A letter to a distant Polish relative

Ksysia:

The two sentences that I fattened up are not clear to me - that's the level of formality in English that I'm just not sure the meaning of. 'You would know of us' - does it mean that she might meet with you of learn about your existence? At any rate, that level of humility is not required among kin, rather care is expected - ask about her health.

Michal:

Personally, I would not send such a bad letter to someone with all the information missing. It would be better to write to him or her in Russian. The Ukraine understands Russian better as this is the main language (although some do understand Polish in a funny sort of way Czech sounding way!).

escapee3Threads: 15 Posts: 78 Joined: Oct 22, 09	Dec 6, 09, 09:48 / #
Dzieiń dobry I've found an elderly distant relative who is Polish but now lives in the Ukraine. I'd like to write a short, simple letter to her. But, only being a little way into learning Polish I need help with a translation. Does anyone here have time to look at this for me? I've included what I'd like to say below (with names missed off as I'm not comfortable posting other people's names to the Imternet. It reads rather formal in places, but I figured that might be best considering I know nothing of this person. Dziękuję Dear (female name) I am (male name). I am married to (female name), the daughter of (male name) from (place name). Your name and address was given to me by (male name), (female name's) son in the hope that you can help me trace the (family name) family tree. I have included what I know of the (family name) family in the hope you can add something. Even if you can not, it would be wonderful just to say hello to you. Perhaps you would like to know of us here in (place name)? I hope you do not mind me contacting you, and I hope to hear from you soon. Love (male name)

KsysiaThreads: 39 Posts: 545 Joined: May 6, 09	Dec 6, 09, 10:28 / #
Kochana ...-u! Nazywam się ... . Moją Żoną jest ..., córka ...-a z ...-a; ia; i; -0. Twoje dane i adres dał mi ..., syn ...-i w nadziei że mogłabyś mi pomóc w poszukiwaniach drzewa genealogicznego rodziny ... -skich; -ów. Załączam to co wiem o rodzinie -skich', ów, z nadzieją że możesz coś dodać. Nawet jeśli jednak nie, to byłoby cudownie po prostu się przywitać. Być może życzysz sobie nas poznać, tu w ...-ie, i, -ach, -u. Mam nadzieję że nie przeszkadza Ci że się skontaktowałem, i mam nadzieję że usłyszymy od Ciebie wkrótce. Serdecznie pozdrawiam, ... The two sentences that I fattened up are not clear to me - that's the level of formality in English that I'm just not sure the meaning of. 'You would know of us' - does it mean that she might meet with you of learn about your existence? At any rate, that level of humility is not required among kin, rather care is expected - ask about her health.

MichalThreads: - Posts: 2,408 Joined: Feb 27, 07	Dec 6, 09, 10:42 / #
Personally, I would not send such a bad letter to someone with all the information missing. It would be better to write to him or her in Russian. The Ukraine understands Russian better as this is the main language (although some do understand Polish in a funny sort of way Czech sounding way!).

escapee3Threads: 15 Posts: 78 Joined: Oct 22, 09	Edited by: escapee3 Dec 6, 09, 11:31 / #
Ksysia: The two sentences that I fattened up are not clear to me - that's the level of formality in English that I'm just not sure the meaning of. 'You would know of us' - does it mean that she might meet with you of learn about your existence? At any rate, that level of humility is not required among kin, rather care is expected - ask about her health. Thanks, Ksysia, for a very quick reply! Yes, by 'know of us' I mean 'learn about us'. I don't want to scare her by suggesting we meet yet (this is the Internet after all :-) Should I start the letter with...? Dear... I hope you are in good health. ...if so, how do I say that in Polish? Michal: Personally, I would not send such a bad letter to someone with all the information missing. It would be better to write to him or her in Russian. The Ukraine understands Russian better as this is the main language (although some do understand Polish in a funny sort of way Czech sounding way!). Thanks, Michal... I'm not sure I understand what you mean by missing information. Also, she is Polish, but merely lives in the Ukraine, so I thought Polish would serve me better than Russian. Thanks again, both of you... steve

MichalThreads: - Posts: 2,408 Joined: Feb 27, 07	Edited by: Michal Dec 7, 09, 15:26 / #
escapee3: Also, she is Polish, but merely lives in the Ukraine, so I thought Polish would serve me better than Russian. Try Russian-she left Poland because she preferred to live in socialism with her Russians brothers and that in itself tends to confer that she prefers Russian to Polish.

escapee3Threads: 15 Posts: 78 Joined: Oct 22, 09	Dec 7, 09, 15:42 / #
Michal: Try Russian-she left Poland because she preferred to live in socialism with her Russians brothers and that in itself tends to confer that she prefers Russian to Polish. :-) Who knows, maybe you're right...