My Older relatives seem insulted that I prefer to speak English rather than Polish?

Question

I haven't spoken Polish in years. Why do they get so upset? I live in America and I speak english..is it really a big deal?

Answer 1

It's in the Polish mentality, especially regarding older people, that we should cultivate our language and don't let it die. I think it's because of the times in our history when we weren't allowed to speak Polish - it had to be Russian or German, and Poland didn't exist on the European maps.

Answer 2

Yes it is a big deal.

By definition America is supposed to be a place where you can come an make money while retaining individual culture and heritage.

The reality has become different. As we've grown as a country we have developed our own culture and heritage.

Both are important. You are Polish and the struggles and victories of your people have a direct influence on who you are today. The problem is the influence may not always be obvious.

You are also American and that culture and heritage has also shaped you. Your elders want to know that their individual decisons, struggles and accomplishments are valued and not forgotten.

I am assuming that they wee not world leaders or people who drastically changed the course of history. Their contribution to the world being a better place is you. Let them know that their goal was accomplished. Speak Polish around them, make sure your children know their history and go after the American dream.

Answer 3

Perhaps some time you could just sit down with your older relatives and patiently explain to them that you have moved on; that you live in a different country now, and you must master English in order to be successful. If they can be made to see the reasons why you speak English rather than Polish, then maybe they will understand.

Answer 4

It may seem like an obsolete and unnecessary language to you, but you seriously will be losing a huge part of your heritage by forgetting your native language. I don't know how old you are or even if you go back to Poland every once in a while, but I do know that remembering your native language will give you back an important part of your family. If there's no need for you to speak Polish, then at least use it when conversing with your family members, to keep that feeling of "family" together.

Answer 5

I wish I had learned Polish as a child. I'm proud of my ancestry, but the language has been lost to my generation (grandchildren of immigrants) I get so jealous of my Italian friends who are fourth or fifth generation Americans and can go to Italy and speak to native Italians without sounding like tourists.

Answer 6

God does not talk to us in any language.. we are 7,000,000 people international. a number of our literature is in over 4 hundred languages. We began in united statesa.. Our literature is the main dispensed of any literature interior the full international. it rather is translated into extra languages than the different literature interior the international. we've all worked very stressful as a company to work out that every person people interior the full international hear approximately Jehovah and his Kingdom. there is over one hundred million people interior the U. S. that are Jehovah's Witnesses. the relax six million are international extensive. (Luke 20:21) 21 and that they questioned him, asserting: “instructor, all of us comprehend you talk and instruct properly and teach no partiality, yet you instruct the way of God consistent with actuality: (Matthew 24:13-14) . . .. 14 And this stable information of the dominion would be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the countries; after which the top will come. Mark 13:10: “In all the countries the stable information ought to be preached first.”

Answer 7

well speak polish with them then,i kinda feel that way too thats its not a big deal to speak ur own language,i have been in ghana for 12 years and sadly i cant speak anything.my relatives say its a disgrace to my family and sometimes i feel sad cuz they say this even though i was born here,so i only speak english but im trying my best to try and speak at least one ghanaian language

Answer 8

English sounds to them like a Polish joke. it takes two Poles to understand English anyway. One to write down the words and the other to translate the writing.

Answer 9

I agree with Sandra. Be yourself. I speak Spanish but only speak to those who only understand Spanish. If they know English well, speak English.

Answer 10

some polish people are crazy no offense, i don't think its really a big deal though they may be upset you are not following their heritage.