Bakunin Diglot Senior Member Switzerland outerkhmer.blogspot. Joined 5128 days ago 531 posts - 1126 votes Speaks: German*, Thai Studies: Khmer
| Message 97 of 134 18 October 2013 at 11:35am | IP Logged |
The vague concept I have in mind about a proper break is: complete, and at least a month or so. Can't back it up with anything. And it only works after intense learning periods, of course. I've never tried it, though, so it's all just hear-say.
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Mooby Senior Member Scotland Joined 6103 days ago 707 posts - 1220 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Polish
| Message 98 of 134 25 October 2013 at 12:23pm | IP Logged |
A Tricky Little Word
I'm starting to get my head round a little word that I notice more and more these days, but whose meaning I find elusive and variable.
The word in question is: zaś
Here's my understanding of it to date:
1. "while" [whereas] acting as a conjunction between opposites.
For example:
Kobiety pozostały w salonie, mężczyźni zaś przeszli do biblioteki
The women remained in the living room, while the men went to the library
2. "the" acts as an article to enhance the word that follows.
For example:
Lubił wszystkie ryby, najbardziej zaś pstrągi
He liked all fish, and trout the most
I'd greatly appreciate any comments, clarifications and other examples.
Thanks.
Edited by Mooby on 25 October 2013 at 12:26pm
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Zireael Triglot Senior Member Poland Joined 4649 days ago 518 posts - 636 votes Speaks: Polish*, EnglishB2, Spanish Studies: German, Sign Language, Tok Pisin, Arabic (Yemeni), Old English
| Message 99 of 134 25 October 2013 at 2:00pm | IP Logged |
I think you have it right. Note that 1) is much more common than 2).
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Mooby Senior Member Scotland Joined 6103 days ago 707 posts - 1220 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Polish
| Message 100 of 134 25 October 2013 at 5:49pm | IP Logged |
Thanks Zireael.
At least I have awareness of the word, which will improve through more exposure. Apart from it's meaning and function, I still find its placement in the sentence (often later than I anticipate) takes getting used to. Plus, I have the impression it's more common in written language than speech since I can't recall having heard it. I may be mistaken here - short words like ' zaś ' can go unnoticed by me for a long time.
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Mooby Senior Member Scotland Joined 6103 days ago 707 posts - 1220 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Polish
| Message 101 of 134 31 October 2013 at 1:30pm | IP Logged |
Anki = 4374
Hours Studied = 45 (Total: 1042)
The usual formula: read lots + listen + go through (and complete) one workbook at a time.
The workbook at the moment is still Colloquial Polish, the older edition. I'm not rushing through it, but taking my time to suck it dry. Each piece of information triggers a search for examples in use from other sources, principally the internet. The information is then converted into an Anki card along with sample sentences. Existing cards are ammended, and the word or point of grammar is cemented a little more in my mind. Reading provides the vital reinforcement, and clarification. Listening also, providing the colloquial twists to what might appear in formal print.
I've got half a dozen general workbooks lined up after I finish Colloquial Polish. I might start the later edition (2008), or try a targetted workbook (like 'Iść czy Jechać' by Józef Pyzik). I've got plenty of literature to chew through, having just ordered another three books.
Samo Życie and Radio Trójka are the usual listening material. I must get back into Real Polish, and watch more films and documentaries.
Another use for the word 'Wiele'
Wiele, as we know, means 'many' or 'a lot of' in reference to both countable and uncountable nouns:
Wiele samochodów - 'many cars'
Wiele czasu - 'a lot of time'
And, as the word is a quantifier, the noun that is quantified takes the Genitive case.
So far, so familiar.
But when prepositions are added, other meanings are created. For example, add the preposition 'o' ('about', 'on', 'at'...):
o wiele acts more as a comparative than a quantifier, and means 'much', 'far', 'by far':
Jestem o wiele starszy od ciebie - 'I'm much older than you'
To jest o wiele lepsze - 'This is much better'
Ona jest o wiele milsza niż jej siostra - 'She's far nicer than her sister'
Words of the Week
Przy okazji - 'by the way', 'incidentally'
Bełkot - 'gibberish', 'gobbledegook', 'babble'
Stromy - 'steep' as up an incline.
Sojusz - 'alliance'
Trzeźwy - 'sober'; not the easiest word to pronounce if drunk . Having passed the 1000 hours studied mark I set for this year, I'll behave myself and remain completely 'trzeźwy'. Well, I might enjoy a glass of something at the weekend. Last weekend I was invited to Kasia's to celebrate the anniversary of the move to her new house. Many vodka and coke's later, I left in the early hours, ears deafened by this particular hit: Bałkanica. No chance for conversation practise!
Edited by Mooby on 31 October 2013 at 6:17pm
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Vos Diglot Senior Member Australia Joined 5564 days ago 766 posts - 1020 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Dutch, Polish
| Message 102 of 134 01 November 2013 at 3:34pm | IP Logged |
Congratulations on achieving 1000 hours of Polish! That's insane! Very well done Mooby.
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Mooby Senior Member Scotland Joined 6103 days ago 707 posts - 1220 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Polish
| Message 103 of 134 01 November 2013 at 6:20pm | IP Logged |
Thanks Vos,
Yep, insanity's been a big help!!
Looking forward to any Polish plans you have for next year, or sooner. :)
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Vos Diglot Senior Member Australia Joined 5564 days ago 766 posts - 1020 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Dutch, Polish
| Message 104 of 134 05 November 2013 at 3:21pm | IP Logged |
As am I Mooby, really been missing my Polish. Thinking that as of June next year, once I've finished my degree,
Polish will definitely be back on the table. Can't wait!
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