LingoflyThe washing machine is making a noise
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. Two weeks ago the washing machine began to make a noise and heat up. At first I thought a screw had simply come loose…
Text
- Երկու շաբաթ առաջ լուացքի մեքենան սկսաւ աղմկել եւ տաքնալ։ Սկիզբը մտածեցի, որ պարզապէս պտուտակը թուլցած է, եւ մանեկաբանալիով ամրացուցի։ Յետոյ լարերը ստուգեցի, բայց խնդիրը չգտայ։ Զանգեցի սպասարկման կեդրոն եւ յայտ ձեւակերպեցի։ Վարպետը եկաւ, ախտորոշում ըրաւ եւ ըսաւ, որ պահեստամասը պէտք է փոխարինել։ Վերանորոգման արժէքը մեծ չէր, իսկ ժամկէտը՝ հինգ օր։ Բարեբախտաբար մեքենան դեռ երաշխիքի տակ էր, եւ վճարել չպահանջեցին։ Հիմա մեքենան հանգիստ կ'աշխատի, եւ ես ձեռնարկը պահած եմ տուփին մէջ։yergu shapat' arrach lvatsk'i mek'enan sgsav aghmgel yev dak'nal Sgizpə mdadzetsi, vor barzabes bdudagə t'ultsadz e, yev manegapanaliov amratsutsi Hedo larerə sduketsi, payts khntirə chkda Zanketsi sbasargman getron yev hayd tsevagerbetsi Varbedə yegav, akhdoroshum ərav yev əsav, vor bahesdamasə bedk' e p'okharinel Veranorokman arzhek'ə medz cher, isg zhamgedə hink or Parepakhdapar mek'enan terr yerashkhik'i dag er, yev vjarel chbahanchetsin Hima mek'enan hankisd g'ashkhadi, yev yes tserrnargə bahadz em dup'in mechTwo weeks ago the washing machine began to make a noise and heat up. At first I thought a screw had simply come loose, and I tightened it with a wrench. Then I checked the wires, but found no problem. I called the service centre and filed a request. The repairman came, made a diagnosis and said a spare part had to be replaced. The cost of the repair was small, and the term was five days. Fortunately, the machine was still under warranty, and no payment was demanded. Now the machine works quietly, and I have kept the manual in the box.
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 happened to the washing machine?
- What did the narrator do himself first?
- What did the repairman say after the diagnosis?
- Why was there no payment?
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.