WHY POLISH PEOPLE DON'T USE THEIR NATIVE FIRST NAME WHEN ABROAD?

Quoting: xcrital

have noticed that, most of the time, polish people don't use their "real" name when they are out of Poland. For example, Pavel converted into Paul, Bastek = Sebatian, Paulina = Pauline, Basha = Barbara... It's not too difficult to pronounce so...
ARE YOU ASHAMED OF YOUR POLISH NAMES? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE IT SOUND MORE... MORE CIVILIZED?

xcrital	Oct 4, 07, 16:09 / #
I have noticed that, most of the time, polish people don't use their "real" name when they are out of Poland. For example, Pavel converted into Paul, Bastek = Sebatian, Paulina = Pauline, Basha = Barbara... It's not too difficult to pronounce so... ARE YOU ASHAMED OF YOUR POLISH NAMES? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE IT SOUND MORE... MORE CIVILIZED?

Grzegorz_Threads: 81 Posts: 6,213 Joined: Nov 16, 06	Oct 4, 07, 16:10 / #
Quoting: xcrital ARE YOU ASHAMED OF YOUR POLISH NAMES? No...

Klamka	Oct 4, 07, 16:28 / #
Quoting: xcrital ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE IT SOUND MORE... MORE CIVILIZED? civilized? we're not that insecure. I guess it's just because we're used to foreingers not being able to pronounce Polish words. However, the names you've mentioned are international. I guess Bogusława or Władysław wouldn't have a choice but to leave their names as they are.

rejbelThreads: 1 Posts: 14 Joined: Oct 4, 07	Edited by: rejbel Oct 4, 07, 19:57 / #
Because after some time you get tired of correcting people how to say your name and you just make it simpler for everybody and for yourself.

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,412 Joined: Aug 29, 07	Oct 4, 07, 23:11 / #
Quoting: xcrital ARE YOU ASHAMED OF YOUR POLISH NAMES? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE IT SOUND MORE... MORE CIVILIZED? let me start with this: F U. i still use my real polish name even though peeps have a problem pronouncing it.. it is what it is and i'll keep it, thank you.

polishgirltx	Oct 4, 07, 23:16 / #
I use my native first name and I don't care how difficult it is for some people. It is my REAL name.

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,412 Joined: Aug 29, 07	Oct 4, 07, 23:50 / #
Quoting: polishgirltx I use my native first name and I don't care how difficult it is for some people. It is my REAL name. yup.. i cam up with a little jingle or a rhyme and now none can foget it. :)

KrzysztofThreads: 2 Posts: 1,146 Joined: Jul 26, 07	Oct 5, 07, 07:59 / #
Quoting: xcrital Bastek = Sebatian, Basha = Barbara these examples are funny :) Sebastian and Barbara are official names, in Polish, Basia is a very popular diminuitive (Bastek isn't), but when I introduce myself to a stranger I use the formal name, as most people do in Poland, diminuitive forms are mostly used by family, friends or people who know you at least a bit. And I have no problem with my name, but foreigners do :)

randompalThreads: 7 Posts: 431 Joined: Jul 10, 07	Oct 5, 07, 08:10 / #
Quoting: Krzysztof I have no problem with my name, but foreigners do :) right, and if it's a problem for some it should remain their problem instead of becoming your problem.

ziboThreads: - Posts: 75 Joined: Sep 25, 07	Oct 5, 07, 08:32 / #
Quoting: xcrital It's not too difficult to pronounce so... go ahead and pronounce Przemysław, When i introduce myself and hear "HUH??" i just say "forget it". Thats why everyone knows me by my nickname not my first name.

osiolThreads: 59 Posts: 4,714 Joined: Jul 25, 07	Oct 5, 07, 16:22 / #
I found that some of the Poles I have worked with introduced themselves as Derek, Pete or Jerry, only to end up being called Darek, Piotrek and Jurek. The natives here can have odd enough names as it is.

debbieeastlandThreads: - Posts: 21 Joined: Oct 4, 07	Oct 5, 07, 16:24 / #
Hi that's a lovely name my gran was called Aniela do all female names in polish end in a?

debbieeastlandThreads: - Posts: 21 Joined: Oct 4, 07	Oct 5, 07, 16:26 / #
That was a quote for Ania.

wildroverThreads: 180 Posts: 8,188 Joined: Jun 7, 07	Oct 5, 07, 16:26 / #
yep..first names anyway...

rejbelThreads: 1 Posts: 14 Joined: Oct 4, 07	Oct 5, 07, 16:13 / #
People do not have problem with saying my first name which is Ania but they always spell it Anya.... Come on!!!!

PolskaDollThreads: 44 Posts: 4,134 Joined: Jun 15, 07	Oct 5, 07, 16:26 / #
It's strange that out of all the Polish people I know, it's only the men who give themselves "nicknames". All the girls use their real ones (and there are some tricky ones) but the guys introduce themselves by their "nicks". My name is simple but still mispronounced and spelled incorrectly often.

RonekThreads: 1 Posts: 297 Joined: Sep 4, 07	Oct 5, 07, 16:28 / #
Quoting: debbieeastland do all female names in polish end in a? 99% does 1% are male names that are sometimes used by females, very old custom.

osiolThreads: 59 Posts: 4,714 Joined: Jul 25, 07	Oct 5, 07, 16:31 / #
Quoting: PolskaDoll nicknames So often, you instantly sense the uneasiness with which they use their adopted names. Quoting: PolskaDoll spelled incorrectly Mine is a Scottish/Irish name. Usually spelt wrongly. It ends with an 'r' which is not usually pronounced in English. Polish people nearly always pronounce the 'r' (which sounds nice), probably because with a neutral mid-vowel, it sounds too much like an 'a' at the end. I'm not saying any more.

debbieeastlandThreads: - Posts: 21 Joined: Oct 4, 07	Oct 5, 07, 16:31 / #
Hi polskadoll hope you dont mind me asking what is your first name?

PolskaDollThreads: 44 Posts: 4,134 Joined: Jun 15, 07	Edited by: PolskaDoll Oct 5, 07, 16:34 / #
Quoting: debbieeastland Hi polskadoll hope you dont mind me asking what is your first name? I don't mind you asking but I don't really want to say. It's not a Polish name anyway, it's Italian! :)

debbieeastlandThreads: - Posts: 21 Joined: Oct 4, 07	Oct 5, 07, 16:39 / #
lol sorry thought it was for some reason what am I like : 0 )

PolskaDollThreads: 44 Posts: 4,134 Joined: Jun 15, 07	Oct 5, 07, 16:44 / #
Quoting: osiol So often, you instantly sense the uneasiness with which they use their adopted names. I know two guys called 'Marcin' who introduce themselves as 'Martin'. I've heard many others.

PolskaDollThreads: 44 Posts: 4,134 Joined: Jun 15, 07	Edited by: PolskaDoll Oct 5, 07, 16:45 / #
Quoting: debbieeastland lol sorry thought it was for some reason what am I like : 0 ) Don't worry. My name is a popular English name nowadays but it's origins are Italian (wonder how many people actually know that!). I dont think it's got any Polish connections.

rejbelThreads: 1 Posts: 14 Joined: Oct 4, 07	Oct 5, 07, 16:58 / #
Quoting: debbieeastland Hi that's a lovely name my gran was called Aniela Thank you.

KrzysztofThreads: 2 Posts: 1,146 Joined: Jul 26, 07	Edited by: Krzysztof Oct 5, 07, 19:38 / #
Quoting: debbieeastland Aniela you realize it has nothing to do with Ania? Ania is a very popular diminuitive form of Anna, while Aniela is corresponding to (Italian/Spanish) Angela (anioł = angel, but we don't use this word as a male name, only for angels from heaven and it is also a surname, just not given name)

EurolaThreads: 6 Posts: 2,647 Joined: Dec 2, 06	Oct 5, 07, 21:07 / #
Well, yes...I do have english version, but i did not do it for me. I did it for You. I hate my name butchered.

jnowiskiThreads: 3 Posts: 191 Joined: Jun 11, 07	Oct 5, 07, 21:08 / #
Quoting: Eurola I hate my name butchered. me too, how hard is it for someone to say Jon right? :D

PolsonThreads: 15 Posts: 2,812 Joined: May 9, 07	Oct 5, 07, 21:12 / #
Quoting: jnowiski how hard is it for someone to say Jon right? LoL...and how do you pronounce it, "John" or "Yon" ? ;p

Patrycja19Threads: 79 Posts: 3,974 Joined: Oct 31, 06	Oct 5, 07, 21:52 / #
Quoting: xcrital It's not too difficult to pronounce so... ARE YOU ASHAMED OF YOUR POLISH NAMES? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE IT SOUND MORE... MORE CIVILIZED? no, actually these are the Americanized versions.. or english versions.. and so for you to actually pronounce them they have to say them in english so your brain can actually process the vowels!!! if you have a brain.. usually people with brains can process things and not ask questions like these so please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you along..