How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
The sound made Miri's heart feel squeezed between two stones. It was a unifying song and one that she was not invited to join. (1.11)
Poor Miri feels eternally left out because she doesn't work in the quarries with everyone else. Not only is she missing out on being a part of the village's productivity, but she's also missing out on the special communication that the quarry workers share.
Quote #2
Had Gerti heard quarry-speech? she wondered. Can it work outside the quarry after all? Just the possibility was as enticing as the smell of honey cakes baking next door. (7.11)
Finally Miri is privy to the secret language all the other villagers have been using. She can now talk to her fellow villagers without actually speaking aloud—how very cool and exciting. This brings endless possibilities.
Quote #3
Olana interrupted the practice to croon on about Conversation, the importance of repeating the name and title, asking questions, and always bringing the conversation around to the other person. (8.24)
The lowlanders may think that their form of conversation is more proper, but it seems boring, doesn't it? It'd be pretty hard to connect and share with other people if all you did was talk about titles and make polite chitchat.