The neighbor who kept silent
A short in Western Armenian text at level B1. The translation sits next to it: reading with a dictionary is still too early at this level, and without support it will not happen at all. The new neighbor was reserved and hardly spoke to us. In the yard they gossiped that he was proud and did not…
Text
- Նոր հարեւանը ինքնամփոփ էր եւ գրեթե չէր խոսում մեզ հետ: Բակում բամբասում էին, թե իբր ան հպարտ է եւ ուրիշներին չճանաչեր: Ձմռանը խողովակը պայթեց, եւ հենց ան առաջինը եկաւ օգնելու՝ առանց հապաղելու: Պարզվեց, որ ան պարզապես ամաչկոտ է, բայց շատ կարեկից: Հիմա բոլորը կշտամբում են իրենք իրենց. մարդուն պարսաւեցին՝ առանց ճանաչելու:nor harevanə ink'namp'op' er yev kret'e cher khosum mez hed Pagum pampasum ein, t'e ipr an hbard e yev urishnerin chjanacher Tsmrranə khoghovagə bayt'ets, yev hents an arrachinə yegav oknelu arrants habaghelu Barzvets, vor an barzabes amachgod e, payts shad garegits Hima polorə gshdampum en irenk' irents. martun barsavetsin arrants janacheluThe new neighbor was reserved and hardly spoke to us. In the yard they gossiped that he was proud and did not acknowledge others. In winter a pipe burst, and it was exactly he who came first to help — without delay. It turned out he was simply shy, but very responsive. Now everyone reproaches themselves: they condemned a person without knowing him.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- What was the new neighbor like?
- What did they say about him in the yard?
- What happened in winter?
- What did the neighbors come to?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Western Armenian?
B1. That means: you know the letters and have a stock of everyday words — about two or three hundred.
How to read a text in an unfamiliar language usefully?
First all the way through without peeking at the translation — just to catch the familiar words. Then with the translation. Then all the way through again: the second pass brings noticeably more, and that feeling matters more than any rule.