LingoflyThe housewarming
A short text in Western Armenian at level A2. 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 neighbors bought a new apartment and on Sunday held a housewarming. We brought bread, salt and a bunch of flowers…
Text
- Հարեւանները նոր բնակարան գնեցին եւ կիրակի օրը տնօրհնեք ըրին։ Մենք տարինք հաց, աղ եւ ծաղկեփունջ, իսկ ծնողներս՝ դրամական նուէր ծրարով։ Մուտքին մօտ բոլորը կօշիկները կը հանէին, որովհետեւ մեզի մօտ այդպէս է ընդունուած։ Սեղանը պատշգամբին վրայ պատրաստած էին, եւ տանտիրուհին հիւրասիրեց ազգային ուտեստներով։ Ամենապատուաւոր հիւրը՝ մեծ մայրը, կարճ մաղթանք մը ըսաւ. «Թող այս տունը միշտ լեցուն ըլլայ»։harevannerə nor pnagaran knetsin yev giragi orə dnorhnek' ərin Menk' darink' hats, agh yev dzaghgep'unch, isg dznoghners tramagan nver dzrarov Mudk'in mod polorə goshignerə gə hanein, vorovhedev mezi mod aytbes e əntunvadz Seghanə badshkampin vra badrasdadz ein, yev dandiruhin hyurasirets azkayin udesdnerov Amenabadvavor hyurə medz mayrə, garj maght'ank' mə əsav. «t'ogh ays dunə mishd letsun əllay»The neighbors bought a new apartment and on Sunday held a housewarming. We brought bread, salt and a bunch of flowers, and my parents brought money in an envelope. At the entrance everyone took off their shoes, because that is how it is done with us. The table was laid on the balcony, and the hostess treated the guests to national dishes. The most honored guest, the grandmother, said a short wish: "May this house always be full."
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 they bring the neighbors?
- What did they do at the entrance?
- Where was the table laid?
- What did the grandmother say?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Western Armenian?
A2. 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.