What is POLANDIAN all about?
POLANDIAN started out as a blog with a sharp focus on all things Polish and has been going since February 2008. Frequency of posts is hard to nail down but the average is two posts a week. Our busiest day was in August 2008 when we had over 20,000 visitors. It was all downhill from there and 2011 was our “annus horibilis” with writers and readers loosing interest. In 2012 we re-wrote the POLANDIAN charter and moved the focus from having to be about Poland to being whatever the writers wanted to say.
So who actually writes for POLANDIAN?
Good question. As of Jan 2012 the following people have contributed, number of posts and/or pseuds in brackets: Jamie Stokes (195, Island1), Ian Scattergood (170, scatts), Pawel (37), darthsida (20), Colin (7), Pinolona (3), polandianguest (102). Within the latter category of “Polandian Guest“, significant contributions have come from Derek (61, Decoy) and Bartek (20) with fewer but nonetheless glorious contributions by Brad, Lon & others. People come and people go. Active contributors since the beginning of 2012 are Scatts & Decoy.
Do you all live in Poland?
Yes. Some of us were born here but most came from elsewhere arrived in Poland for a variety of reasons and have subsequently been unable or unwilling to leave. Most have been here between 5-15 years. Nationalities of writers, so far at least, includes British, Polish, Irish & American. I think it is fair to say that all of us have a “proper job” and blog when we find the time or the urge takes us.
Can I get involved?
Sure. If you have any good ideas, draft posts or whatever please send them to: ruskmuncher@gmail.com. One of us will read it through and come back with comments. We’re not too demanding but we do have some standards you know!
About the myth of the polish weather:
Poland is very rainy in the summertime. In the summer, most of the precipitiation falls, far more than in the winter. The mean showering days in Krakow in July are around 12, which is comparable to London, UK. The average temperature for the whole year is more THAN 4 degrees more in London than in Warsaw. London also receives more sunshine hours per year.
Poland is wonderful place, but the weather is not always fantastic (went there in August 2006, and it rained most of the time in south, but clear weather in the north with temp around 20-25 C°).
Jóhann: Hi! Thanks for the comment.
Poland is not ‘very’ rainy in the summertime. In my experience rain is restricted to short but heavy storms, which is a big improvement on the long but light drizzle I was used to in the UK.
And I seriously don’t believe it’s hotter in London than in Warsaw. I’ve lived in both cities for a few years and I can tell you, Warsaw is considerably warmer and sunnier. That’s just the way it is.
Hello,
I was wondering if someone on this site may be able to assist me?
My future father-in-law is from Poland and he was asking me about english words and why they are pronounced they way they are.
Do you know of any books that are written in Polish but explaining the English language?
Thank you!
Hey John, hope this will be helpful.
Finding anything that specific in Polish may be a challange. Usually even Polish universities would publish their findings about the Engilish language in English, as it’s usually interesting to advanced users of English only. It could be especially challanging to find a Polish language source for historical grammar of English – I certainly didn’t hear about one.
These can tell your future curious father in law how words are pronounced
Website with basics in Polish
http://ifa.amu.edu.pl/fa/files/ifa/pigulka/spis_tresci.htm
or books in English if your future father inlaw does speak English
“English Phonetics for Poles” Włodzimierz Sobkowiak
“English Phonetics and Phonology” Peter Roach
“A Course in Phonetics” Peter Ladefoged
Historical gramar of English could explain why certain sounds of the Engish languge are as they are. How about this then http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0415132738/ref=sib_rdr_dp
Thank you very much for your help!
Would you know where I might be able to find more information on this book:
“English Phonetics for Poles” Włodzimierz Sobkowiak
It sounds like it may be a possibility.
Thank you again!
It’s not available at mainstream stores, they must have run out.
I found it at some smaller on-line bookstores
http://alejahandlowa.pl/tr/produkt/english-phonetics-for-poles–a-wlodzimierz-sobkowiak-ksiazka-krakow_1378017.html
http://www.nowela.pl/ksiegarnia/opt_showbook/idksiazki_45752/idkat_apa
http://szczytnicka.pl/product_info.php?products_id=62543
Or you could ask the author yourself:) http://ifa.amu.edu.pl/fa/Sobkowiak_Wlodzimierz
This is awesome!
Thank you so very much!
One last question…..do you know if these places ship to the U.S.?
I understand some Polish but not a lot…..I can understand some of what I see on the sites and I can figure out quite a bit…..but I am by no means fluent…..
I appreciate all your help!
Can anyone suggest the best place to buy a CD “Phantom of the Opera” in Polish. Thanks. I am in NY.