Listen&Learn: The language of flowers

Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock

Learn how people used flowers to send messages in the 19th century.

Pre-listening vocabulary

• universal: understood by everyone
• restrictive: limiting many freedoms
• etiquette: a set of rules for being polite
• taboo: socially unacceptable
• interpret: to find the meaning of something

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

Many people consider flowers to be a universal . People often give each other flowers that represent certain emotions. Red roses, for example, are widely known as the flower of love. But the language of flowers was once used for more than just . In the 19th century, society was very restrictive. People were expected to proper etiquette, and many topics were considered taboo. Flowers gave people the opportunity to secretly express their true feelings and . Back then, flower language was much more complex. There were many books about interpreting flower arrangements. But as time went on, social rules became more relaxed, and people no longer needed a way to send secret . Flowers still have meanings today, but most people use them to express basic feelings like love or friendship.

Comprehension questions

1. Red roses are a symbol of

love

friendship

secrecy

Correct! Wrong!

Red roses are a symbol of love.

2. People used flower language in the 19th century because

it was proper etiquette to send flowers to friends

it allowed them to secretly express feelings and opinions

it was the easiest way to communicate over long distances

Correct! Wrong!

People used flower language in the 19th century because it allowed them to secretly express feelings and opinions.

3. After social rules became more relaxed,

people didn't need to send secret messages anymore

people started writing books about interpreting flowers

people stopped sending flowers as gifts

Correct! Wrong!

After social rules became more relaxed, people didn't need to send secret messages anymore.

Discussion/essay questions

1. Flowers are just one way to send secret messages. Do you know any other methods that people have used to communicate secretly?

Transcript

Many people consider flowers to be a universal language. People often give each other flowers that represent certain emotions. Red roses, for example, are widely known as the flower of love. But the language of flowers was once used for more than just gifts. In the 19th century, society was very restrictive. People were expected to follow proper etiquette, and many topics were considered taboo. Flowers gave people the opportunity to secretly express their true feelings and opinions. Back then, flower language was much more complex. There were many books about interpreting flower arrangements. But as time went on, social rules became more relaxed, and people no longer needed a way to send secret messages. Flowers still have meanings today, but most people use them to express basic feelings like love or friendship.

You may also like:

• Listen&Learn: Dominant hands
• Listen&Learn: Missouri cheese caves
• Accommodation Theory

Written and recorded by Jaksyn Peacock for EnglishClub

© EnglishClub.com

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17 comments

• Kennyaldie SENAT says:
  

  This was very helpful thank you.

• Leia says:
  

  Thank you

• Selena says:
  

  Gifts

• Valentina says:
  

  Thank you so much for this interesting way to learning!
  I learned new things for the flowers and it was very useful method to learn.

• Mai says:
  

  I love roses

• Zohre says:
  

  Thank you.this text was very usefull

• sonja says:
  

  I like flowers,,expecially roses and tulips.
  When I get a rose of someone, it is beautifull feeling of frendship. kindness and love..

• Helena says:
  

  Lovely text. About the flowers, I still believe that sends a message, whatever It’s. And about the recorded audio, I’m so happy for understood what she speaked.

• charvy says:
  

  Thanks again, I’ve learned a lot.

• mahsa says:
  

  about the discussion question , i have no clue about the other secret way to communicate secretly !!
  just i know about the cavemen , they use painting or making fire to send maybe secret messages !!
  what`s your idea?

• Abrar says:
  

  .

• Reza says:
  

  In government protests, people put flowers in soldiers’ guns to turn their rage into empathy. Here flower language is sympathy.

• Mark Anthony Ballon says:
  

  I like that Sharing about flowers i feel better soon

• Felipe says:
  

  Writing messages and send through messenger pigeons.

• kashindi songolo says:
  

  thank you for sharing this article
  I really enjoy it

• Angela says:
  

  Thank you for these articles. They help me to improve my English. But this time the recorded voice was not clear enough.

• The King Of Love From IRAN says:
  

  Thank you for sharing it with us, but I consider love and kindness are the universal language regardless of nationality, race and so on!

  So we can touch the heart of others by giving them peace and joy even if we don’t them any flower.