"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(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(stating that something is causing worry or unease [ɪt ɪz ˈvɛri dɪˈstərbɪŋ]). They also raise chickens(stating that men also breed and care for chickens [ðeɪ ˈɔlsoʊ reɪz ˈʧɪkənz]). These are their only interests(stating that these are the sole things that men are interested in [ðiz ər ðɛr ˈoʊnli ˈɪntərɪsts]). Are you looking for chickens(a question asking if the person is searching for chickens [ər ju ˈlʊkɪŋ fər ˈʧɪkənz])?"
"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]). 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])'?"
"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(To set up or create [tɪ ɪˈstæblɪʃ]) ties(connections or relationships, posed as a question [taɪz)])'?"
"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(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(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(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(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(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]). To you(In your opinion; from your perspective [tɪ ju]), I(the speaker (the fox [aɪ]) shall be(will be [ʃæl 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(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])... I think that she has tamed me(the speaker believes that the flower has formed a bond with him, making him feel domesticated or connected to her [aɪ θɪŋk ðət ʃi həz teɪmd mi])..."
"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(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(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(located on a different planet than Earth [ɔn əˈnəðər ˈplænət])?"
"Yes."
"Are there hunters(do hunters exist [ər ðɛr ˈhəntərz]) on that planet(on the planet being discussed [ɔn ðət ˈplænət])?"
"No."
"Ah(an exclamation of realization or understanding [ɑ]), that is interesting(that is a noteworthy or curious piece of information [ðət ɪz ˈɪntəˌrɛstɪŋ])! Are there chickens(do chickens exist [ər ðɛr ˈʧɪkənz])?"
"No."
"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(However, he returned to the topic or thought he had previously [bət hi keɪm bæk tɪ hɪz aɪˈdiə]).
"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(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(As a result, I am somewhat uninterested and lacking excitement [ənd ɪn ˈkɑnsəkwəns aɪ æm ə ˈlɪtəl bɔrd]). 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 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(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(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(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 consume bread [aɪ du nɑt it brɛd]). 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 do not evoke any emotion or meaning for me [ðə wit fildz hæv ˈnəθɪŋ tɪ seɪ tɪ mi]). And that is sad(And that makes me feel unhappy [ənd ðət ɪz sæd]). 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(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, 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]). And I shall love to listen to the wind in the wheat(And I will enjoy hearing the sound of the wind blowing through the wheat fields [ənd aɪ ʃæl ləv tɪ ˈlɪsən tɪ ðə wɪnd ɪn ðə wit])..."