Cala przyjemnosc po mojej stronie (the pleasure is all mine)
Lyc said:
But poking around some for I found the suffix -ski/-cki/-dzki can also mean 'of the place' as well as 'of the family'. So could Geralt technically be known as Geralt Rivia-ski (Geralt of Rivia)? And since Geralt was granted the title by Rivia's queen it is technicnally a title like 'von'.Ah, thought of another - is 'Geralt' a real polish name like 'Fred' or 'Peter', or was it made up by Sapkowski? And since the books were released in Poland have people actually stared naming children 'Geralt'?
-ski/-cki/-dzki at the end of the word might mean "of the place" or "of the family" but doesnt have to. its far from simplicity, we just dont use it that way because it sounds unnatural, though its still communicative. it could be used like this: geralt riv
ski which can be translated to English: rivian geralt. it is understandable but sounds strange, we dont use it.as for geralt name, it sounds Polish but i doubt if there's anyone called geralt in Poland
. its another sapkowski's naming, he's very good at it. i imagine a Polish kid named geralt would have hard times in school. other children would importune and annoy him.
Lyc said:
Though out of curiosity - are Polish taught English in schools? Or is it optional? I was wondering as it appears a lot of the Polish here speak very good english, while the average English speakers apility to speak polish has a lot to be desired.
every school, from elementary up to high school is teaching 2 foreing languages. 90% of the time one of them is English. apart from that every self-respectful teenager will learn English privately. our skill in English vary greatly but almost all young people know English on communicative level.i for example tend to make mistakes in grammar :'(
Lyc said:
And thanks for that link, as it covered the problem very well. While correct usage may say to use Pan/Pani it comes off as odd sounding and people lopok at you funny. 'Szanowny Panie' comes across as Honourable Sir (or 'dear sir'), but if someone started talking to you like that I think they would pack you off to the funny farm. I'm also didn't know that Warsaw was reconstructed after WW2 using 16th century Bellotto paintings. The interesting unrelated things you find out when asking about one topic
More reading to do.....
there's nothing wrong with "szanowny panie", just there are moments where you should use it and other when its out of place. i wouldnt call 'szanowny panie' anyone on the street but when writing official letter its a respectful way of addressing adult person.as for Polish history, eh.. our country was removed from the map for 123 years, from 1795-1918, then WW1, WW2 and up to 1989 we struggled with crippling comunism. hard times really but we are getting back in business
a little of our history in the pill if you want: http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=Quld5950v6w&mode=related&searchcheers
and good night
