Skip to content
Khegay Sabaqtary

READ · LISTEN · USE IT

B2 · Culture without sweeping generalizations

Discuss traditions, clarify the context and compare personal experiences.

How the language works

Qualify generalizations with menıñ baiqauymşa (‘from what I have observed’), keibır (‘some’), and är… ärtürlı (‘different for each…’). Keep personal experience separate from claims about everyone: menıñ otbasymda means ‘in my family’.

Useful phrases

Read, recall the meaning and say it aloud. Then compare with the audio.

Menıñ baiqauymşa, būl dästür är otbasynda ärtürlı saqtalady.

From what I have observed, this tradition is kept differently in each family.

Bır öñırdıñ täjıribesın bükıl elge ortaq dep qabyldamağan jön.

One region’s experience should not be treated as representative of the whole country.

Sızdıñ otbasyñyzda būl merekenı qalai atap ötedı?

How does your family celebrate this holiday?

Men üşın būl dästürdıñ mänı — jaqyn adamdardy bırıktıru.

For me, the meaning of this tradition is to bring loved ones together.

Būl şyğarmadağy qaharmannyñ tañdauy sızge tüsınıktı me?

Do you understand the choice made by the character in this work?

Közqarastarymyz ärtürlı bolğanymen, ortaq qūndylyqtarymyz bar.

Although our views differ, we have shared values.

Dialogue

Aidana

Sızdıñ otbasyñyzda Nauryzdy qalai atap ötedı?

How does your family celebrate Nauryz?

Alexey

Bız jaqyndarymyzben kezdesemız. Al sızderde şe?

We get together with loved ones. What about yours?

Aidana

Bızde ülken dastarqan jaiylady, bıraq är otbasynyñ öz ädetı bar.

We prepare a large meal, but each family has its own customs.

Alexey

İä, men üşın de merekenıñ mänı — adamdardyñ basyn qosu.

Yes, for me the meaning of the holiday is also to bring people together.

Check your understanding

Choose an answer before opening the explanation. Then explain your choice.

1. Choose the correct translation: “Menıñ baiqauymşa, būl dästür är otbasynda ärtürlı saqtalady.”

  1. Although our views differ, we have shared values.
  2. How does your family celebrate this holiday?
  3. One region’s experience should not be treated as representative of the whole country.
  4. From what I have observed, this tradition is kept differently in each family.
Answer and explanation

From what I have observed, this tradition is kept differently in each family.

Menıñ baiqauymşa, būl dästür är otbasynda ärtürlı saqtalady. — From what I have observed, this tradition is kept differently in each family.

2. How do you say “For me, the meaning of this tradition is to bring loved ones together.”?

  1. Men üşın būl dästürdıñ mänı — jaqyn adamdardy bırıktıru.
  2. Būl şyğarmadağy qaharmannyñ tañdauy sızge tüsınıktı me?
  3. Közqarastarymyz ärtürlı bolğanymen, ortaq qūndylyqtarymyz bar.
  4. Bır öñırdıñ täjıribesın bükıl elge ortaq dep qabyldamağan jön.
Answer and explanation

Men üşın būl dästürdıñ mänı — jaqyn adamdardy bırıktıru.

Men üşın būl dästürdıñ mänı — jaqyn adamdardy bırıktıru. — For me, the meaning of this tradition is to bring loved ones together.

3. Which expression limits a conclusion to personal observation?

  1. Menıñ baiqauymşa
  2. Barlyğy mındettı türde
  3. Bükıl el ärqaşan
  4. Eşbır erekşelık joq
Answer and explanation

Menıñ baiqauymşa

Menıñ baiqauymşa explicitly marks the source and limits of the speaker’s observation.

Make it your own

Describe a holiday in your family, ask about someone else’s experience and find a shared value without generalizing about the entire country.

  • I spoke from my own experience
  • I asked an open question
  • I found something in common without sweeping claims
Example response

Bızdıñ otbasymyzda mereke jaqyn adamdarmen kezdesuge sebep bolady. Ädette bırge tamaq daiyndap, ülkenderge sälem beremız. Menıñ baiqauymşa, būl dästür är otbasynda ärtürlı saqtalady. Sızdıñ otbasyñyzda merekenı qalai atap ötedı? Ädetterımız ärtürlı boluy mümkın, bıraq jaqyndarğa köñıl bölu ekeumızge de mañyzdy dep oilaimyn.