So…. The Lexiophiles Best Language Blog contest is over, and this year it was an immense failure for us. Or rather, for me. Last year, Polish Blog came in 6th. This year, 71st.
Oh well, I guess the novelty of Polish Blog has worn off, and it’s my fault too, because I haven’t told you about this contest and didn’t beg you to vote for me.
But that brings me to this question – what other internet resources do you use in your Polish language adventure?
With the overload of information on the internet, I know you can find stuff on just about anything. And that includes język polski. But which ones of those many resources are worth reading and using?
I have to admit, I am rather clueless here. I know that a few of you frequent other blogs, I know that some of you write your own blogs (as Pinolona and Island1 do). And then if you add to that language forums, discussion forums, and what-not forums, you can end up with a sizeable list of Polish-themed goodies on the internet. But the question is, which ones of those are worth your time and aggravation – as it often happens with discussion forums?
So, let’s share our “język polski w internecie” experiences! But since I have little to share here, I have to, once again, depend on you.
Oh, and before I forget. It’s “w internecie” in Polish (in the internet), not “na internecie” (on the internet). But don’t worry if you’re like me, and prefer to say “na internecie”. And from what I’m seeing, this mistake is becoming more and more popular. But as one friend very patiently explained to me, these two expressions actually mean something different.
Different? Yes, there is a difference, I agree (I just like to annoy my friend) but it’s so slight that most people don’t even realize it. But hey, that’s Polish for you.
Comments:
P.D. Gourlais:
Dzien Dobry!
This is the first Polish language site that I found in English which is actually respectable. I’m a scholar and I do a lot of research. Since internet sources have always been weak for Polish language learners, I’ve always turned to the old fashioned way- using books.
The time I spend on your blog is always fruitful and I learn much about Polish culture.
Dzieki!
Michael:
http://www.google.pl/ig?hl=pl
I use this online polish dictionary almost everyday. It isn’t very accurate sometimes.
This could be useful:
http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/2018755,69,nastoletni_pirat_sadzony_w_usa_ten_dzieciak_kocha_muzyke_i_technike,item.html
click on odsłuchaj and you get a woman reading the text on the page.
Mania:
Hi Anna, It’s a shame I didn’t know about the contest! I read your blog frequently and I think it is great. I am Polish but currently I live abroad and it always brings to me what is best about our homeland. I also have say it is both my English and my Polish that get improved thanks to reading it. And of course whatever people migth say about Polish sense of humor, your blog is the fine example of it. So, please, keep writting and next year I am sure it is going to be better!
David Honley:
Hi Anna!
Sorry your Polish blog only came 71st – I would definiely have voted for you. The main Polish resources I use ‘w internecie’ are:
http://www.PolishForums.com
http://www.dict.pl/
http://polish.slavic.pitt.edu/
PolishForums is excellent. I’ve had excellent explanations concerning Polish numbers (nightmare), the Instrumental case, and use of the Conditional. It is aso an excellent resource for finding out the meaning of expressions not found in Polish/English dictionaries, expressions such as ‘zatoka niżowa’. As suspected it turned out to be just about the same as ‘klin niskiego ciśnienia’, the difference depending on the shape of the ‘trough of low pressure’ as dictated by the closeness of the isobars, and therefore the shape of the trough!
Anyway, I can thoroughly recommend PolishForums.com
Of course Anna, your blog is also very useful, especially re cultural aspects of Poland/Polishness…
Pozdrawiam
David (‘czarnykot’ on PolishForums)
Natasha_TLadmin:
“immense failure” – what are you talking about????? If anything, it was a failure on my part because I only gave you the opportunity to advertise the contest and didn’t just advertise myself.Well, there is always next year 😉
John:
I found your website by accident and have forwarded it to several people. I think it is nicely written, understandable and sometimes humorous, especially to non native speakers who know just enough Polish to be dangerous. Keep it up.
Lúcio:
Nice to know more about polish culture!
Do you know a poet called Paulo Leminski?
He wrote:
Love
Love is a link between blue and yellow
Island1:
*Pricks up ears at mention of name* I thought this was the only język polski source. There are others? Mostly I read these things and think “that’s interesting” and then completely fail to integrate them into my meager and painfully slow-growing język polski brain area.
Chad:
Here’s my Go-to list:
While I am reading or studying I usually always have these web pages opened:
http://translate.google.com/translate_t#pl|en
http://www2.ling.pl/
http://www.wiktionary.org/
Google Translate and Wiktionary have been pretty good at helping me figure out the meaning of words either when conjugated or declined.
Ling.pl is pretty good, but I also use the onet.pl słowniki if ling is being stupid.
I also found http://polish.slavic.pitt.edu/ early on after combing through Google search results. The Swan PDF files are quite handy for going into the gory details 🙂
Johnny:
This is a very old thread, but in case you’re still there, Anna, thank you in particular for clearing up “w” & “na” internecie (the problem which brought me here).
I’ve come to Polish late in life. Having a degree in English (inc linguistics) from 40 years ago, and having “done” German, Latin, French and Welsh, I appreciate that teaching yourself Polish is *virtually* impossible. I do it out of interest & enjoyment. It keeps the brain active even if lacking a practical application.
Without YouTube, to hear how it’s spoken, it would be a non-starter. Lonely Planet beats other phrasebooks as a first taste. A Berlitz słownik, stuff from University of Pittsburg (haven’t looked it much so far), Wiktionary, Wikipedia. And, just arrived in the post, Oscar Swan’s “Polish Verbs & Essential of Grammar”, 2008 edition – I’ve only read the first 2 pages but it seems a gold mine & cleared up several things already. Google Translate is often awful but can be a useful starting point. IVONA for computer generated text-to-speech, Forvo for real people pronouncing individual words. And taking every chance to speak, though they are few, and to listen all the time. Someone passing on the street talking into a phone and saying “Nie widziałem cię..” Listening in the pub for the occasional word you know and hearing how it’s said in everyday speech – it all helps. I’m registered at Polish Forums & will take a deep breath & dive in soon.
Pozdrawiam! Dziękuję bardzo.