LingoflyThe neighbor who kept silent
A text in Western Armenian at level B1. The translation sits next to it for checking, not for support: at this level the text is read whole, and an unknown word is usually guessed from the sentence. 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 գրեթէ չէր խօսեր մեզի հետ։ Բակին մէջ կը բամբասէին, թէ իբր ան հպարտ է եւ ուրիշները չի ճանչնար։ Ձմրան խողովակը պայթեցաւ, եւ հէնց ան առաջինը եկաւ օգնելու՝ առանց յապաղելու։ Պարզուեցաւ, որ ան պարզապէս ամաչկոտ է, բայց շատ կարեկից։ Հիմա հարեւանները կը կշտամբեն իրենք զիրենք, որ պարսաւեցին զինք առանց ճանչնալու։nor harevanə ink'namp'op' er yev kret'e cher khoser mezi hed Pagin mech gə pampasein, t'e ipr an hbard e yev urishnerə chi janchnar Tsmran khoghovagə bayt'etsav, yev hents an arrachinə yegav oknelu arrants habaghelu Barzuetsav, vor an barzabes amachgod e, payts shad garegits Hima harevannerə gə gshdampen irenk' zirenk', vor barsavetsin zink' arrants janchnaluThe 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 the neighbors blame themselves for judging him before they got to know 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: everyday topics are behind you, you know about three thousand words, and an unknown word is more often guessed from the sentence than looked up.
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.