Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: Forging Bonds: The Young Merchant's Revolutionary Deal
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/af/episode/2025-05-26-22-34-02-af

Story Transcript:

Af: Die golwe van die Middellandse See kabbel teen die hawe van antieke Kartago.
En: The waves of the Mediterranean Sea lap against the harbor of ancient Kartago.

Af: Dit is herfs in die suidelike halfrond, en die son skyn warm oor die besige stad.
En: It is autumn in the southern hemisphere, and the sun shines warmly over the busy city.

Af: Die lug ruik na sout en speserye, en mense van regoor die wêreld kom hierheen om handel te dryf.
En: The air smells of salt and spices, and people from all over the world come here to trade.

Af: Piet, 'n jong en bekwame handelaar, loop haastig tussen die markstalletjies deur.
En: Piet, a young and skilled merchant, walks hurriedly among the market stalls.

Af: Hy is daar om 'n belangrike ooreenkoms te sluit.
En: He is there to close an important deal.

Af: Piet het 'n doel: om sy mense te voorsien van waardevolle hulpbronne en om sy status te verhoog.
En: Piet has a goal: to provide his people with valuable resources and to elevate his status.

Af: Hy weet dat hierdie onderhandeling sy kans is om op koers te kom.
En: He knows that this negotiation is his chance to get on track.

Af: Elna en Gerhard, sy metgeselle, stap langs hom.
En: Elna and Gerhard, his companions, walk alongside him.

Af: Hulle het albei vorige ondervinding in die handel, maar vandag is Piet se beurt om te glans.
En: Both have previous experience in trade, but today is Piet's turn to shine.

Af: Die ouderlinge van Kartago kyk skepties na hom.
En: The elders of Kartago look at him skeptically.

Af: Hulle dink hy is te jonk, nie ervare genoeg nie.
En: They think he is too young, not experienced enough.

Af: Piet se plan is ongewoon.
En: Piet's plan is unusual.

Af: Hy wil nie net met geld of goedere ruil nie.
En: He doesn't just want to trade with money or goods.

Af: Hy het 'n visie van 'n kulturele uitwisseling wat aan albei kante voordeel sal bied.
En: He has a vision of a cultural exchange that will benefit both sides.

Af: Hy bring geskenke saam wat die geskiedenis van sy mense vertel en toon wat 'n toekomstige alliansie kan inhou.
En: He brings gifts that tell the history of his people and show what a future alliance might entail.

Af: Die ouer raadsaal is vol belangrike figure wanneer Piet sy voorstel maak.
En: The old council chamber is full of important figures when Piet presents his proposal.

Af: Elna en Gerhard staan gereed aan sy sy.
En: Elna and Gerhard stand ready by his side.

Af: Almal luister aandagtig.
En: Everyone listens attentively.

Af: Piet praat met selfvertroue oor die moontlikhede van samewerking, oor hoe hulle almal kan baat vind.
En: Piet speaks confidently about the possibilities of cooperation, about how they could all benefit.

Af: Dan bied hy sy geskenke aan.
En: Then he offers his gifts.

Af: 'n Pragtige handgemaakte pot, 'n kunswerk wat hul gedeelde geskiedenis simboliseer.
En: A beautiful handcrafted pot, an artwork that symbolizes their shared history.

Af: Die Kartago-leiers is verras.
En: The Kartago leaders are surprised.

Af: Hulle kyk met nuwe oë na die jong man voor hulle.
En: They look with new eyes at the young man before them.

Af: Daar is 'n stille verstaan tussen almal; 'n nuwe pad is voor hulle geopen.
En: There is a silent understanding among...