The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery- page 31

"I am looking for men," said the little prince. "What does that mean — 'tame'?"

• I am looking for men: stating the speaker's intention to find or seek out people [aɪ æm ˈlʊkɪŋ fər mɛn]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]
• the little prince: refers to a character known as the little prince [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• What does that mean: a question asking for the definition or explanation of something [wət dɪz ðət min]
• tame: used to describe an animal that is not wild and is kept as a pet or on a farm [teɪm]

"Men," said the fox. "They have guns, and they hunt.

• Men: plural of 'man', referring to adult male human beings [mɛn]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]
• the fox: refers to a character known as the fox [ðə fɑks]
• They have guns: stating that men possess firearms [ðeɪ hæv gənz]
• and: a conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• they hunt: stating that men engage in the activity of hunting animals [ðeɪ hənt]

It is very disturbing.

• It is very disturbing: stating that something is causing worry or unease [ɪt ɪz ˈvɛri dɪˈstərbɪŋ]

They also raise chickens.

• They also raise chickens: stating that men also breed and care for chickens [ðeɪ ˈɔlsoʊ reɪz ˈʧɪkənz]

These are their only interests.

• These are their only interests: stating that these are the sole things that men are interested in [ðiz ər ðɛr ˈoʊnli ˈɪntərɪsts]

"No," said the little prince. "I am looking for friends.

• No: a negative response [noʊ]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]
• the little prince: refers to a character known as the little prince [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• I am looking for friends: stating the speaker's intention to find or seek out friends [aɪ æm ˈlʊkɪŋ fər frɛndz]

"It is an act too often neglected," said the fox. "It means to establish ties."

• It is: A formal way to say 'It's', introducing a statement [ɪt ɪz]
• an act: a deed or action [ən ækt]
• too often: more frequently than is desirable or acceptable [tu ˈɔfən]
• neglected: failed to care for or attend to properly; disregarded [nɪˈglɛktɪd)]
• said: uttered words [sɛd]
• the fox: the animal, referring to the speaker [ðə fɑks)]
• It: referring to the act mentioned earlier [ɪt]
• means: signifies or represents [minz]
• to establish: to set up or create [tɪ ɪˈstæblɪʃ]
• ties: connections or relationships [taɪz)]

"'To establish ties'?"

• To establish: To set up or create [tɪ ɪˈstæblɪʃ]
• ties: connections or relationships, posed as a question [taɪz)]

"Just that," said the fox. "To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys.

• Just that: Exactly that; precisely what was said [ʤɪst ðət)]
• said: uttered words [sɛd]
• the fox: the animal, referring to the speaker [ðə fɑks)]
• To me: In my opinion; from my perspective [tɪ mi]
• you: the person being addressed [ju]
• are: present tense of the verb 'to be' [ər]
• still: even now; up to the present time [stɪl]
• nothing more than: merely; only [ˈnəθɪŋ mɔr ðən]
• a little boy: a young male child [ə ˈlɪtəl bɔɪ]
• who is: a relative pronoun connecting the boy to the following description [hu ɪz]
• just like: similar to; resembling [ʤɪst laɪk]
• a hundred thousand: an extremely large number [ə ˈhənərd ˈθaʊzənd]
• other little boys: other young male children [ˈəðər ˈlɪtəl bɔɪz]

And I have no need of you.

• And: conjunction used to connect related clauses [ənd]
• I: the speaker (the fox [aɪ]
• have no need: do not require or want [hæv noʊ nid]
• of you: referring to the person being addressed [əv ju]

And you, on your part, have no need of me.

• And: conjunction used to connect related clauses [ənd]
• you: the person being addressed [ju]
• on your part: from your perspective; as far as you are concerned [ɔn jʊr pɑrt]
• have no need: do not require or want [hæv noʊ nid]
• of me: referring to the speaker (the fox [əv mi]

To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes.

• To you: In your opinion; from your perspective [tɪ ju]
• I: the speaker (the fox [aɪ]
• am: present tense of the verb 'to be' [æm]
• nothing more than: merely; only [ˈnəθɪŋ mɔr ðən]
• a fox: the animal [ə fɑks]
• like: similar to; resembling [laɪk]
• a hundred thousand: an extremely large number [ə ˈhənərd ˈθaʊzənd]
• other foxes: other animals of the same kind [ˈəðər ˈfɑksəz]

But if you tame me, then we shall need each other.

• But: conjunction used to introduce a contrasting statement [bət]
• if: conditional conjunction [ɪf]
• you: the person being addressed [ju]
• tame: to make less wild or fearful; to domesticate [teɪm]
• me: the speaker (the fox [mi]
• then: as a result; therefore [ðɛn]
• we: the speaker (the fox) and the person being addressed [wi]
• shall need: will require or want [ʃæl nid]
• each other: one another [iʧ ˈəðər]

To me, you will be unique in all the world.

• To me: In my opinion; from my perspective [tɪ mi]
• you: the person being addressed [ju]
• will be: future tense of the verb 'to be' [wɪl bi]
• unique: being the only one of its kind; special [juˈnik]
• in all: throughout [ɪn ɔl]
• the world: the entire planet [ðə wərld]

"I am beginning to understand," said the little prince. "There is a flower...

• I am beginning to understand: I am starting to grasp or comprehend something [aɪ æm bɪˈgɪnɪŋ tɪ ˌəndərˈstænd]
• said the little prince: the speaker of the previous statement is the little prince [sɛd ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• There is a flower: there exists a flower; the flower is present [ðɛr ɪz ə flaʊər]

"It is possible," said the fox. "On the Earth one sees all sorts of things."

• It is possible: it could be true; it is within the realm of possibility [ɪt ɪz ˈpɑsəbəl]
• said the fox: the speaker of the previous statement is the fox [sɛd ðə fɑks]
• On the Earth: on the planet Earth [ɔn ðə ərθ]
• one sees: people see; it is a common observation [wən siz]
• all sorts of things: many different kinds of things; a wide variety of things [ɔl sɔrts əv θɪŋz]

"Oh, but this is not on the Earth!" said the little prince.

• Oh: an exclamation of surprise or realization [oʊ]
• but this is not on the Earth: however, this situation or place is not located on the planet Earth [bət ðɪs ɪz nɑt ɔn ðə ərθ]
• said the little prince: the speaker of the previous statement is the little prince [sɛd ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]

Chasseur.JPG

The fox seemed perplexed, and very curious.

• The fox seemed perplexed: The fox appeared confused or puzzled [ðə fɑks simd pərˈplɛkst]
• and very curious: and also very interested in learning more [ənd ˈvɛri ˈkjʊriəs]

"On another planet?"

• On another planet: located on a different planet than Earth [ɔn əˈnəðər ˈplænət]

"Yes."

"Are there hunters on that planet?"

• Are there hunters: do hunters exist [ər ðɛr ˈhəntərz]
• on that planet: on the planet being discussed [ɔn ðət ˈplænət]

"No."

"Ah, that is interesting!

• Ah: an exclamation of realization or understanding [ɑ]
• that is interesting: that is a noteworthy or curious piece of information [ðət ɪz ˈɪntəˌrɛstɪŋ]

"No."

"Nothing is perfect," sighed the fox.

• Nothing is perfect: everything has flaws; there is no ideal situation [ˈnəθɪŋ ɪz ˈpərˌfɪkt]
• sighed the fox: the fox said with a sigh, indicating disappointment or resignation [saɪd ðə fɑks]

But he came back to his idea.

• But he came back to his idea: However, he returned to the topic or thought he had previously [bət hi keɪm bæk tɪ hɪz aɪˈdiə]

"My life is very monotonous," the fox said. "I hunt chickens; men hunt me.

• My life is very monotonous: My life is very repetitive and lacks variety [maɪ laɪf ɪz ˈvɛri məˈnɑtənəs]
• the fox said: the speaker of the previous statement is the fox [ðə fɑks sɛd]
• I hunt chickens: I chase and kill chickens for food [aɪ hənt ˈʧɪkənz]
• men hunt me: humans chase and try to kill me [mɛn hənt mi]

All the chickens are just alike, and all the men are just alike.

• All the chickens are just alike: All the chickens are identical or very similar [ɔl ðə ˈʧɪkənz ər ʤɪst əˈlaɪk]
• and all the men are just alike: and all the humans are identical or very similar [ənd ɔl ðə mɛn ər ʤɪst əˈlaɪk]

And, in consequence, I am a little bored.

• And, in consequence, I am a little bored: As a result, I am somewhat uninterested and lacking excitement [ənd ɪn ˈkɑnsəkwəns aɪ æm ə ˈlɪtəl bɔrd]

But if you tame me, it will be as if the sun came to shine on my life.

• But if you tame me: However, if you create a bond with me and make me feel domesticated [bət ɪf ju teɪm mi]
• it will be as if the sun came to shine on my life: it will bring happiness and warmth into my existence [ɪt wɪl bi ɛz ɪf ðə sən keɪm tɪ ʃaɪn ɔn maɪ laɪf]

I shall know the sound of a step that will be different from all the others.

• I shall know the sound of a step that will be different from all the others: I will recognize your footsteps because they will be unique [aɪ ʃæl noʊ ðə saʊnd əv ə stɛp ðət wɪl bi ˈdɪfərənt frəm ɔl ðə ˈəðərz]

Other steps send me hurrying back underneath the ground.

• Other steps send me hurrying back underneath the ground: The footsteps of others cause me to quickly hide in my burrow [ˈəðər stɛps sɛnd mi ˈhəriɪŋ bæk ˌəndərˈniθ ðə graʊnd]

Yours will call me, like music, out of my burrow.

• Yours will call me, like music, out of my burrow: Your footsteps will attract me and make me want to come out of my home [jʊrz wɪl kɔl mi laɪk mˈjuzɪk aʊt əv maɪ bəroʊ]

And then look: you see the grain-fields down yonder?

• And then look: Pay attention to what I am about to show you [ənd ðɛn lʊk]
• you see the grain-fields down yonder: do you see the fields of grain over there [ju si ðə grain-fields daʊn ˈjɑndər]

I do not eat bread.

• I do not eat bread: I do not consume bread [aɪ du nɑt it brɛd]

Wheat is of no use to me.

• Wheat is of no use to me: Wheat has no value or benefit for me [wit ɪz əv noʊ juz tɪ mi]

The wheat fields have nothing to say to me.

• The wheat fields have nothing to say to me: The wheat fields do not evoke any emotion or meaning for me [ðə wit fildz hæv ˈnəθɪŋ tɪ seɪ tɪ mi]

And that is sad.

• And that is sad: And that makes me feel unhappy [ənd ðət ɪz sæd]

But you have hair that is the color of gold.

• But you have hair that is the color of gold: However, your hair is the same color as gold [bət ju hæv hɛr ðət ɪz ðə ˈkələr əv goʊld]

Think how wonderful that will be when you have tamed me!

• Think how wonderful that will be when you have tamed me: Imagine how great it will be when you have formed a bond with me [θɪŋk haʊ ˈwəndərfəl ðət wɪl bi wɪn ju hæv teɪmd mi]

The grain, which is also golden, will bring me back the thought of you.

• The grain, which is also golden, will bring me back the thought of you: The grain, because it is also gold in color, will remind me of you [ðə greɪn wɪʧ ɪz ˈɔlsoʊ ˈgoʊldən wɪl brɪŋ mi bæk ðə θɔt əv ju]