

stella740pl

Would you know if Russians use slang?

I have met some people from China and they did not use slang at all. Sometimes here in the USA I think we use slang just too much.

 

[Dimandja]

Russians use slang.

Chinese and many other cultures don't seem to have what americans call slang. In some other languages I speak, using the equivalent of 'slang' is considered rude, uneducated, and grossly inappropriate in virtually any context. So, slang as such does not really exist.

Dimandja

 

[KenCunningham]

Ah, but is there a difference between 'slang' and 'common usage'? I can feel a whole new thread coming on.....

 

[Dimandja]

In the US, for example, the gap between 'slang' and 'common usage' tends to close. Look for many new 'words' in US dictionaries every year.

On the other hand, 'prude' languages rarely add new vocabulary.

Dimandja

 

[Stella740pl]

Of course Russians use slang. Not even one version. (Plus a possibility for a very rich and creative use of swearing/rude/taboo vocabulary.) As in USA, slang can vary by locality, age, educational level, ethnical background, and many other factors. Some of it can be considered "informal common usage", some still stays slang, but usually there is a line between written language and spoken language. Some expressions, even though not considered rude or inappropriate in a conversation, would look "uneducated" in a written text. Of course, depends on context.

 

[toolmantwo]

Thanks stella740pl one star for the input

We have found that one small area like one town, or here at work we have slang for many things. At this company, the term "brown-noser" used by some people to describe a person who is always looking for the favor of their manager has been replaced with the word "Bobber".

One person started calling the other peer "Bobber" when he felt the peer who would "kiss up" to his manager named Bob by using the head bob for agreement (The Yes Man). Then others gave a mock award of a fishing bobber to the newly declared "Bobber" person who they felt was deserving. We seem to invent fun here.

Stella have you seen the TV show MASH? My contacts with the people from China did not understand the show and why so many people here would watch the show. (This was from 10 years back in time)

 

[Stella740pl]

No, I haven't. So many shows, so little time. I watch a few every once in a while, and MASH is not one of them.