3.1 Use language to express opinions and feelings

Here are some of the lyrics:

Dream

…

Through the silence I hear a voice I’ve heard before

It’s a voice that echoes my dream

I must listen, I know, and take careful note

For the message manifests clear

I know this voice

I know you know it too

It commands you to follow your dream

There’s no tension, no doubt

It’s written so clear

…

You’re a spaceman

Flying through the sky

On a silver bullet,

On the wings of my dreams

…

Do you have a dream?

Have you put it in motion?

…

You’re a spaceman

Flying through the sky

On a silver bullet

On the wings of my dreams

Put it in motion …

- Courtesy of Motion

At 13:29 on Thursday, 25 April 2002, after having orbited the earth five times, and five hours after becoming the first South African in space, Mark said his first words from space: “Everything’s fine.”

Activity 2

1. Choose one of your classmates as a partner. Read the lyrics of Dream to him/her and try to explain in your own words what the song is about.
2. When a poet or lyricist writes a poem or a song, he/she sometimes does not quite stick to the rules of grammar. That is called “poetic licence”. Look at the following examples from the lyrics above:
   1. the message manifests clear
   2. It’s written so clear

How would these two examples be written correctly?

1. Use your dictionary to find the meaning of each of the following words. Write them in your personal dictionary and use each one in a sentence to show that you know how it should be used.

1. Manifest (as a verb)
2. Command (as a verb)
3. Tension (noun)
4. “Flying through the sky / on a silver bullet” is used metaphorically. A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a name or a descriptive term is transferred to something/somebody where it would not normally be applicable. It is a kind of “shortened comparison”. For example, instead of saying “He behaves like an animal!” (comparison or simile) one could say “He is a real animal!” (metaphor).

1. Try to explain the metaphor “Flying through the sky / on a silver bullet” in your own words. (By the way, why is this sentence written with a / in it?)

Do you think it is an effective metaphor? Justify your answer.

Rituals

Before each launching at Baikonur, there are fixed rituals and traditions that have to be observed. Dr Wayne Derman, from the University of Cape Town’s Institute for Sport Science, was at Shuttleworth’s side in the days before the launching of the Souyus. His assignment was to prepare Shuttleworth medically for the flight, and he observed all these strange activities.

Before the launching of every manned Russian spacecraft, the crew watch a movie called Son of the White Desert. The reason for this is that the first Russian cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, watched it on the eve of his historic flight in 1961. Since then it has become traditional for every cosmonaut to do the same.

Other traditions that were observed by the crew of Mission TM-34 in Baikonur, Kazakstan, were the following:

• They had their hair cut a few days before the time.
• They were not allowed to watch the rocket being towed to the launching pad.
• Coins were placed on the railway tracks.
• Before breakfast each cosmonaut signed his name on the inside of his bedroom door. (Gidzenko’s name appears twice.)
• After breakfast a priest from the Greek Orthodox Church blessed each one.
• As they walked towards the bus that was waiting outside their sleeping quarters, an orchestra played lively marches.
• In the bus, each one always has a specific seat. The commander always sits in front, behind him the on-board technician, and the third crew member sits at the back. The doctors sit opposite them in the same order.
• The bus never travels faster than 35 km/h. The cosmonauts watch a video with highlights of their training.
• On arrival at the dressing-rooms, each one gets some private time.
• A second “breakfast” or “picnic” follows.
• They put on their space suits and hold a short news conference.
• They drink a toast. A bottle of cognac appears, everyone kneels on one knee and the Russian version of three hurrahs is given.
• The crew walk out in proper order and stand on the three painted squares on the concrete slab from where they give a salute.
• Ultimately they board the bus that takes them to the launching pad.

There are one or two other rituals that have not been mentioned here.

Finally they stand on the so-called “200 steps” that they will have to climb if the lift doesn’t work, and wave a final farewell.

When the traditions and rituals are all over, the pad is cleared and the time comes for the flight to begin.

Abridged and translated from Die Burger , 30 April 2002.

Assessment

Memorandum

Activity 1

1. Any two suitable questions.

2. An amateur participates in some activity for the enjoyment value, or for the love of it, while a professional gets paid for doing something (e.g. in sport).

3. An inspiration (in this context) would be someone who inspires one, while a “super-inspiration” would be able to inspire one tremendously – to a very high degree.

4. A role model is someone whom you would emulate. You would try to be like that person. Learners discuss their role models and explain why they admire them.

Activity 2

1. Learners read lyrics and paraphrase the song.

2.

(a) the message manifests clearly.

(b) It’s written so clearly (These are adverbs and must have the –ly ending.)

3.

(a) manifest: show, display, reveal

(b) command: instruct, order

(c) tension: anxiety, nervousness

These words must be used in sentences of their own to illustrate that learners understand how they are used.

4.

(c) The spacecraft is like a silver bullet in the sense that it is

travelling at high velocity, and it is a metallic colour. Any other possible points of comparison to be considered.

(d) It is very effective, because it suggests power, streaming, aiming at a target (goal), and “something special” – a silver bullet is special, not everyday.