NOTE: 131

[... rises], and the name and renown of the nation is elevated before other nations, and it gains credit and honor. 10. The patriot speaks the language of his ancestral nation at home and among his family, so that his children also may learn it and put [it] into practice. For he knows well that the principal bond of the nation is language, whereby [it] unites the myriad multitude of the nation and makes [them] one nation; therefore, that man who knows not the language of his nation is accounted severed and divided from the nation. We have seen and known many times that foreign nations laugh at us when, in our speaking, we mix words of their language into our speech, and mock us, saying: “Alas that you took the trouble to speak Armenian, when we understood much of what you said!” How much more worthy of mockery, then, are we found to be when we know not our own native tongue at all, and make our entire conversation in a foreign language! There are also many persons who know their native language; but, as of[ten...]