How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #1
And they had Tönseten, too, and his wife Kjersti, both of them used to America. Why they could talk the language and everything… (1.1.4.7)
Speaking English is a big deal when you're a new immigrant in the U.S. Even the Native American people speak English, and if you know the language, life is going to be a whole lot easier.
Quote #2
What was the use of trying? She couldn't even speak the language of these people! (1.5.1.13)
Of the many things that stress out Beret, not being able to speak English is one of them. There is nothing about America that's familiar to her. The giant prairies, combined with not knowing the language, make her feel completely homeless all the time.
Quote #3
What was the matter with that fellow—was he deaf and dumb? He couldn't seem to get his mouth open! The man fingered his sledgehammer, and glared around at Henry as if he would swallow him up. (1.4.10.34)
When conflict arises with the Irish, Hans Olsa can only stand and stare with his mouth open. He doesn't really know what to do until a man attacks him. Then he springs into action and nearly beats the dude to death. Looks like Olsa lets his fists do the communicating.
Quote #4
In the latter part of the afternoon Per Hansa returned to the camp of the Irish, to find out what they were doing and how they were getting along; he took Store-Hans with him as interpreter. (1.4.10.51)
Per Hansa knows that he's going to have trouble with the Irish. Unfortunately, he doesn't understand their language, so he has to take his youngest son with him as an interpreter. As you can imagine, this must wound his pride a little.
Quote #5
On the shelf above the window lay an old Bible, a gift to her from her grandfather; it was so old that it was hard to read now, because of the many changes the language had undergone since then. (1.5.7.10)
You know how it can be tough to read a novel from 1780? That's because our language changes over time and it's tough to read English the way people used to write it. Well the same thing happens with other languages, too, including Norwegian.
Quote #6
As Beret drank in these words the tenseness left her; the weapon she had seized dropped from her hand. (2.3.9.20)
Beret and Per Hansa don't exactly communicate well. In fact, they never talk to each other about the things that are truly bothering them. Instead, Per Hansa talks about all his troubles to his friend Hans Olsa, and it's only because Beret eavesdrops that she is able to find out what Per is truly feeling.
Quote #7
"Can't they understand that I need him at home?... And he is so easily talked around—he can't say no to anyone." (2.3.9.10)
Beret knows that people easily sway her husband if they speak in pretty ways. She only wishes that she had the same persuasive power over him. It's frustrating because it seems as though everyone except Beret has the power to make Per Hansa do things.
Quote #8
Very little was known about her except that she was extremely religious, and that as a rule she spoke a language which none of the Norwegians had ever heard before. (2.4.4.6)
The woman known as Crazy Bridget speaks some sort of language that few people understand. It could be Irish (she's from Ireland) or it could be that she's speaking in tongues.
Quote #9
As she fixed these applications she made the sign of the cross over his chest and back. All the while she was muttering strange words, in a language they did not understand— (2.4.4.8)
Crazy Bridget likes to mutter in a language no one understands. Maybe it's because no one understands her that everyone seems to think she has such great healing powers?