Paul, I like your term, "linguistic welfare". When I started serious Polish research the only words I knew were kielbasa, pierogi, gol~a~bki, kapusta and a swear word or two. I learned how to translate records from reading _all_ of the books which had this information. This was before I succumbed to using a computer. I didn't have to read word for word. The books (Hoffman, Chorzempa etc) told me what "magic" words to look for in a record which were written before pertinent information such as a place, date, name. As I "read" more and more records I was able to read more and more words! Of course, we all know that just reading Polish isn't enough. I made sure to learn how to read the records in Latin and German; Cyrillic still gives me fits even though I have Hoffman and Shea's book. I think what most people forget is that they are researching their own family and in so doing should take more initiative in learning how to do that. BTW I know why I'm here. So my kids have someone to torment. ;) Debbie Paul Brady wrote: > When chasing my wife's Polish roots, I recognized the imposition > translation represents on the one hand or the cost on the other. So... > my spouse and I took classes. The benefit to this approach was that I > could ask the prof when I ran into something tricky (it was ALL tricky > at first), and we also were forced to learn something of cultural > context. It was an all-around excellent experience... and allows me to > be an active participant in my own research... AND I don't have to be so > concerned that I'm seeking linguistic welfare... then getting upset when > the check doesn't arrive promptly. > > As to 'why the !@# are some of you here'?... that's way to much of a > metaphysical question for me. I suppose I'll be troubled enough by the > question that now I'll have to go take a course or two at the U in > philosophy <sigh>. > > This group is the most open, helpful and genuinely friendly _I_ have > encountered in genealogy... although far to prone to discuss recipes :-) > > Paul

***Personally, I never presume that when I am asking a *favor*, that anyone is obligated to do what I ask. I am just very grateful IF someone is willing to help me.. and I have gotten plenty of help from all of you. At 04:47 PM 6/22/2008, you wrote: >Paul, > >I like your term, "linguistic welfare". > >When I started serious Polish research the only words I knew were >kielbasa, pierogi, gol~a~bki, kapusta and a swear word or two. I >learned how to translate records from reading _all_ of the books which >had this information. This was before I succumbed to using a computer. >I didn't have to read word for word. The books (Hoffman, Chorzempa >etc) told me what "magic" words to look for in a record which were >written before pertinent information such as a place, date, name. As I >"read" more and more records I was able to read more and more words! > >Of course, we all know that just reading Polish isn't enough. I made >sure to learn how to read the records in Latin and German; Cyrillic >still gives me fits even though I have Hoffman and Shea's book. > >I think what most people forget is that they are researching their own >family and in so doing should take more initiative in learning how to >do that. > >BTW I know why I'm here. So my kids have someone to torment. ;) > >Debbie > >Paul Brady wrote: > > When chasing my wife's Polish roots, I recognized the imposition > > translation represents on the one hand or the cost on the other. So... > > my spouse and I took classes. The benefit to this approach was that I > > could ask the prof when I ran into something tricky (it was ALL tricky > > at first), and we also were forced to learn something of cultural > > context. It was an all-around excellent experience... and allows me to > > be an active participant in my own research... AND I don't have to be so > > concerned that I'm seeking linguistic welfare... then getting upset when > > the check doesn't arrive promptly. > > > > As to 'why the !@# are some of you here'?... that's way to much of a > > metaphysical question for me. I suppose I'll be troubled enough by the > > question that now I'll have to go take a course or two at the U in > > philosophy <sigh>. > > > > This group is the most open, helpful and genuinely friendly _I_ have > > encountered in genealogy... although far to prone to discuss recipes :-) > > > > Paul >********************************* >Need to contact the list manager? Write to Marie at >Poland-Roots-admin@rootsweb.com >---------------------------------- >Discussion of Polish food, culture, and customs are welcome on the >list as long as the discussion stays pertinent to the topic of this >list: researching our Polish roots. >---------------------------------- >Browse the list's archives here: >http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index?list=poland-roots >Search the list's archives here: >http://archiver.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/search?aop=1 > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >POLAND-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG. >Version: 8.0.100 / Virus Database: 270.4.1/1513 - Release Date: >6/22/2008 7:52 AM