Interview with Sudhakar Gaidhani

by Yang Yujun

This interview with Sudhakar Gaidhani has been conducted by internationally published Chinese poetess Yang Yujun. The Chinese version of this interview has been previously published by China’s WeChat’s Poetic Platform. The world-renowned Chinese poet Yongbo Ma has taken the initiative for this interview.

Q.1). How did Devdoot the angel strike as image of your Epoch? 

Sudhakar–

First of all, I would like to thank you and dear poet Yongbo Ma for arranging this interview. To answer your question, I would like to tell you something different please.

As a child, I used to dream that I was a bird and flying. As soon as the dream broke, I would often fall off the bed. Later, I depicted this bird as Devdoot in the poem “Devdoot the Angel”. There is also an idea that an angel is a messenger of God. God is also a beautiful concept created by humans. Another thing is that there is a belief that God and His angels also free people from suffering. “Devdoot” is a  the main heroine image of the family of images of this epic poem. By the way, this angel is also like a hero in this epic poem. This bird, based on the wisdom of many previous lives, communicates with the people of this era and tries to show them the path to the supreme happiness of life. This giant bird also mentions that it was with them in the era of Buddha and Christ.  He warns them against the so-called spiritual preachers who frighten the naive people by spreading man made religious differences among humans. Because all religions are creations of humans.

Now let me add in short  about of my epic poem  Devdoot. The prologue of this epic poem contains the story of the creation of  Devdoot.

The first Marathi canto of this Devdoot was published in 1981.  The second canto was published in 1999 and the next three together, an epic poem of 555 pages, was published in 2004.  

Some Marathi critics tried to make fun of this bird by calling it surreal. But 6 years after the creation of Devdoot the angel, the American National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution, Washington, discovered that a bird like this sea bird was alive on Earth.  This news came in newspapers all over the world. This is the incident of November 1987. 

News was like this – “A fossil excavated from a rock formation in southeastern United States has been identified as history’s largest flying seabird, an extinct and previously unknown species that has a wing span of more than 5.5 meters”. After reading this news, one of the  readers of my poem Devdoot immediately wrote a letter in the same daily, saying- “I am glad to state here that a visionary Marathi poet from Nagpur-India Mr. Sudhakar Gaidhani has depicted a similar bird in  his poetry book Devdoot published in 1981”. After this my enthusiasm increased. I immediately sent the translated parts of Devdoot and the prologue of the poem along with a clipping of the reader’s published letter to the Smithsonian Institute.

Then I received two positive letters from the Smithsonian Institute’s Department of Paleobiology Museum Specialist.  The first letter is dated 28th March 1988. 

Second letter is dated 10th  June 1988. Some of its lines are like this–

It is a rare occasion when science and poetry can meet with such a magnificent blend of serendipity.  Under the matter of both letters is the signature of Raymond T.Ray II.

Now what I am telling you here that is wonderful and true. After the publication of the entire Devdoot, the 16 incidents depicted in it have actually become true.  This is recorded in a Marathi book published on Devdoot.

 Q.2). What role should a poet play in the contemporary society? I mean, was a poet born with a mission (obligation)? 

Sudhakar–

In contemporary society, the role of a poet should also be linked to the feelings of the society. Because he is an integral part of the society. 

Once a poem is expressed, 

it is no longer the poet’s personal matter. 

Rather, it becomes a part of the collective human mind. 

Because the poet is also 

an integral part of the social brain.

A poet who says he writes and publishes only for his own pleasure is deceiving himself.

Poetry is also an art of communication. And the poet communicates with the society through his poetic expression. With this social consciousness, he can also communicate freely with nature.

ii – Although no poet is born with a goal, later his inner mind keeps suggesting him to take up the flag of a goal. And he can take a definite role as the need of the society, the world.  Because basically a real poet is a prophet, a philosopher. Poets who perform only for stage entertainment are performing artists. 

Que-3) Your poems remind me of EI viejo con las alas enormes by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (The Old Man with Enormous Wings) What do you think of this story? 

Sudhakar–

Sorry, I have never read this story. My reading of English literature is limited. The relationship of the bird in my epic poem The Angel is deeply moving to me. I had listened to the entire epic Mahabharata as a child. In it, the great warrior Bhishma, who fights for the Kauravas and falls wounded on the battlefield, touches Devdoot in the first canto, that’s all. There is nothing much beyond this. Because the giant bird in Devdoot is wounded by a hunter’s arrow and falls on a deserted island. 

Q.4). Numerous literary works can be traced back to the Bible, how about your poems?

 Sudhakar– 

I have already said that the message of compassion conveyed by the great human beings like Buddha and Christ awakens the consciousness of humanity in humans. The martyrdom of Jesus impresses me more than the Holy Bible. The Jaataka stories in Buddhist literature or the miraculous short stories in the Bible are like a crutch to help ordinary devotees understand the truth.

Since these stories are related to faith, they do not take away the faith of the devotees. I think that even a mature scholar should not snatch these faiths of ordinary naive devotees. If they do so, their ignorance will increase and they will become aggressive. Because both Buddha, who denies God, and Jesus, the only son of God, are very necessary for those who try to live a normal life happily. Most of the short stories about Jesus in my Devdoot are inventions of imagination.

Q.5). Is the identity of Character of Devdoot change with the unfolding of the five cantos?

 ii – Do you yourself grow (feel elevated) with your own works in the process of writing?

Sudhakar–

Devdoot gradually reached five cantos quietly. The first canto in 1981, the second in 1999 and the other three cantos together, the entire Devdoot, was released in 2004. It is because of these five cantos that Devdoot angel’s own identity and personality have been realized. 

ii—The poet’s mature poetry creation gives him the joy of inner satisfaction. As the seed of poetry blooms in his state of contemplation, he forgets the sense of his own normality and, as he unites with an extraordinary state, he himself experiences the creation of a poem. Like a pregnant woman and the fetus in her womb. This is the elevated state that the poet gains from the process of creating poetry.

Q. 6)–. How did Ramayana and Mahabharata influence you and your writing?

Sudhakar–

There is no such thing as the influence of these two mythological epics on my poetry creation.  But some of the characters in my epic poem Devdoot and my second epic poem “Shadows of Yoginis’s Dreams” are useful for expressing new content and beauty of thought. That’s all. 

 Q.7)— It seems that your five cantos are written from God’s perspective, that view of a philosopher than simply a narrator of world events? 

Sudhakar–

Your question is about the principle of God related to the human world on earth. In the fifth canto of Devdoot, the solution to this question is in the dialogue between the Awadhoot-pilgrims who has reached heaven.  God himself says that I am also the caring guardian of this world on behalf of the Creator. When these Awadhoots actually come before the Creator of the world, the Creator explains to them, 

O Awadhoot-pilgrims on earth, all the gods and all the religions on earth are the creation of you humans. 

Even God also says that  God is just a beautiful concept.  

Let it be beautiful. Anyway! 

In all these five cantos, Devdoot gently explains this formula to the collective consciousness of human. If materialism tries to snatch the concept of God from humans, the common people will be very hurt. The world has experienced this fact. I have used to refer some how the basic thoughts of Buddha and Jesus in connection with the previous question. Anyway, now world events, even if they are temporary, can have some impact on the world. But a poet or artist does not consider them as a means of creation, but only as an occasion, and is in the contemplation of eternal creation, taking note of them. Everyone has two minds. One is the inner mind and the other is the outer mind. The inner mind is pure, it is not muddy like the outer mind. This inner mind easily entwines the poet’s poetry in the thread of philosophy. That is why an ascetic poet is a philosopher. Poets who only entertain on stage are artists.  

Q.8)— Was there a particular event/incident in your early life that motivated/triggered you to start writing or you just naturally picked up writing? 

Sudhakar–

To speak in this context, this inheritance from my mother must have flowed into my genes to some extent. This arrangement exists in the genetic system. Our genomes travel through human sperm for thousands of years with the memories of past lives. During this journey, the memories of some are destroyed, while those who do not, continue to travel through the capsule of genes, taking with them new memories. It is said in Jaataka stories that Lord Buddha had the memories of five hundred such births. We bury a grain seed in the soil and see later the same seed sprouts on its grave. The formula of birth, death and rebirth is also applicable to animals, birds and plants. My insufficient practice from my past life must also be attached to this birth.

Q.9) Do you normally start writing with a plot as with a novel or you just write on pouring out what pops out from your mind? 

Sudhakar–

No. Not at all like a novel. While writing Devdoot the Angel, as I mentioned earlier, I took as a basis a small story hint in my mind. Later, as the journey of contemplation began, some small mythological stories got into the poem as needed. Something similar happened in the case of my other epic poem Shadows of Yoginis’ Dreams. You yourself are a deeply contemplative poet. Therefore, I do not think it is appropriate to say anything more. Here I am giving a recent poem of mine as an example.

WHEN THE POET IS GUILTY

In the abyss of the poet’s inner self, 

the seeds of memory flutter 

and fly like angelic butterflies. 

When they settle down peacefully, 

the embryo of poetry gradually 

takes shape from their divine eggs. 

The poet has to wait for the natural birth 

of this new creation.

But when, due to the poet’s excessive enthusiasm, 

the poem is born by cesarean section 

before it is mature –

The poem constantly blames the poet 

for its unnatural birth.

I also agree that poetry does not come out of the inner contemplation like an object coming out of a machine. It has to be shaped in a state of contemplation. For example – even if it is a diamond, it becomes brighter and more valuable because of its shapes. Every poet must be the first reader and critic of his own poetry. It takes penance to master all the arts.

Q. 10) Is writing part of your day- to-day life or something special or a project that you focus on?  

Sudhakar–

I often spend late nights thinking about what new things I can think of and in the morning it takes on the body and life of poetry. Every poem has its own personality and character. A noble poem also stand nude before her ingenious devoted reader.The needle weaves the clothes to cover the naked but it itself remains nude still no one objects it for its nudity. The poetry is also similarly.

Lately I have been more lost in poetic contemplation. Sometimes in this contemplation, the thread of new creation is found, of course this is very useful for a long-term poem. These days I am meditating more on Buddha. Mahayogi Buddha, that is, Epic Yogi Buddha.

Q. 11). Do you have much interaction with your readers? 

Sudhakar – 

Literature is a communicative art. There must be communication between the writer and the reader. But this is not mandatory. Still, one thing is very important. Speaking of poetry, the poet’s poem should communicate with the readers. Poem can be obscure but if it is self-obscure? Then it can be counted as mad poetry. And the self-centered poet wanders in the mist of self-sorrow searching for own tears; and beg before himself for it. 

The love of the readers is a very important issue for a poet. This is the respect that the poet receives from the readers for their creation. Therefore, every poet should treat his readers with great respect. One issue is that my low budget books were released easily, but I had to wait a long time for a six hundred page book. Today, for the new edition of my “Mahavakya” i.e. the complete Devdoot the angel, my friends, Marathi poetess and writer Mrs. Dr. Manjusha Sawarkar and Mr. Sunil Sawarkar, who love my poetry, came forward. They started a publishing house in Nagpur metro city under the name ‘Kusumaee Publication International’ and made my Devdoot epic available to English and Marathi readers around the world. Because other publishers did not dare to spend 5 lakhs (0.5 million) rupees. A poem can remain in the news due to positive or negative reviews, but it survives only because of the place it has found in the hearts of the readers.

Q.12). When did you start to take writing seriously ?  

Sudhakar–

I started writing since my school days. But I really started writing poetry seriously from 1968. My first collection was published in 1973, which I later had to study in the M.A. Marathi course from Nagpur University.

Q.13) What would you call your style? 

Sudhakar – 

For me this question is not easy to answer. In the Marathi poetry world, free verse is considered a type of style today. But in my opinion, instead of free verse, it is a type of verse free style. In my opinion, poetry is a beautiful outburst resulting out of deliberation of innermost thoughts. It becomes the nucleus of the poetry. It balances the surface, middle and bottom of the poem. I consider such an invention as an easy but free, with depth and beautiful style. In short.that  style is philosophical and mystical

Q.14). Do you think the identity of a poet affects your relationship with other people, especially your family?

Sudhakar—

No, I don’t think so. But in this poetic penance, my family is a little neglected. But Mrs. Gaidhani takes care of me. A few years ago, a leading daily newspaper used to have a column of my poetry. The honorarium I received for that gave me some support. In 1991, I lost my postal job to contest the parliament elections. I was defeated in the elections. In the later days, I had the support of my wife. At that time, the writing of the next part of the epic Devdoot was delayed. My readers love me along with my poetry. In 2004, when I had two major heart attacks, these friends helped me a lot. These friends collected the subscriptions and published the Marathi version of Devdoot.  My birthplace Khapa is adjacent to the metropolis Nagpur. There, with the cooperation of the people of the village and the municipal council, a public garden has been opened in my name on two and a half acres of land. 

Q.15) Do you normally write on schedule or write only when you feel like writing?

Sudhakar—

I have also mentioned this earlier.  However, let me mention about a farmers movement I was also part of. Three decades ago farmers in Vidarbha region (of 11 district in Maharashtra state) were committing suicide due to debt burden and poverty.  And the peasant leaders were doing politics.  These pictures were disturbing me. In that mindset, I started a daily poetry column on behalf of farmers in a major daily in Nagpur.  That column continued for more than two years as it became a reader favorite. During that time I wrote almost 12000 lines. And an unexpected incident greatly affected my later life.

Q.16). Of course once appear in the form words, all works have broad orientations. However, do you have a particular reader in mind when you begin writing (the so- called reader consciousness)?

 Sudhakar—

I do not write with a particular reader in mind. It cannot be kept in mind in the creation of poetry. We don’t say the gold is beautiful, we say the jewelery is beautiful.

Poetry is not an easy – accomplishment. It require to bear the scorching of the meditation -energy, only then the picture language of the letters(syllables) possesses the essence with immortality. Using broken bricks of words,one cannot build castles of poetry.

In case of music,sculpture, painting, dance and acting it takes a considerable time to assimilate the minute delicacies of of arts. After that the flowers of those arts blossom.But about poetry, No! It’s very easy. Something enters the mind, oozes through pen and is mixed with words. That is called poem (for some).

YANG YUJUN

Yang Yujun, born in Beijing, now lives as an English teacher in Guangdong. Her poems and prose first appeared in 1986 and her own collections of Poetry  Garden In Winger and The Hand On The Mouse Is Turning Cold have been published in Chinese and English. She has translated work  of more than 5 million words including  collections by thirty Chinese poets and two collections of short stories by Alice Munro. Also she has translated Sudhakar Gaidhani’s entire Epic Poem “Devdoot The Angel” from English to Chinese. Her poems have been translated into English, Arabian, Spanish, Japanese, etc.

Sky Fall into Sticks

(1)

3 hours after midnight

not caring about the absence of sleep

on a bare mattress left behind

in a room with the ceiling blown off

from when they struck nightly raids

the weather staying the same

a forever stillness waiting

for bombs to fall again and again.

(2)

Pretending candles floating in the air

sweet scents of yesterday

when all was good

seemingly

our kiss-locks squeezing into ecstasy

glowing with no fear

a gift of confidence

with chains quietly attaching.

(3)

Now a prisoner left to rot

drunk with nostrils baked with smoke

college stoned years ago

ego believing

truth expanding

since that’s all there is

on the beginner’s level

which I will rise above when my wings grow.

(4)

Chest hurting

aligning with my backbone

headaches from bubbles in the brain

memories of child and teenage

wet rags on hilltops of rage

dripping down between my legs

consciousness welling into inner storms

capable of winning wars.

(5)

I kick my feet up and out

with a snarl

ready to fight

storm clouds making a fuss above

but I am now

not afraid

out into the world

biting off the head of the snake!

Problems and Analysis Methods of Translation Practice in the  Exercise  

 Student of Andijan State Institute of Foreign Languages   Abdullajonova Rayhona Arabjon qizi  Abdullajonovarayhona874 @gmail.com  +998886630603 

 Supervisor: Kadirova Nargiza  

Annotation.In diesem Beitrag werden ein breites Spektrum von Problemen in der  Übersetzungspraxis, die Gründe für ihre Entstehung und die Methoden der Analyse  ausführlich diskutiert. Insbesondere die grammatikalischen, lexikalischen,  stilistischen und kulturellen Unterschiede zwischen der usbekischen und der  deutschen Sprache beeinflussen den Übersetzungsprozess und welche  wissenschaftlichen Methoden zur Überwindung dieser Unterschiede eingesetzt  werden sollten. Ausgehend von den Leitgedanken der Übersetzungstheorie werden  praktische und theoretische Ansätze analysiert, die für den Übersetzer notwendigen  Qualifikationen, Fähigkeiten und Strategien diskutiert. 

Annotation. This article discusses in detail a wide range of problems in translation  practice, the reasons for their origin and methods of analysis. In particular, the  grammatical, lexical, stylistic and cultural differences between the Uzbek and  German languages affect the translation process, and what scientific methods should  be used to overcome these differences. On the basis of the leading ideas of translation  theory, practical and theoretical approaches are analyzed, the qualifications, skills  and strategies necessary for the translator are discussed. 

Schlüsselwörter. Übersetzungspraxis, Übersetzungstheorie, Deutsche Sprache,  Usbekische Sprache, Analysemethoden, grammatikalische Unterschiede,  lexikalische Unterschiede, kulturelle Unterschiede, pragmatische Unterschiede,  sprachlicher Ansatz, kultureller Ansatz, funktionale Äquivalenz, Transkription. 

Keywords. Translation practice, translation theory, German language, Uzbek  language, methods of analysis, grammatical differences, lexical differences, cultural  differences, pragmatic differences, linguistic approach, cultural approach, functional  equivalence, transcription. 

Translation has been one of the most important tools of intercultural communication  throughout human history. Today, the role of translation is becoming more and more  important as global connections in science, technology, literature, politics, and other  fields increase. Translation has become not only a means of transferring information 

between languages, but also of transferring spiritual and social values from one  culture to another. The structure of the Uzbek language and the German language,  the style of expression, and the cultural basis differ significantly. These differences  create many difficulties in the translation process. A translator must translate not  only literally, but also correctly convey its meaning, style, cultural context,  communicative purpose. The article comprehensively analyzes the problems  encountered in translation practice and proposes solutions based on modern  scientific methods. 

The main problems of translation practice. Lexical problems. There are significant  differences between the vocabulary and lexical structures of the Uzbek and German  languages. Whereas in Uzbek a word often has many meanings, in German there is  a specific expression for each meaning. For example, the Uzbek verb “to see”  denotes a general action and is used in different contexts: to see (with an eye), to see  (to experiment), to see (to meet). In German, various verbs are used for these cases,  such as sehen (to see with the eye), erleben (to experiment), sich treffen (to meet).  The translator should analyze the context in depth and choose the appropriate option.  Problems are also common in the translation of phraseological units. Phraseologisms  often have a cultural basis in German and appear strange or incomprehensible in  German when translated directly. For example, expressions such as “Heartbreak”  should be conveyed in translation with an appropriate equivalent or annotation. 

Grammar problems. Differences in grammatical systems create many problems in  the translation process. Uzbek language is an agglutinatable language, and  grammatical meanings are expressed by suffixes. In German, there are genders of  nouns (masculine, feminine, neutral) and are designated by the articles. In Uzbek,  the basic structure of a sentence is simple (I went to school), whereas in German the  word order is based on a strict rule (Ich bin zur Schule gegangen). Secondary verbs  and auxiliary verbs are used a lot in the sentence. In German, the form of nouns and  articles change (der Tisch – den Tisch, dem Tisch and so on) if more pronouncements  are indicated in Uzbek. Such discrepancies require structural adaptations and  grammatical transformations in translation. 

Stylistic problems. Uzbek literary style is characterized by softer, more emotionally  rich expressions. In German, on the other hand, the emphasis is on expressing  clearly, concisely, and logically. It takes great skill to find their functional equivalent  when translating into German poetic metaphors, exaggerations, means of  expression, which are often used in Uzbek literature or in everyday speech.  Otherwise, the translation may look dry and artificial. Also, many expressions used  in the Uzbek language as part of respect and manners are divided into formal or  informal forms in German (via the forms Sie and du). Choosing the right level will  ensure the accuracy of the translation and its appropriateness to the context.

Cultural and pragmatic issues. Fundamental differences between Uzbek and  German cultures are often noticed in the translation process. For example, in Uzbek  culture special respect is given to adults and requires a lot of care in speech. In  German society, however, the principle of equality is stronger, and this is also  noticeable in the tone of speech. Since religious and national realities (for example,  “iftor”, “savob”, “Sufi”) often found in Uzbek are not exactly equivalent in German  culture, the translator must interpret these concepts or translate them with cultural  adaptation. Pragmatically, what is acceptable and acceptable in one culture may have  negative connotations in another. In such situations, the translator should use the  method of adaptation (localization), taking into account the purpose of the text and  the audience. 

Translation Analysis Methods. Linguistic analysis. Linguistic analysis is a method  of in-depth study of the interaction of language systems and elements in the  translation process. It is carried out at the level of grammatical structures, syntax,  morphology and phonetics. For example, differences such as the adaptation of the  free speech order in Uzbek to the strict order of free speech in German, or the manner  in which tenses are expressed (in Uzbek language the most accurate tense is clearly  defined, then in German tenses are often understood in context) are determined by  linguistic analysis. Cultural analysis. Cultural analysis involves the analysis of the  cultural codes, values, traditions of the translated text. The translator identifies the  differences between the source culture and the receiving culture and develops  adapted options. Cultural analysis is especially important in translating national  concepts, holidays, religious terms, and everyday customs. Functional Analysis.  Functional analysis is a translation technique that takes into account the  communicative purpose, audience, and context of a text. In this way, the translation  is done not only verbatim but also while maintaining the overall effect of the text.  For example, when translating ad text, you need to remember that its goal is to sell  the product, so it will be more important to maintain an impactful focus on your  audience, rather than translating the words correctly. 

The practice of translation is not a simple language change, but a complex cultural  and stylistic process of transfer. Translation work between Uzbek and German  should study in depth the grammatical, lexical, stylistic, and cultural differences and  apply the appropriate analysis techniques to each gap. The use of a harmonious  combination of linguistic, cultural and functional analysis methods in overcoming  translation problems is a key factor for improving the quality and effectiveness of  translation. A translator should always expand his language skills, cultural  knowledge and be aware of modern translation methodology. Translation is a  process that requires not only knowledge, but also art, patience, experience and a  creative approach.

 References 

1. Baker, Mona. In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation. Routledge, 2018. 2. Newmark, Peter. A Textbook of Translation. Prentice Hall, 1988. 

3. House, Juliane. Translation Quality Assessment: Past and Present. Routledge,  2015. 

4. Hatim, Basil; Mason, Ian. Discourse and the Translator. Routledge, 1990. 

5. Nord, Christiane. Text Analysis in Translation: Theory, Methodology, and  Didactic Application. Rodopi, 2005. 

6. Venuti, Lawrence. The Translator’s Invisibility: A History of Translation.  Routledge, 1995. 

7. Kadyrova, M. Comparative grammar of Uzbek and German languages. Tashkent,  2015. 

8. Shukurov, B. Fundamentals of translation theory. Tashkent, 2010. 

9. Snell-Hornby, Mary. Translation Studies: An Integrated Approach. John  Benjamins, 1995. 

10. Schäffner, Christina. Translation and Intercultural Communication. Routledge,  2012.

Teaching types of speech activity 

 Student of Andijan State Institute of Foreign Languages  Abdullajonova Rayhona Arabjon qizi   +998886630603 

 Abdullajonovarayhona874@gmail.com  Scientific Supervisor: Qodirova Nargiza 

Anmerkung. In diesem Artikel werden die Arten von Sprechaktivitäten und die  Methoden ihres Trainings analysiert. Grundsätzlich wird der Unterrichtsprozess des  Sprechens auf Deutsch mit der usbekischen Sprache verglichen. Der Artikel  analysiert eingehend Möglichkeiten zur Entwicklung des Sprechens, des  Hörverständnisses, der Lese- und Schreibfähigkeiten, methodischer Ansätze und des  kommunikativen Ansatzes im Sprachunterricht. Jede Art von Sprechaktivität ist eine  wichtige Phase des Sprachenlernens, und sie entwickeln sich in gegenseitiger  Abhängigkeit 

Annotation. This article analyzes types of speech activities and methods of their  training. Basically, the teaching process of speaking in German is compared with  the Uzbek language. The article analyzes in depth ways to develop speaking, listening comprehension, reading and writing skills, methodological approaches, communicative approach in language teaching. Each type of speech activity is an important stage in language learning, and they develop interdependently. 

Schlüsselwörter: Sprechaktivität, Deutsch, Methodik, kommunikativer Ansatz,  Sprachunterricht, Lesen, Schreiben, Hören, Sprechen 

Keywords: speaking activity, German, methodology, communicative approach,  language teaching, reading, writing, listening, speaking 

Speech activity is a means of satisfying basic communicative needs of a person. In  any language learning process, four main types of speech activities are distinguished: listening comprehension, reading, writing, and speaking. These skills  are seen as complementing and reinforcing each other. In modern language teaching  methodologies, the integrated training of these four skills is required. The same is  true for the study of German. This article examines each type of speech activity  separately and analyzes the differences, similarities, methodological approaches in  their teaching in Uzbek and German. In addition, the types of exercises used in the  formation of each skill, the structure of the lesson, the role of the teacher, and  methods of working with students will be extensively covered. 

1.Listening comprehension skills. Steps of Teaching Listening Comprehension in  GermanTypes of Listening Material (Audio Recordings, Video, Live Speech)Exercises: Global, Selective and Detailed Comprehension. Phonetic  differences in the Uzbek language and German, problems of pronunciation. The role  of context in listening comprehension. Listening comprehension is one of the core  skills in language acquisition. It not only supports oral communication but also helps  internalize pronunciation, intonation, rhythm, and syntactic structures of the foreign  language. In German language learning, listening plays a particularly crucial role  due to the language’s phonetic complexity and sentence structure. Steps of Teaching  Listening Comprehension in German.

The teaching of listening skills generally  follows a three-phase structure: 1. Pre-listening phase – This phase prepares learners  by activating prior knowledge, introducing key vocabulary, and setting the context.  It may include prediction exercises, discussion questions, or vocabulary  brainstorming. 2. While-listening phase – During this stage, learners engage with  the audio material. The teacher may focus on: Global comprehension: understanding  the general meaning or topic. Selective comprehension: identifying specific  information (e.g., numbers, names, dates). Detailed comprehension: analyzing and  understanding all elements of the text.

3. Post-listening phase – This involves  reflection and integration of the content through follow-up tasks like summarizing,  discussion, role-play, or writing a response. Types of Listening Material. A variety  of materials should be used to expose students to different accents, speaking speeds,  and contexts: Audio recordings: radio broadcasts, podcasts, dialogues, songs. Video  materials: TV programs, films, vlogs, documentaries. Live speech: conversations  with native speakers, guest lectures, interviews, or teacher-led storytelling. These  materials should be both authentic (real language use) and didactic (adapted for  learners’ levels), depending on the objectives of the lesson.

Exercises for Different  Comprehension Levels. Global comprehension tasks: identifying main idea, mood,  or theme of a recording. Selective listening: finding specific data (e.g., price, time,  place). Detailed comprehension: understanding cause-effect, opinions, or implied  meanings. Matching tasks, true/false questions, gap-filling, sequencing events, and  answering open-ended questions are effective formats. Phonetic Differences: Uzbek  vs. German . Uzbek and German differ significantly in phonetic structure: German  includes umlauts (ä, ö, ü), the ‘ch’ [ç] and [x] sounds, and the glottal stop, all of which  are absent in Uzbek. Stress patterns in German are more variable, whereas Uzbek  generally follows a more regular stress system. German consonant clusters can be  challenging for Uzbek speakers (e.g., Strasse, Frühstück). Vowel length (kurz/lang)  in German can change word meaning, a phenomenon not present in Uzbek. 

2. Speaking skills. Basic principles of the development of conversational speech in  German. Practicing forms of dialogue and monologue. Exercises aimed at  expressing free expression on social topics. Ways to improve speech flexibility and  vocabulary. Role plays, interactive lessons in language teaching. Conversational  competence in German is considered one of the central goals in foreign language  acquisition. To master spoken German, learners must develop not only correct pronunciation and intonation, but also the ability to spontaneously produce context appropriate responses, use appropriate vocabulary and grammatical structures, and  maintain coherence in longer dialogues or monologues.

Developmental Principles  of Conversational Speech in German. One of the basic principles in developing  speaking skills is communicative orientation, meaning that learners should use the  language not for rote repetition but for authentic communication. Language teaching  should therefore simulate real-life situations, where learners have to interact  spontaneously and meaningfully.

The development of speaking skills follows a  spiral model: initial basic speech patterns (greetings, self-introduction) gradually  evolve into more complex communicative tasks (debating, expressing opinion,  storytelling). Another key aspect is automatization – learners should be exposed to  a sufficient amount of practice to internalize language structures to the point where  speech becomes fluid and automatic. This involves repetition, but always in  communicatively meaningful contexts.

Practicing Forms of Dialogue and  Monologue. In language classrooms, both dialogue and monologue forms of speech  are essential. Dialogues foster interactive communication and help learners react to  partners’ input, while monologues encourage organized, extended speech such as  presentations or storytelling. For dialogue practice, some effective strategies  include: Information gap activities, where students must communicate to complete  a task. Interviews and peer questioning. Structured role-plays simulating everyday  scenarios: shopping, asking for directions, making appointments.

For monologue  practice, learners can be tasked with: Describing pictures or experiences. Giving  short presentations on familiar topics. Narrating a story or summarizing a text. Exercises Aimed at Free Expression on Social Topics. These tasks not only build  linguistic skills but also promote critical thinking and intercultural awareness,  especially when comparing perspectives from the target language culture (German speaking countries) with the learners’ own. 

3. Reading skills. Strategies for working with text. Types of texts taught in German:  Informative, Fictional, Formal Style. Development of reading technique: speed  reading, selective reading. Understanding the meaning of a word based on context.  Comparative analysis with Uzbek language teaching 

4. Writing skills. Stages of formation of writing competence in German. Types of  written speech: essay, letter, formal appeal. Correct application of grammatical  structure, spelling and punctuation. Creative Writing Exercises: Story Making,  Screenwriting. Criteria for evaluating written works 

5. Integration of types of speech activities. Methods of joint use of speech activities  in the classroom. CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) training. Task based learning and Project-based learning methods. State Technologies in German  and Uzbek language teaching: online platforms, multimedia tools

Training of speech activities is at the heart of every language teaching system. An  integrated development of listening, speaking, reading and writing is important for  mastering a German language. Each type of speech is related to a different type and  reinforces each other. Therefore, emphasis should be placed on a comprehensively  integrated approach to lesson planning. The effectiveness of the language teaching  process increases through a communicative approach, interactive exercises, the use  of autistic materials. For teachers, this means the need to update their knowledge  and skills, to use modern methods. 

 References 

1.Bimmel, P., & Rampillon, U. (2000). Learning and working techniques German  as a foreign language. Langenscheidt. 

2. Glaboniat, M. et al. (2005). Profile German. Learning objective determinations,  optional descriptions and test tasks. Goethe-Institut. 

3. Nünning, A. (ed.). (2008). Fundamentals of Language Didactics of German as a  Foreign Language. Butcher. 

4. Bausch, K.-R. et al. (2003). Handbook of Foreign Language Teaching. Francke  Verlag. 

5.Funk, H. & Koenig, M. (2010). Target language German. Textbook and  Workbook. Cornelsen. 

6.Helbig, G. & Buscha, J. (2001). German grammar. Ein Handbuch für den  Ausländerunterricht. Langenscheidt. 

7. Thaler, E. (2012). Teaching German as a foreign language. UTB.

Using English fluency formula to improve student’s speaking skill

Olimova Shahina Botirjon qizi

                Students of Uzbekistan State World Language University

Scientific advisor: Kaljanova Gulmira 

Teacher of Uzbekistan State World Language University

Abstract: Speaking is a crucial skill for English learners, especially students who intend to study at international universities. Unfortunately, most students come across challenges with speaking skills. Mainly, the cause of the problem is lack of English practice. In social media, many videos and podcasts try to give secret methods and new ways to learn English, but the principles are quite simple and mostly nothing new. Students get a bit confused about which is the best, but nobody explains to them how to practice. The English fluency formula is one technique that provides a special way to improve speaking skills.

Аннотация: Умение говорить является важнейшим навыком для изучающих английский язык, особенно для студентов, которые собираются учиться в международных университетах. К сожалению, большинство студентов сталкиваются с трудностями в умении говорить. В основном, причиной проблемы является отсутствие практики английского языка. В социальных сетях множество видео и подкастов пытаются дать секретные методы и новые способы изучения английского языка, но принципы довольно просты и в основном не являются чем-то новым. Студенты немного путаются в том, что лучше, но никто не объясняет им, как практиковать. Формула беглости английского языка — это одна из методик, которая обеспечивает особый способ улучшения навыков разговорной речи.

Annotatsiya: Ingliz tilini o’rganuvchilar, ayniqsa xalqaro universitetlarda o’qish niyatida bo’lgan talabalar uchun gapirish juda muhim mahoratdir. Afsuski, ko’pchilik talabalar nutq qobiliyatlari bilan bog’liq qiyinchiliklarga duch kelishadi. Asosan, muammoning sababi ingliz amaliyotining etishmasligi. Ijtimoiy tarmoqlarda ko’plab videolar va podkastlar ingliz tilini o’rganishning yashirin usullari va yangi usullarini berishga harakat qiladi, ammo printsiplar juda oddiy va asosan yangilik emas. Talabalar qaysi biri eng yaxshisi haqida bir oz chalkashib ketishadi, lekin hech kim ularga qanday mashq qilishni tushuntirmaydi. Ingliz tilini ravonlik formulasi nutq ko’nikmalarini yaxshilashning maxsus usulini ta’minlovchi usullardan biridir.

Keywords: English fluency formula, speaking skill, practicing English communicative skills.

Ключевые слова: формула беглости английского языка, навык говорения, отработка навыков общения на английском языке.

Kalit so’zlar: Ingliz tilini ravonlik formulasi, so’zlashuv mahorati, ingliz tilida kommunikativ ko’nikmalarni mashq qilish.

Introduction: English is an international language that is mainly used in social media networks, and most information on websites is given in English. Apart from that, English is the main communicative language across the world that can help students to build strong relationships with international students. Effective speaking skills improve social interactions and help build relationships and built confidence. The English fluency formula could help them not only to improve their speaking skills but also to enhance their language source. This formula consists of 3 parts, including studying, practicing, and time, which result in fluency.

Formula: (S+P) x T=F

S=study

P=practice

T=time

How to study

The study part of the formula has two main secrets. Firstly, students need to try to study in context and avoid word lists. For example, if learners use a grammar book, they need to utilize it as a reference; they should not study the whole book.

Study steps:

1.Know current level.

Students could know their level through online tests or ask teachers to check their knowledge.

2. Choose the text at a suitable level.

It can be an audio text, video, or written text. It has been suggested that the chosen text or video should be above the learner’s level. If it is appropriate for the learner, it will be more engaging for them to learn English. Students could find their own resources, or even better, they can choose a coursebook. The coursebook is a great way to boost speaking skills because it’s all in one place.

3. Read, listen, and watch.

In that place, students need to watch English content for enjoyment instead of analyzing it. They should just read, look, listen to the video or film, and not overcomplicate the process. Because if they watch videos for only academic purposes, they can get bored with studying, and they will not be motivated to carry on.

4.Analyze the text.

In this part, students do a deep analysis of selected text and try to find new vocabularies as well as grammar structures in the text. After that, they search for new knowledge on the internet to know the exact meaning and learn how to use it.

How to practice

The main concern among students is how to practice speaking during the learning process. As technology is developing day by day, students have more options for practicing with other learners. One of the best ways is using ChatGPT. In that program, they can choose one topic to discuss, and they convey ideas, and ChatGPT asks questions to facilitate a discussion. Additionally, students may engage in structured debates on various topics that allow them to articulate their ideas. It not only helps to improve their speaking skills but also broadens their horizons and improves critical thinking.AI programs could help students with pronunciation practice. Students read passages aloud and ask to give feedback on pronunciation and suggestions. Most importantly, after speaking, ChatGPT gives feedback on areas for improvement, such as vocabulary usage, sentence structure, and pronunciation. Through this, students know their mistakes and can correct them with enough practice.

There are two main ways to practice:

1.Alone. 

In that case, students can efficiently use YouTube for improving their speaking ability. While watching one video, students can pause and repeat the sentence that they hear. Sometimes they can change words, tense, or even the structure of sentences. It is like a shadowing technique that helps students to boost their speaking skills.

2.Practicing with others. 

Students can speak with people who intend to learn English. In this method, they need to choose a person who has the same level as them. They can use Google to find topics, and they should have 20 minutes of talk a day. 

For alone practice, there are kind of three good ways:

1.One of the controlled ones, where students should just repeat sentences in the video.

2.Semi-controlled. 

In this way, students may change the structure, vocabulary, and words. While they are repeating, they can change a word, or they even can add some new information. 

3.Free practice. 

This way is wider as compared to others. Students need to find some phrases that they have not seen before. After that they will make a story, trying to use those phrasal verbs. It is always a good idea to record when they are practicing alone. They have a chance to listen back and find mistakes. This method is helpful for lone learners because they can not get feedback from others.

Research and discussion:

The English fluency formula is one of the effective techniques that helps students to develop improved communication skills. The research was conducted in a university class. For observation, first-year students were taken during 2 weeks. Every lesson, teachers tried to teach using the English fluency formula. In the first week, they selected one interesting YouTube website and started to watch one video every lesson. The video was about educational theories; students independently chose it based on their interest. In the second week, they began to analyze the video and found new vocabularies as well as grammatical structures; they wrote all of them down. Additionally, students imitated characters with gestures. Teachers requested to learn deeply what they had written. Finally, when teachers got interviews from students to check their speaking ability, improvements were seen in vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and fluency.

Conclusion:

Speaking is a vital skill in learning English that needs to be mastered by students. Most students have problems with lack of practice with others, which makes students levels low. The English fluency formula aimed to help learners improve their English language skills and enhance fluency. Based on research given above, it is proven that the English fluency formula can help students to improve their fluency, pronunciation, grammar, and overall ability to speak. During research, students were able to learn new knowledge and find more information on topics they were interested in. Lastly, with the imitation technique, students can speak more like a native speaker and learn more phrases that are usually used by natives.

References:

1. 1. Ur, Penny. (2012). A Course in Language Teaching: Practice and Theory. Cambridge University Press.

2. Nation, I.S.P., & Newton, J. (2009). Teaching ESL/EFL Listening and Speaking. Routledge.

3. Lazaraton, Anne. (2001). Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches to the Study of Language Learning Strategies. In Language Learning Strategies in Independent Settings (pp. 25-50). University of Michigan Press.

4. Kukulska-Hulme, Agnes. (2009). “Will mobile learning change language learning?” ReCALL, 21(2), 157-165.

5. Thornbury, Scott. (2005). “How to Teach Speaking.” Pearson Education Limited.

6. Ellis, Rod. (2016). “The Study of Second Language Acquisition.” In Handbook of Second Language Acquisition (pp. 1-20). Routledge.

7.Richards, J.C., & Renandya, W.A.B. (2002). Methodology in Language Teaching: An Anthology of Current Practice. Cambridge University Press.

8. Scrivener, J. (2010). Learning Teaching: The Essential Guide to English Language Teaching. Macmillan Education.

9. Thornbury, S. (2005). How to Teach Speaking. Pearson Longman.

10. Ur,P. (2012). A Course in English Language Teaching: Practice and Theory. Cambridge University Press.

11. Willingham,D.T.(2017). The Reading Mind: A Cognitive Approach to Understanding How the Mind Reads . Scribner Publishing

Truss tissues

“Believe me,” he said;

which meant I im-

mediately didn’t. &

that more a testament

to my cynicism than to

his lack of credibility.

A done deal

He refused to talk

about the past.  It’s

a done deal he

would say, something

you cannot change

even if you wanted

to.  That was the

public face. Privately

he was reinventing it,

rearranging it in a way

that made it more

palatable to remember,

more profitable for a

later presentation.

A Mango Mantra

      i.m. RKS

It is the longest night of the year.

I am thinking of you tonight. A

circuitous route as to how I got

here, starting off by turning poems

over in my head, one in particular

coming to mind, no special significance

in it, apart from the time of writing.

Tipping & I intoning a mango mantra

onto a tape which we sent off, a variety of

intonations as in man go, woman goes also,

through to Vincent Man Gogh. & then

the thought of the fruit itself, & the ideal

way to prepare it, to slice it & then score the

flesh so that when bent it presents itself

as a series of mango cubes, edible LEGO®.

A faint but bitter memory

Jerked us around

she did, telling us to

go here, to go there, no

place recognizable,

each much the same

as the last, as the

others.  Finally

came to one we did

recognize — she saying

look, they obviously don’t

know who you are, don’t

trust you, but they know

me, will deal with me.

Give me the money &

I’ll be back in five minutes.

Fame & Fable

It seems that many of the

inventors still talked about

never saw their work brought

into being — take da Vinci’s

lens grinder, Babbage’s Diffe-

rence Engine. Others talked,

made things, but never existed.

Are equally celebrated for the

failures of their fables. Such as

Daedalus’ who has a plinth to

himself — the wings with wax

which melted & cast Icarus

into the sea, the labyrinth on

Crete unraveled by a thread.

The circus comes to town

The precision of the acro-

bats & the random actions

of the clowns contrast to

create a tension which

the ringmaster disperses

when he slices through it

whipcracking on a white

horse & surrounded by

his elegant assistants.

But the progress of the

circus parade is still dic-

tated by the pace of the

elephants & the amount

of shit they leave behind.

Sheep Dip

Corporal Toby Weydig was lazy. Some people might think of him as a good person or a bad person, but everyone acquainted with Corporal Weydig would agree that he was extremely indolent.

In May of 1970, Toby was discharged from the Army after honorably completing his two-year draft obligation. Although Toby’s two years of military service coincided with some of the bloodiest fighting of the Vietnam War, the closest Corporal Weydig ever got to Southeast Asia were his weekly visits to the Thai restaurant, The Golden Triangle, located about a half-mile beyond the gates of Fort Dix in southern New Jersey. Toby was crazy about the restaurant’s seafood noodle cuisine and the proprietor’s long-legged daughter, Bobbi.

Corporal Weydig spent his entire two-year tour of duty at Fort Dix, an infantry training facility that turned out human fodder for the war. As a trainee, Toby was slotted for a platoon in Vietnam until he heard a rumor while working KP in the fort’s huge kitchen facility. A fat and
likeable mess sergeant advised Toby that in order to get out of the Army, all one had to do was to pee in bed every night. The overweight cook insisted that a medical discharge would be awarded
for chronic bed wetting.

The cook may have been telling the truth, or perhaps he enjoyed the thought of headquarters being bombarded with urine-stained sheets. Toby Weydig promptly wet his bed for twenty-seven consecutive days. Not having to get up at night to go to the bathroom certainly
appealed to the young recruit.

Toby wasn’t offered a discharge. However, he was pulled off infantry orders at the completion of boot camp and assigned to the fort’s vast laundry service. His first sergeant, who truly disliked Toby, told him that he was promoted to corporal because of his expertise in
cleansing out the nocturnal wet-dream emissions of homesick recruits who refused to swallow their libido-busting daily allotment of saltpeter tablets. Toby shrugged off the cruel sarcasm and
his first sergeant’s contempt for him, reasoning that it was much easier than having to shrug off shrapnel and jungle fungus.

When May 8th arrived, Corporal Toby Weydig became plain old Toby Weydig. Despite his lack of combat experience, Toby noticed that his separation paperwork repeatedly listed the phrase, Vietnam Era Veteran. The words made Toby proud and he remembered a conversation he had with the beautiful Asian waitress, Bobbi. She once expressed admiration and concern for all the young boys who were being filtered through Fort Dix to fight in such a horrible war. Toby, in a rare instance of defensive posturing, drew himself up and
staring into Bobbi’s eyes stated, “Listen Bobbi, when the Viet Cong hit the Jersey Shore who do you think is going to repel them?” She laughed, then Toby laughed too, but he didn’t think it was so funny.

Toby was happy to leave the military, but was financially depressed. He had saved nothing from his paltry paychecks the past two years. Before boarding a bus that would take him into the New York City Port Authority Bus Terminal on 42nd Street, Toby called his father.
“Hello, Pop.”
“Toby?”
“Yeah.”
“How’s it going, son?”
“I’m free, Pop.” My service to my country is over.”
“There’s nothing free here, Toby. You got a job lined up?”
“Not yet, Pop. But I’m going to get one as soon as I return.”
“Return where?”
“I was hoping you and Ma could put me up for a short time while I look for work.”
His father grunted into the telephone, place his hand over the mouthpiece, and shouted something to Toby’s mother. Although Toby couldn’t make out his mother’s muffled reply, her tone didn’t sound encouraging.

“Your mother wants to know how long you’re planning to stay.”
“Christ, Pop, I’m just asking for a few days, maybe a week or so until I can find my own place. Gimme a break, will ya?”
“Hey, Toby, the only reason why you ended up down at Dix was because you were too lazy to take your SATs and get your ass into college like everyone else. Chasing skirts was more important, right? Your mother and I begged you for five years to get a lousy part-time job. Did you?”
Toby wrinkled his forehead and pressed the receiver against his temple. “I made my own money,” he muttered.
“That’s right,” said his father. “But I don’t count selling nickel bags and mescaline in the school locker room as gainful employment. How do we know that you’ve changed? I don’t want no twenty-one-year-old mooching off me. You’re not a kid, Toby. You’re a man.”
Toby stared at his reflection in the telephone booth. “Look, Pop, if you don’t respect me, at least respect the uniform I’m wearing. Let me prove that I’ve changed. All I’m asking for is a few days to get myself organized. That’s all. I respect myself now, Pop. I want you and Ma to respect me too.”
“Okay,” said his father and hung up the phone.
It upset Toby that he would have to spend his first summer of freedom in two years working at some stupid job. The more Toby thought about his impending summer drudgery, the more outraged he became.
Monday morning, Toby’s parents were pleased to see him up and dressed way before his 9:30 appointment at the Veterans Administration employment office. His father was annoyed by his son’s three-day growth of beard, but Toby explained that he was sick of his military look and his facial hair had nothing to do with a lack of pride in his military service but that the hippie girls he was anxious to meet would be turned off by his clean-cut look.

Hopefully, a beard would be a quick fix solution, at least until his hair grew out.
The lobby of the V.A. counseling services was already crowded by the time Toby arrived. All of the young men seated within the semi-circle of chairs had long hair and were dressed in shorts or blue jeans. Toby felt like a freak because of his close-cropped hair, sports jacket and tie.

Some of his fellow veterans gave Toby a mock salute, which he returned with a grin. A tall, thin veteran around Toby’s age with greasy long hair and a bushy moustache walked over and
extended his hand.

“Hi. My name’s James, but friends call me Mr. Jimmy. First timer?”
Toby nodded and shook the man’s hand. “I’m Toby.”
“Which branch did you escape from, Toby?”
“Army. And you?”
“Same.”
“Mr. Jimmy, how come everybody’s dressed so. . . relaxed at an employment office?”
Mr. Jimmy grinned and glanced over at the receptionist. “Are you really looking for work?”
“I have no goddamn choice. I’m broke.”
“That’s not true, Toby. You look like a smart guy.”
“Yeah, so?” Toby was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable with Mr. Jimmy and the rest of his brothers-in-arms.
“Knowledge is power,” whispered Mr. Jimmy.
“I don’t need power. I need cash,” replied Toby.

“You ever hear of U.C.X.?”
“No. What’s that, Mr. Jimmy?”
“It’s a huge government tit,” giggled Mr. Jimmy, “that you can suck on for a long time if you stroke it right and don’t pull too hard.”
Mr. Jimmy lit up a cigarette and offered one to Toby. Toby shook his head but listened intently as Mr. Jimmy explained that U.C.X. was a special unemployment program for returning veterans. It guaranteed them an eighty-one-dollar-a-week check for six months while they looked for work. Mr. Jimmy said there was a special U.C.X. line at the State unemployment office so that unlike regular benefit seekers, there was no long and annoying wait. He claimed that picking
up checks every two weeks was fast and painless.

Toby was shocked. “Wow. Six months is a long time and that’s pretty good money.”
Mr. Jimmy laughed so loud the receptionist at the far side of the room looked over at him.
“I’m on my ninth month, man. I’m here because I need to get approval for another three-month extension. The state makes you clear with a V.A. rep before cutting you more checks after your
six months has lapsed. Every guy you see is here for another extension on their account. You’re the only rookie here today.”
“But doesn’t the employment counselor try to hook you up with work?”
“Nah, he’s cool. He doesn’t give a shit. Besides, he just runs the same old tired jobs over and over again on his viewfinder. People think we Vietnam Vets are all crazy dope-smoking fiends on the brink of violence. Guys offering real jobs don’t register with the V.A. office.”
“That sounds great,” said Toby. “But there’s one problem. I’m not a Vietnam Vet. I spent my tour at a fort in New Jersey.”

Mr. Jimmy shrugged. “So what? I was stationed in California. I pissed into the Pacific Ocean a few times, so maybe something of me made it over to Southeast Asia. But it doesn’t matter where you served, it’s when you served. As long as it was during wartime, a jungle grunt
shooting his ass off for thirteen months, or a stateside paper shuffler like me both get the same benefits.”

Their conversation was interrupted by a shout of “Mr. Weydig!” The two men shook hands as Toby headed towards the employment counselor’s office.
Mr. Jimmy had spoken the truth. Early the next morning Toby was down at the state unemployment office, inaugurating his U.C.X. account.
The unemployment office was located in Englewood, a Bergen County city Toby detested. When he walked inside the building, he couldn’t believe how jammed it was. There were more than a dozen lines stretching from the teller’s stations all the way to the front of the
building. Toby spotted the overhead sign, U.C.X., and was pleased to see only eight people standing underneath it.

The clerk, a matronly looking woman about his mother’s age smiled and handed him forms to fill out. After completing the paperwork, he returned to the clerk and she gave him his first check.
“I know that a lot of people don’t appreciate what you boys did for our country, but I do,” she said.
“Thank you,” said Toby.
“I’m glad your horror show is over and that you made it back safely. Welcome home.”

Toby smiled at the woman and nodded. While he cashed his check at an Englewood bank, he glanced at his paperwork to see if his non-combatant status was listed anywhere. It wasn’t. In smeared black print it simply stated Vietnam Era Veteran.

The summer turned into a happy dream for Toby. He spent most of it down the Jersey shore with his buddies, swimming and picking up girls. In the beginning, he pretended to his parents that he was truly searching for employment. He’d leave the house in the morning looking for work, but would often return late in the evening, sunburned, tired and wearing a completely different change of clothes.

The truth was revealed weeks later when his father happened upon
him filling out his bi-weekly employment search sheet that he had to turn into the unemployment office as proof that he was sincerely looking for a job in order to qualify for his benefits.

While his father silently watched, Toby scoured the newspaper help wanted section, copying down the names and addresses of businesses where he supposedly interviewed. The clerks at Unemployment never challenged his desire to find work, but his father did. His parents were so upset at their son’s deception—theft is the word they used—that they kicked him out of their house.

Deception had become an integral part of Toby’s summer of freedom. Once he discovered that he could earn respect and money from the state by pretending to be a warrior, he decided to do the same with his social life. It started as a simple pick-up line for bikini-clad
beauties on the beach. Quite a few young ladies would offer up comfort to the returned war veteran who was trying to piece his life together after the trauma of unrelenting, senseless combat.

Soon Toby was presenting himself as a burnt-out infantry veteran to all he met. After his parents forced him to leave, a World War II veteran who ran a decayed motel near the beach let Toby stay free of charge in a basement room. It was a solemn gesture of brotherhood between two combat veterans.

If one were to search for something positive to say about Toby at this time, although he was a very lazy young man, he was not a lazy liar. It was amazing how much energy he poured into his new persona.
Accepting the limitations of his imagination and ignorance, he’d spend hours at the library, reviewing newspaper microfilm that chronicled the war during his two years at Fort Dix.

Toby took such copious notes that one would think he was a dedicated actor researching a challenging role.
As the summer came to a close, a new Toby Weydig had emerged. A kind of bitterness crept inside this world-weary twenty-one-year-old veteran. He was upset at his parents for kicking him out. He loved to tell the story of their cruel indifference to their returning warrior
son and was quite successful soliciting support and sympathy from both men and women whenever he offered up his torrid tale of disrespect and rejection.

Less than three weeks after moving in with friends renting a dilapidated house in Bergenfield, Toby was notified by the New Jersey Department of Unemployment that his benefits were being terminated for falsifying his work search sheet. He felt as if his entire world had imploded, a world based on the gratuitous respect for his military exploits. His roommates offered him little comfort.

“Big deal, get a job,” said Jeffrey. “I got a job. You’ve got to kick in your share of the rent. The last guy we roomed with fell down on his share. We bailed him out for a few months and then he skipped on us. We’re not carrying you, Toby. We can’t afford it.”

“It’s not having to find work that upsets me, Jeffrey. It’s the indifference of a government who can send me out into a killing field and then suddenly call me a liar and a fraud and take away the one measly comfort I earned. Earned! I earned those checks! I’m not going to be disrespected by the same people I put my life on the line for. I was abused in war. I will not be abused in peace!”

Jeffrey shrugged. “Speaking of abuse, how about cleaning out the sink after you trim your beard? When I went to wash my face this morning I almost puked. It felt like I was dipping my face into a urinal filled with pubes because sometimes it smells like you pissed in the sink.”
Toby’s sorrow at losing his benefits turned into total fear as his appointment with the Claims Examiner drew closer. He knew that everyone thought of Vietnam Vets as deranged assholes, and by God, he was going to scare the sonofabitch who was trying to terminate his benefits into extending his unemployment account. On the way to his appointment, Toby Weydig did something he had not done in many years. He entered a church to pray for help. It was called The Good Shepherd Assembly of Englewood and was located a block and a half from the unemployment office.

The small church was dimly lit. Its light came from the concentrated bunches of candles burning beneath beautifully crafted tableaus and icons scattered about the church. All of the religious mosaics, sculptures, and paintings depicted a bearded, loving shepherd tending his flock. Toby was so moved by the quiet, peaceful atmosphere that he dropped into a pew and sat for many minutes with his eyes closed, his head resting against the smooth wooden bench. The comforting coolness of early morning dew seemed to be ingrained into the fine wood; the foul, wincing headache that Toby had taken to bed and still gripped his skull suddenly vanished.

With the disappearance of his headache, Toby leaned forward inside the pew and opened up his eyes. He noticed that his anger had also disappeared, and with it, his anxiety over his impending confrontation with the Claims Examiner. Viewing all the images of the good
shepherd, he knew that he had to choose between good and evil, to take a moral stance with that New Jersey civil servant’s interrogation that was less than an hour away. Toby smiled, bowed his head, and ran out of the church of The Good Shepherd Assembly and straight to the Englewood Public Library’s reference department.

The librarian apologized for the lack of materials she had concerning sheep, but she did lead Toby to a hopeful wall of shelves lined with encyclopedias. Hope turned to help as Toby borrowed some scrap paper and a pencil and began to furiously jot down facts about sheep. He scribbled away until it was time to leave for the interview.
On the walk over to the unemployment office, Toby read and re-read his library research, pulling out phrases and facts that he recited like a mantra. Right before he pushed open the Claims Examiner’s cubicle door, he slipped his sheep list inside his U.C.X. folder and took a deep breath.

Seated behind a cluttered desk was a man who rose to shake his hand. The chunky claims examiner appeared to be about forty with a neatly trimmed moustache and a Prince Valiant hairstyle. The man’s glassy green eyes were highlighted by deep set circles of black. The hand he extended was weak and Toby noticed its pale, effeminate smoothness and size.

“The name’s Moolins, Dennis Moolins,” he said. “And you are Toby Weydig?”
“Yes, sir.”
Mr. Moolins eyed every inch of Toby’s appearance. His inspection ended when he glared directly into Toby’s face. Toby remembered what a pamphlet from that very office had stated about successful job interviews, and proceeded to direct his own glare at the bridge of the man’s nose as he was offered a seat.
“You know why you were called into this office don’t you, Mr. Weydig?”
“I believe I’m being accused of fraud, sir.”
Mr. Moolins lifted a fistful of papers from a folder. “I personally called these lists of potential employers you’ve submitted when picking up your checks and not one can verify that you had applied for work with their organization. Can you come up with a word other than fraud
to describe my investigation, Mr. Weydig? May I call you Toby?

Toby nodded.
“You can call me Dennis. I’ll be glad to listen to any explanation you can offer for not searching for work, Toby, but based on the evidence-or rather the lack of evidence-for your job searches, I’m afraid I have no choice but to terminate your unemployment benefits.”

Toby pinched open his UCX folder and peeked inside.
“Are you going to defend your behavior, Toby?” asked Mr. Moolins as he returned to his desk and began to scribble something onto an official looking piece of paper.
“Defend, Mr. Moolins? I defended my country for two years and now that I’ve returned home, I’m being forced to defend myself against the same government that sent me to fight its war? Is that what you’re asking me to do, Mr. Moolins?”

The claims examiner stopped writing and looked up at his client. “This isn’t a battle, Toby. It’s simply an inquiry into the truth, the truth of your honest search for employment. I conduct these weekly interviews with both veterans and non-veterans.
“Are you a military man, Mr. Moolins?”

“I never served in the Armed Forces, if that’s what you’re asking. But I do respect you fellas who did,” he added, somewhat defensively.
“Do you respect how war can change a person, Mr. Moolins?”
“Yes, but I don’t classify lying and cheating your government for undeserved benefits as a legitimate change in a warrior’s mentality. Do you, Toby?”
“My change came from the brutality I witnessed. If I was to find employment that’s directly connected to my military service, I’d have to find work as a butcher.”

Moolins glanced at Toby’s file. “Butcher’s probably the only occupation you didn’t list on your fictitious job search forms.
“No, sir. There’s one more. One true job, the only career where I know I’d be able to excel and utilize the intense changes resulting from my combat experience.”
“And what would that job be, Toby?”
“Shepherd.”
Moolins raised his eyebrows. “Did I hear you correctly, Toby? You did say shepherd, as in one tends sheep?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m afraid you’re living in the wrong part of the country if tending sheep is to be your life’s work, Toby.”
“But this is my home, Mr. Moolins!” Toby rose from his seat and placed his hands on the investigator’s desk. “Are you saying that I’m responsible for the accident of my New Jersey birth?”

“Please be seated, Mr. Weydig.” The claims examiner stared into Toby’s eyes in an attempt to intimidate him. “Let’s say I could find a situation where you could perform shepherding duties. What sort of knowledge or expertise in the shepherding profession could you
offer a potential employer?”
Toby smiled. “I’m an expert on sheep, sir. My only respite from the war were the hours I spent assisting monks at a Buddhist temple, helping them tend their sheep.”

“You don’t say?” smirked Moolins.
Toby nodded. “Did you know that sheep are not only even tempered, but even toed?
“No, I’m completely unaware of that information,” said Moolins as he began to fidget in his chair.
“Are you a religious man, Mr. Moolins?”
“I don’t think that. . . well, I suppose I am.”
“Then you must be aware that sheep are referred to more often than any other animal in the bible.”
Moolins smiled and jotted a sentence into his file report. “So, you’re telling me you’ve had hands on experience as a shepherd?”
“Yes, sir. As a matter of fact, the most moving moment of my life occurred when I dipped a newborn lamb’s umbilical cord in iodine to prevent infection. It made me feel full.”

The claims examiner rattled some papers on his desk. “Your file is also pretty full, Toby, and the animal that the New Jersey Bureau of Unemployment Benefits associates with your name isn’t lamb, but bull.”
Toby leapt from his seat. “I don’t care what you think of me or what names you call me, but how dare you mock the sweetest of God’s creatures! Sheep are sacred beings Mr. Moolins, and I’m more than proud of the time I spent trying to control their foot rot by my tedious
trimming of their fungus infested feet! Or blue tongue. Have you ever seen a lamb with that horrible disease? Do you think you’re so much better than a sheep? Toby stared at Moolin’s stomach. “Well, let me tell you, one of the most common diseases that inflicts them is
overeating, so don’t try to distance yourself too much from those sweet and joyful souls!

Moolins jabbed a thumb into the excess of flesh under his chin. “Calm down, Mr. Weydig. This is a claims investigation, not an inquisition.”
“Take away my benefits, withhold my money, but don’t taunt me for telling you the truth about the first animal to be domesticated by man 11,000 years ago in Southwestern Asia!” Toby paused for a breath and a sigh while grinding his teeth, trying to buy enough time to recall more sheep encyclopedia facts without having to peek at his folder.
“Calm down, Toby. I’m just trying to help you find relief from your nightmarish rut of unemployment.”
“Mr. Moolins, do you know what the word rut means to a shepherd?”
Moolins tilted his head slightly, as if viewing Toby from a different angle. “No, I don’t, Mr. Weydig. I just want you to make an honest buck, that’s all. What does rut mean to a practitioner of herding sheep?”

Toby bit down on his lip, flared his nostrils and once again jumped up to place his hands on the desk, leaning forwards towards the examiner in a manner some might consider threatening. “A rut is the period of sexual excitement in sheep and a buck is what you call a male of the species. If you think I’m in a rut to make a buck then you have me figured out all wrong. I can assure you that my impulses are quite healthy and normal. I adore women!”

“I’m glad for you,” said the confused civil servant. “I didn’t mean to be insulting. Relax.”

Toby noticed the spreading circle of perspiration staining Moolins’ underarms as he put down his pen and gently gestured for Toby to sit. His smile was solicitous and nervous. “I will investigate all the resources at my disposal to find you gainful employment as a shepherd, Mr. Weydig. I promise.”

Toby wanted to laugh but bit down on his lip instead. “You know, although sheep are well adapted to cool climates they could easily adapt to New Jersey’s environment because their wool supplies them with an excellent tolerance to heat. A sheep’s body temperature is about 102 degrees Fahrenheit, but most importantly, their heat loss comes from evaporation from their respiratory tract. Yes, Mr. Moolins, sheep do sweat somewhat, just like me and you.”

Mr. Moolins nodded and rose from his desk and gently ushered Toby to the door. The two shook hands and Toby was handed an envelope that contained his disputed unemployment check.

When he shut the door behind him, Moolins grimaced, shook his head, and immediately called his supervisor to advise him that Weydig was a Vietnam nut job who should be allowed to run
out his claim without any further interference, at least until a federal government agency could intervene and properly deal with his PTSD.

Summer surrendered to fall and entered winter as Toby’s six months claims extension went unchallenged. When Toby’s unemployment claims finally expired, he continued to suck on the government teat by evoking his G.I. bill educational benefits to study acting at New York’s prestigious Academy of Dramatic Arts. He had no problem passing his series of entry auditions.

While still a first-year Academy student, Toby starred in his first play, a one-act Vietnam War drama produced by the American Theater of Actors, titled “Fresh Fatigues.”

Mark Blickley grew up within walking distance of New York’s Bronx Zoo. He is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild, PEN American Center, and Veterans For Responsible Leadership.  His latest book is the flash fiction collection ‘Hunger Pains’ (Buttonhook Press).