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Czech and Slovak - Are they Mutually Intelligible Languages?

Posted by Margarete on Mar 12

Are the Czech and Slovak languages similar enough to be mutually intelligible? Well, I think it depends on who you ask. If you ask me, I’d say, definitely not.

From the time I moved to Slovakia and over the four to five years I lived there, many times Slovaks would insist that Czech is so similar to Slovak, that once you knew one language, you’d have little difficulty understanding the other. Well, I thought, that sure would be cool. I’d learn Slovak and then I’d be able to automatically understand Czech.

A Great Website on Czech and Slovak Interests

Posted by Margarete on Feb 28

I recently came across a very interesting website called Czech Folks. There’s quite a lot to read and navigate through, but the centerpiece is the collection of articles they have on topical events happening in Czechia and sometimes in Slovakia too. All articles are written in English but have Czech translations connected. This can be of interest to those who may know some Czech and wish to brush up their skills.

Entropa - Art, Controversy, and Politics

Posted by Margarete on Jan 14

Art is not doing its job unless it gets an emotional response from you. I’ve heard that said once and if that is indeed the definition of art, then the sculpture to be officially revealed later this week in Brussels, done by a Czech artist in honor of the rotating Czech presidency, is a great success.

The problem is that the Czech government has been put in a prickly situation and has some explaining to do after the sculpture, called Entropa, was put up on Tuesday created angry responses from some of the countries it represents.

Remembering the Veterans

Posted by Margarete on Nov 11

Today is Veterans Day. If you know a bit about the history of Veterans Day, you may know that its purpose is to raise awareness of the past and continuing contributions of those who have served in the Armed Forces. Veterans Day originally came from Armistice Day, which was the signing of the Versailles Treaty by the Central Powers (including Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Ottoman Turkey) and the Entente Powers (including Britain, France, the U.S. and Russia), which took place on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. This Veterans Day marks the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I.

In my quest to find out what the Slovaks’ role was in World War I, I’ve come across some pretty interesting information about the story of the “Czecho-Slovak” army. Though it seems there were no major battles fought on present day Czech and Slovak lands, the contributions of its many soldiers is important, not only in determining the outcome of the war but also in laying the groundwork for the recognition of Czechoslovakia as an independent country at the end of the war in 1918.

Where's Czechoslovakia?

Posted by Margarete on Jul 14

Many people—including a lot of Americans—don’t know that Czechoslovakia has ceased to exist. Since most adults learn their basic geography in elementary school and have had little reason to revisit geography lessons after that, for my fellow Americans I would say most have a vague idea that there is a country called Czechoslovakia but don’t know how it relates to the Czech and Slovak Republics.

With all the potential confusion I thought I’d provide a few basic facts.

"Muoj Bože" - Song from the Film "Bathory"

Posted by Margarete on May 03

These last few years there’s been a lot of chatter about the film Bathory, the story of Elizabeth Bathory (1560-1641), “the Blood Countess”, infamous for torturing and killing hundreds of girls. She lived most of her life and died in her dungeon at Čachtice Castle, in present-day Slovakia

Information about the release of the film is still confusing. At one point it was to be released in 2007 but that didn’t happen. In the film database website IMDB it states that the film will be debuted in Czechia and Slovakia in June and July of 2008. Over the last several months I’ve read some different interesting facts about Bathory including that the film will be in English, it’s written and directed by a Slovak, it’s apparently the most expensive Czech and Slovak film ever made, and among its many sources of funding includes the Slovak Ministry of Culture.

Czechoslovak Films over the Holidays

Posted by Margarete on Dec 30

Over the Christmas holiday there are always a slew of classic films to watch on TV. These movies are shown year after year, and it’s really just a matter of having a TV schedule on hand to make sure you catch the ones you want to see.

When I first moved to Slovakia, students would tell me what I shouldn’t miss. Over the years of spending Christmas holidays in Slovakia, the list has grown. Here’s a basic run down of the most popular film classics that are shown on Slovak TV through the Christmas season (fairytales are marked with a *):

Slovak Cheeses

Posted by Margarete on Nov 09

Spending time in a grocery store is one of the first things you can do to become acquainted with your environment in a new country. It’s even a good idea to set time aside to do this so that you can go up and down isles at your leisure, familiarizing yourself with the typical selections of foods and products. Take your time; this should be something that is enjoyable. Becoming familiar with the assortments of different kinds of breads, meats, and dairy products, for example, takes time and experimentation is a large part of the experience.

"Czechia" and the Czech Republic

Posted by Margarete on Aug 10

The official name for Slovakia is “The Slovak Republic”, though the less formal “Slovakia” is used almost equally. But what about the name for the Czech lands? Czechoslovakia was comprised of Bohemia, Moravia-Silesia, and Slovakia, (and Subcarpathian Rus until 1939). Today, Bohemia, Moravia, and parts of Silesia make up the Czech Republic. Sometimes I still have difficulty with saying “the Czech Republic” in a lengthier sentence when something shorter would do.