I finally managed to get my hands on “Concise Polish Grammar – A Handbook for Foreigners” by Magdalena Foland-Kugler (ISBN 978-83-89913-51-7) published by Exlibris.
I haven’t read this book from cover to cover yet, just briefly paged through the sections that interested me the most. What immediately jumped out at me is the fact that the examples in this book are not translated into English.
Yes, I get it, if someone is reading a Polish grammar book, he/she should have some sort of basic vocabulary already mastered. But on the other hand, if you’re preparing a Polish grammar book for English speakers, why do you treat the examples as if they were written for Poles?
The book was written by a native Polish speaker in Polish, and then translated into English. As such, it has a point view of a native Pole, as well. And unfortunately, because of that and despite its best intentions, it is barely adequate for a non-native speaker. However, it’s a very good reference for a Polish person who wants to learn Polish grammar in English. Though I’m sure this is not what the author had in mind.
The book is not totally useless, though. The grammatical tables are simple and concise, to the point of being too simple at times.
I have a feeling that the author was given a certain number of pages for this project and desperately tried to cram as much information onto them as possible. Unfortunately, our wonderful Polish grammar doesn’t take too kindly to cramming and the book is simply too short (142 pages and that includes the preface and index!) and too basic.
As most grammar books the world over, this one is also written in grammaticalese, and woe upon those who attempt to read it not knowing what analytical gradability is, for example.
I find this book to be an easy read, and the explanations – clear and adequate. But then again, I don’t have to translate the examples to understand what is being said, and I know a lot about Polish grammar already.
However, my resident non-Polish speaker hated it and even though I had ordered him to read it, he only got as far as chapter seven before demanding “that Bielec book.”
Comments:
Elizabeth Sadus:
Good review! Now, I won’t buy it. Oscar Swan has a new book that breaks down grammar well. Not a huge fan of Oscar, but this one is great. It’s about a 100 pages. I think it is called Essential Grammar & Verbs. That isn’t an accurate title, but it was releases in 2008.
Eduardo:
Your blog is incredible useful and it’s a great fun to read it.
Thanks for saving me of this crazy book.
Malin:
Thanks for posting the review! I will definitely stay clear of that book. I agree with Elizabeth, Oscar Swan’s book is great. The title is “Polish verbs & Essentials of Grammar”. It’s only 134 pages but I think he did a good job on the “cramming-of-Polish-grammar”-part 🙂
Frank Cowell:
A real shame. A decent book on this theme is just what I would have wanted and just what I would have gone out and bought. But you’ve saved me the trouble of considering this one.
Ales:
we 2005 pol roka mieszkalem w Polsce i lubie ten kraj. Nauczylem sie tez mowic po Polsku, niestety coraz wiecej zapominam bo jus dawno nie mowilem po polsku. Wasz blof jest supe i teraz bedzie was czesto odwiedzic i sie dalej uczyc polskiego. Mam nadzieje ze wkrotce odwiezim Polska i wspaniala miasta jak Torun, Gdansk, Warszawa, Krakow, Malbork….
Pozdrawiam serdzecnie z Slowenii,
Trailers for Sale:
ood review! Now, I won’t buy it. Oscar Swan has a new book that breaks down grammar well. Not a huge fan of Oscar, but this one is great. It’s about a 100 pages. I think it is called Essential Grammar & Verbs. That isn’t an accurate title, but it was releases in 2007