Polish the Insect Language

I need to see a word written down to be able to pronounce it. I am always asking how do you spell that? But Polish spelling is not for the fainthearted, I suspect its difficult to master even for the Polish. Take for example the word ’spell’ or ’spelling’ – ‘przeliterowac’ how difficult is that? and it has so many different variations depending upon the context…Polish people simply do not write as they talk.

 

I’ve written before that Polish has so many dots, tails and crosses but now I have come to the conclusion that Polish has a large number of sounds befitting the insect kingdom.

 

There are all these butterfly, dragonfly and bumblebee sounds – no wonder they had to add dots, stings, tails, and wings – whatever needed – to express the strange sounds the Poles can produce while in a talkative mood.

 

Here’s an example pronounce “si” for “ś” while lifting your tongue as high as it goes. The sound reminds me of the sound a snake makes when they are ready to attack – if you know what I mean.

 

and here’s something I was told is easy but I just can’t make any sense of. Apparently To make things simple, the kids in school learn that “uje się nie kreskuje” (no apostrophe if the word ends with “uje”), thus the kids learn a general rule that words like “pracuje” (he works) are always to be spelled with “u”. What the fudge does that mean?

 

Just to wrap up – can someone please explain these to me and tell me they do not sound like insects

“Dżdż” – (Now that is a real bumbe-bee sound)

“W Szczebrzeszynie chrząszcz brzmi w trzcinie”

“Krzesło z powyłamywanymi nogami”

“Nie pieprz wieprza pieprzem Pietrze, bo przepieprzysz wieprza Pietrze.”

and finally here’s a little cartoon sketch depicting life at our home…

PS – Geordie is a strong English dialect from the North East of England where I grew up (similar to the most guttural Scottish accent – it can sound horrible…)