Polish is now more widely spoken than Irish in this country and, while many in Poland speak English, fans should learn some local words
POLISH HAS replaced Irish as the second most spoken language in Ireland, according to the latest census figures.
Some 120,000 people speak Polish in their homes in Ireland, but the average Irish person would be hard pushed to know a single word of Polish other than Solidarnosc (solidarity), the name of the famous trade union, and you would have to be of a certain vintage even to remember that one.
The overwhelming majority of Trap’s army will travel to Poland on the presumption that everybody there will speak English.
It is a presumption that the Department of Foreign Affairs has cautioned against.
“It is worth noting that outside tourist areas in the major cities, English is little spoken. Even in tourist areas, English speaking may be limited,” it says.
In anticipation of the European Championships, the Department of Russian and Slavonic Studies at Trinity College Dublin laid on Polish lessons for fans last week.
Dr Ewa Stanczyk, who organised the course, says Irish people may be “pretty safe” most of the time having just English, but it always helps to get on the right side of Polish people by speaking a few words of their language.
Fortunately, for those familiar with French, the word for ticket in Poland, bilet, will be easy to remember.
The three-night, 12-hour, intensive course was designed to ensure fans could get by. Fluency is another story.
Fans Anne Healy and her friend Jacqui Morgan are going for three weeks.
“It would be great to have a few words of Polish rather than expecting them to have English all the time,” said Healy. She said the language was “very hard” and the 12-hour course was valuable.
Tim Boland said the exercise was worthwhile, not least because he managed to score a much-prized ticket for the Spain match from a classmate. “You always have a better time in a place if you have some language. You have better craic.”
He added that the most valuable expression he learned on the first day was Ja nie jestem Angielski, ja jestem Irlandzkie – “I’m not English, I’m Irish.”
The course was quite intensive and involved learning how to say hello, to greet friends, to order in restaurants, what to say at train stations, and some football terms.
There was also an emphasis on Polish culture including a potted history and a display of cakes, for which the country is famous.
Dr Stanczyk called her lecture on Polish cuisine “The Partitions of Poland” saying you can learn so much about the different empires that have occupied Poland by the culinary influences of the Germans, Austrians, Russians and Swedes.
She has a few valuable “do nots” for fans: don’t say that Poland is in eastern Europe – it is in central Europe, both geographically and culturally – and never say “thank you” when handing money over in a restaurant, as the waiter will assume he or she can keep the change.
There are also fines for public drunkenness of 100 zloty (€22.65), though this may have to be more honoured in the breach than the observance when the Irish are in town.
GETTING BY POLISH-STYLE . . . USEFUL PHRASES
Hello = Dzien dobry/czesc
Excuse me = Przepraszam
Goodbye = Do widzenia
Thank you = Dziekuje
Beer = Piwa (pronounced pee-voh)
A beer/two beers, please = Piwo/Dwa piwa, prosze
Another round, please = Jeszcze jedna kolejke, prosze
Cheers = Na zdrowie
A return ticket to Gdansk, please = Bilet powrotny Gdansk, prosze
