Two weeks of silence
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. Last month my friend and I quarrelled and did not speak for two weeks. It all began with a trifle: I was irritated and…
Text
- Անցյալ ամիս ընկերոջս հետ վիճեցինք, եւ երկու շաբաթ չէինք խոսում: Ամեն ինչ սկսվեց փոքր բանից. ես ջղայնացած էի եւ բոլորի առջեւ նախատեցի իրեն: Նա նեղացավ եւ ասաց, որ իրեն մեղադրում եմ ուրիշի սխալի համար: Հետո ես ամոթ էի զգում, բայց ամաչում էի առաջինը զանգել: Մենակութիւնը ծանր էր, եւ ես շատ էի կարոտել մեր խոսակցութիւնները: Վերջապես գրեցի իրեն, որ դա թիւրիմացութիւն էր, եւ ներողութիւն խնդրեցի: Նա պատասխանեց մէկ ժամ անց. «կը Հասկանամ քեզ, ես էլ չպետք է լռեի»: Հաշտվեցինք, եւ այժմ կը հասկանամ, որ երբեմն պէտք է զիջել:antsyal amis əngerochs hed vijetsink', yev yergu shapat' cheink' khosum Amen inch sgsvets p'ok'r panits. yes chghaynatsadz ei yev polori arrchev nakhadetsi iren Na neghatsav yev asats, vor iren meghatrum em urishi skhali hamar Hedo yes amot' ei zkum, payts amachum ei arrachinə zankel Menagut'yunə dzanr er, yev yes shad ei garodel mer khosagtsut'yunnerə Verchabes kretsi iren, vor ta t'yurimatsut'yun er, yev neroghut'yun khntretsi Na badaskhanets meg zham ants. «gə Hasganam k'ez, yes el chbedk' e lrrei» Hashdvetsink', yev ayzhm gə hasganam, vor yerpemn bedk' e zichelLast month my friend and I quarrelled and did not speak for two weeks. It all began with a trifle: I was irritated and scolded him in front of everyone. He was hurt and said I was accusing him of somebody else's mistake. Then I felt ashamed, but I was shy about calling first. The loneliness was heavy, and I missed our talks very much. At last I wrote to him that it had been a misunderstanding, and asked forgiveness. He answered within an hour: "I understand you; I shouldn't have kept silent either." We made up, and now I understand that sometimes one must give in.
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 did the quarrel begin with?
- Why didn't the narrator call first?
- How did the narrator explain what had happened in his letter?
- What conclusion did he 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.