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Textbook from 1938 - try these translations.


YstadThreads: 2
Posts: 21
Joined: Apr 30, 08 		Edited by: Moderator   Jun 1, 09, 08:41 /  #
I am reading an old Polish Grammar book ... It was printed in 1938 by the Polish Department at the University of Wisconsin, and it's got some wonderfully unusual sentences in its translation exercises.

Here are just a few:

1. Dwaj misjonarze zostali uprowadzeni.

2. Poważny stan będzie mi bardzo odpowiadał.

3. Niech zaprzeczy, że nie umiera na markość wątroby.

4. Posłałem po montera wodociągowego, a nie po gazowego.

5. Dziewczęta często sypią na twarz za wielu pudru.

6. On ma aż trzy pary portaczek kąpielowych.

7. Grejpfruit jest apetzczną zakaską i smacznym deserem.

8. Proszę nie zrywać za wiele piwonii z jednego krzaku.

I'll put the book's official translations of these up later today, but I thought Polish speakers might find them funnier on their own:)

Pozdrawiam!
YstadThreads: 2
Posts: 21
Joined: Apr 30, 08 		Edited by: Ystad   Jun 1, 09, 11:45 /  #
Here are the translations, as given by the book.... Please ignore the first three sentences. They were a random 'copy + paste' which somehow got into my document.

4. Posłałem po montera wodociągowego, a nie po gazowego.

I sent for a plumber and not a man who repairs gas fixtures.

5. Dziewczęta często sypią na twarz za wielu pudru.

Girls often put to much powder on the face.

6. On ma aż trzy pary portaczek kąpielowych.

He has three pairs of swimming trunks.

7. Grejpfrut jest apetzczną zakaską i smacznym deserem.

Grapepfruit is a delicious appetizer and a savoury desert.

8. Proszę nie zrywać za wiele piwonii z jednego krzaku.

Please do not pick too many peonies from one bush.
ZiemowitThreads: 10
Posts: 1,056
Joined: May 8, 09 		Edited by: Ziemowit   Jun 1, 09, 18:27 /  #
"Portaczki kąpielowe" is sweet (the real 1939, I would say), but "kąpielówki" or "spodenki kąpielowe" is a modern version.

"Poważny stan" is possibly what we would call "błogosławiony stan" today. If someone said he was "w poważnym stanie", I would think he is in urgent need of medical care and would call for an ambulance.

"Niech zaprzeczy, że nie umiera na marskość wątroby (hepatocirrhosis)" is brilliant. It reminded me of a "my postillion has been struck by lightening" once found in an old English phrase book.
krysiaThreads: 26
Posts: 3,604
Joined: Aug 10, 06 		  Jun 1, 09, 18:57 /  #
Ystad:
Polish Department at the University of Wisconsin,

LOl. That explains it all.
YstadThreads: 2
Posts: 21
Joined: Apr 30, 08 		  Jun 2, 09, 07:59 /  #
A few more:)
----
1. Latem moja siostra lubi leżec na hamaku i wachlować się.

In summer my sister likes to lie on the hammock and fan herself.

2. On popchnał tego chlopca pod stół. (?!)

He pushed this boy under the table.

3. Emilia kasała sobie wczoraj zrobić wieczną ondalucję. (Very useful!)

Emilia had a permanent wave yesterday.

4. Lubię obierać pomarancze i banany. (Hmmm?)

I like to peel oranges and bananas.

5. Antka bardzo swędzi głowa.

Anton's head itches badly.

6.. Czy widziałeś kiedy, jak holownik wprowadza statek do portu?

Did you ever see how a tugboat leads a ship into the harbor? (I will need to ask this often!)

...and my favourite one:

7. Nigdy jeszcze nie byłem w kosnicy.

I was never yet in a morgue.
ZiemowitThreads: 10
Posts: 1,056
Joined: May 8, 09 		  Jun 2, 09, 20:02 /  #
This time, the charm of the 1930s can be felt in "wieczna ondulacja" instead of today's "trwała ondulacja". I wonder if there existed an "eternal wave" in the US at that time, as opposed to a "permanent wave" of today.

It seems that "monter wodociągowy" (from your first set of examples) has evolved into "hydraulik" (the famous "plombier polonais" in France).
YstadThreads: 2
Posts: 21
Joined: Apr 30, 08 		Edited by: Ystad   Jun 4, 09, 09:17 /  #
Thanks Ziemowit:)

There's also a very literal translation in this dictionary...

http://www.dict.pl/dict?word=plumber&words=&lang=EN

"Czy pani ma hydrauliczny problem? Jestem urologiem, czy mogę pani pomóc?"

....dangerous:)
shark8Threads: -
Posts: 10
Joined: May 30, 09 		  Jun 8, 09, 14:28 /  #
7. Nigdy jeszcze nie byłem w kosnicy.
I was never yet in a morgue.


GOLD :D
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