Oct. 14, 2008 - Baby Talk
I love observing the language development of my little ones. It's true that sheer cuteness is a major factor in my interest, because the only thing more adorable than a darling toddler is a darling toddler running through his 20 word vocabulary, with a lisp.
But more than that, if you think about it, the process of becoming fluent in one's mother tongue is just amazing. Babies have no formal language lessons. Yet in the space of a few years, they speak fluently whatever language and dialect those around them speak. And it's not just parotting. Every once in a while, it's clear that they're thinking about what they say. They make astonishing connections. They blurt out a multisyllable word in proper context. Their grammar temporarily goes downhill once they realize there are rules that they have to figure out and follow.
I've been thinking about this because Biruk has just started saying a few words, and has departed from family tradition when it comes to the word we use for nursing. His older brothers complacently accepted "noonies", and weaned themselves before they had occasion to use it much. Biruk, however, won't have that. He knows what I mean when I say the word, but he won't use it. Instead, he shouts "WAAAAAAYY", with a peculiar nasal accent. At first I thought this was just randomly picked from his many sounds, but I noticed that he uses a similar word (minus the whiney nasal tone) when he's asking for a drink, usually water. It seems to me that he has rejected the "nonsense word" in favor of something much more reasonable. Water is a drink, mama's milk is a drink, he likes them both, they obviously have something in common, therefore, they must be "water". "Waaaaaayy".
So, what fascinating things have your brand-new talkers come up with? I'd love to hear about them!
Comments
Oct. 14, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by ElCloud
I used to call nursing "nursie" to my kids. Well, the first to nurse until toddler age called it "neenee". Then for some reason he morphed "neenee" into "diddy". Well, coming from a toddler that sounds too close to another word for that general body area, so we quickly taught him to call it "milk".
With the next child, Milk became "Milky". And now, my 2 yo nursling calls it "Mookey". Mooooo says me, especially since I'm now nursing two. Hmm. I have been meaning to blog about things she says ... I'll do that now.
By the way, I tagged you on my blog. Check it out!
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ElCloud/604696/
April (TOS Homeschool Crew)
Oct. 15, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Sideways
My inlaws live in Florida, about 10-12 hours away, depending on how you drive. We show him pictures of grandma and grandpa to try and keep them a part of his life.
Well, he won't say "grandma" or "grandpa" but he has started to say "four-i-da", because we're always saying "grandma and grandpa live in Florida"
Oct. 16, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Years ago, I was teaching the toddlers' Sunday school class at church when a visitor came in with her dd about halfway through. I was just getting the children to sit at the table for juice & crackers, so I leaned down to the little girl and asked, "Would you like a snack?" Mom burst out laughing and said that was the word they used for nursing. (?!?) That experience taught me to be choosy about what terms our family would use. And I still wonder what that mom was thinking, lol.
~Wendy
Oct. 17, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Stina
That is so funny! Jimmy calls it "neenee" even though I've been calling it a "boob sandwich" all along.
