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Post by Bonobo on May 28, 2008 21:27:10 GMT 1
During 1980 Olymics, the ones held in communist Moscow, and boycotted by the West after Soviet troops had invaded Afghanistan in 1979, there was a famous pole vault jump competition. Can you say what is the Polish jumper, Władysław Kozakiewicz, doing and why? 1980     |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on May 28, 2008 21:57:32 GMT 1
During 1980 Olymics, the ones held in communist Moscow, and boycotted by the West after Soviet troops had invaded Afghanistan in 1979, there was a famous pole vault jump competition. Can you say what is the Polish jumper, Władysław Kozakiewicz, doing and why? He is giving his version of 1/2 of the international peace sign because even though the crowd was booing him, he beat the Soviet vaulter for the gold medal. |
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Post by Bonobo on May 29, 2008 18:13:20 GMT 1
During 1980 Olymics, the ones held in communist Moscow, and boycotted by the West after Soviet troops had invaded Afghanistan in 1979, there was a famous pole vault jump competition. Can you say what is the Polish jumper, Władysław Kozakiewicz, doing and why? He is giving his version of 1/2 of the international peace sign because even though the crowd was booing him, he beat the Soviet vaulter for the gold medal. Yes, he was booed at by Soviet spectators. So he showed them the well known gesture which later started to be called "Kozakiewicz gesture." In slang Polish it is called "tu się zgina dziób pingwina." What he did was an unbelievable demonstration and Soviet sports managers even thought of taking away his gold medal for "unsporty behaviour." They pressed on the Polish team leaders to punish Kozakiewicz, but to no avail. Later, though, he was treated badly in Poland, and eventually emigrated to Germany in late 1980s. Why did you say peace sign? |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on May 29, 2008 19:04:50 GMT 1
He is giving his version of 1/2 of the international peace sign because even though the crowd was booing him, he beat the Soviet vaulter for the gold medal. Yes, he was booed at by Soviet spectators. So he showed them the well known gesture which later started to be called "Kozakiewicz gesture." In slang Polish it is called "tu się zgina dziób pingwina." I can't quite translate that...it comes out as something like 'bow here penguin'? The universal hand sign for peace is to raise the index and middle fingers and then place your thumb across the ring and pinkie fingers. The middle finger raised by itself means something that has nothing to do with peace (basically the same as the Kozakiewicz gesture). So half of the peace sign = middle finger gesture. I think that in the U.K. you have to be careful about the peace sign, though, because if your palm isn't out it is the same as raising your middle finger. My drivers ed instructor taught me about the 1/2 peace sign gesture. He always used to say that there are a lot of crazy drivers on the road, and that sooner or later we would be tempted to "give those drivers 1/2 of the international peace sign".  Since we're kind of on the subject...I borrowed a copy of a Polish phrasebook and was I surprised to find a section on swearing! The "explanation" as to why these words are in there is quite amusing - basically so that: 1) You don't use them improperly so that you either look ridiculous or get yourself into trouble. 2) You can understand what is going on around you. I almost think it would be better not to know these words in the first place so that you don't accidently blurt them out by mistake. As for understanding them, do you really need to know exactly what you are being called by an angry native?  According to the phrasebook, the verbal form of the Kozakiewicz gesture comes in two forms - regular and strong. Is this true? Isn't that word always pretty strong??? |
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Post by Bonobo on May 29, 2008 19:50:54 GMT 1
I can't quite translate that...it comes out as something like 'bow here penguin'? It means: here bows the penguin`s beak. It is connected with the movement of the right forearm which should swing a few times for a better effect. Kozakiewicz didn`t swing. See youtube film That`s amusing. I always thought that peace sign is a symbol of a flying bird, probably a crane, although I can see doves. I didn`t know that its hand version is this  If you really have it in mind, it means the sign is not so universal because it has a totally different symbolics in Poland. Do you know what? Another youtube film as comments, one of my favourites, from the comedy with Leslie Nielsen. I always loved that piece Funny. It is rather impossible. Polish swear words can`t be mistaken with normal ones. Hmm, curious guys like to know. I am sorry but i have no idea what words are used. There are so many of them. You have to quote. |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on May 29, 2008 21:04:19 GMT 1
I can't quite translate that...it comes out as something like 'bow here penguin'? Hey, I was pretty close!  I think it originated as the "V sign" for Victory in World War II and became known as the peace sign in the 1960s. Is it still considered the victory sign in Poland? Okay, you just totally made my day! I love the Naked Gun and Airplane movies. The scene you posted is a classic! Is that type of humor typical in Poland? If it is, I'd fit right in! ;D But then there is the dilemma of how to reply... Ha - right! Jestem pani! The words are almost the same, only the ending is different. Apparently the ending -dol/-dolic must be stronger than the ending -rz/rzyć? |
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Post by Bonobo on May 29, 2008 22:38:52 GMT 1
Hey, I was pretty close! Yes. Did you use electronic translator? ;D Yes, it is. but it refers to communist times when Poles demonstrated their opposition against the regime and hope for victory over it. I must say I have never known it as a peace sign, really. For my generation it was a sign of active protest against communists, sometimes that protest wasn`t peaceful.  Those comedies were on at Polish cinamas already in 1980s. Yes, Poles like this type of humour and I just love it. Nielsen is incredible clown, I try to imitate him at work. hahahaha I remember how I envied Americans their freedom when I saw the board: Ronald Reagan`s Mental Hospital in Airplane 1. Such derision aimed at communist leaders was unthinkable at the time. Pierdolić is stronger indeed. Sounds vulgar. But pieprzyć is quite mild because it has two meanings: one taboo and the other meaning is to sprinkle with pepper. Pieprz means pepper. Aaah, both words also have the meaning of talk buulshhit, and again pierdolic is stronger. |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on May 29, 2008 23:46:29 GMT 1
Yes. Did you use electronic translator? ;D And my new phrasebook! I can see why one must be careful with body language/hand signs/etc. when in other countries. That's funny! Hopefully they know who you are imitating! Yes it does! And see, I don't think I need to know this word!  Now that worries me because what if one is having a nice dinner in Poland and instead of asking for pepper asks for the other? That would be horrible - like a real life Nielsenism! The difference is the pronunciation of the ending, isn't it - "sh" for pepper, and "shich" for the other? |
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Post by Bonobo on May 30, 2008 9:43:35 GMT 1
I can see why one must be careful with body language/hand signs/etc. when in other countries. Yes, but don`t worry , the middle finger sign has the same meaning in Poland. It doesn`t matter if they know or not. What matters is that we all have a lot of fun. The difference in endings makes it almost imposssible to commit such a blunder while asking for pepper. Can I have some pepper? - Poproszê o pieprz. The pieprz word in this request is obvious pepper. But there is still a slight chance that you make a blunder if you say Pieprz! It may be treated as a strong demand for pepper, or as a verbal order to perform the tabboo activity. |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on May 30, 2008 16:27:51 GMT 1
Yes, but don`t worry , the middle finger sign has the same meaning in Poland. Oh good, now my mind is at ease...hahahahaha Note to self...never ask for pepper in Poland!  |
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Post by Bonobo on May 31, 2008 19:55:19 GMT 1
gigi ---> I'm glad you are not shy thanks, good luck is now indispensable for me  on Friday I had a very difficult test in British literature (the age of sensibility and Romanticism) and I hope I'll pass it ;] Did you have to study early Romantics like Blake to your exam? I mean the sign whose picture you can see in this thread. Read posts from this one polandsite.proboards104.com/index.cgi?board=polishhistory&action=display&thread=69&page=2#2641Shortly speaking, pacyfa or peace sign can be also made with your fingers, creating a Victory sign. Why satanic symbol? |
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on Friday I had a very difficult test in British literature (the age of sensibility and Romanticism) and I hope I'll pass it ;]