Understanding the text
1. The people in this story suddenly realise how precious their
language is to them. What shows you this? Why does this
happen?
Answer:
2. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the
pigeons?” What could this mean?
Answer:
(There could be more than one answer.)
Talking about the text
1. “When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their
language it is as if they had the key to their prison.”
Can you think of examples in history where a conquered people
had their language taken away from them or had a language
imposed on them?
Answer:
2. What happens to a linguistic minority in a state? How do you
think they can keep their language alive? For example:
Punjabis in Bangalore
Tamilians in Mumbai
Kannadigas in Delhi
Gujaratis in Kolkata
3. Is it possible to carry pride in one’s language too far?
Do you know what ‘linguistic chauvinism’ means?
1. English is a language that contains words from many other
languages. This inclusiveness is one of the reasons it is now a
world language, For example:
petite – French
kindergarten – German
capital – Latin
democracy – Greek
bazaar – Hindi
tycoon barbecue zero
tulip veranda ski
logo robot trek
bandicoot
2. Notice the underlined words in these sentences and tick the
option that best explains their meaning.
(a) “What a thunderclap these words were to me!”
The words were
(i) loud and clear.
(ii) startling and unexpected.
(iii) pleasant and welcome.
(b) “When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to
their language it is as if they had the key to their prison”
It is as if they have the key to the prison as long as they
(i) do not lose their language.
(ii) are attached to their language.
(iii) quickly learn the conqueror’s language.
(c) Don’t go so fast, you will get to your school in plenty of time.
You will get to your school
(i) very late.
(ii) too early.
(iii) early enough.
(d) I never saw him look so tall.
M. Hamel (a) had grown physically taller
(b) seemed very confident
(c) stood on the chair