Baby Talk
Elliott, the 2-year-old where I work, is learning to speak French. So am I. Only he had a 22-month head start.
His comprehension is better than mine, but my speech is better than his. I'll sleep well tonight knowing that I speak better than a just-turned-2-year-old. Oh yeah.
No, but seriously. :) The words little kids come up with when they're learning to talk is cute. In any language.
So I thought I'd share a few of Elliott's pronunciations with you. I'll put the word in English, then the word in French, then the way Elliott says the French word (in more-or-less English phonics)...
no - non - NON (This one he has down perfectly and has for some time now. :))
Monica - Monica - 'nica (At first, it was just " 'ca," but we've moved to two syllables now!)
stop - arrêtes - ah-get-uh!
come - viens - nyen!! (with great enthusiasm and emphasis, multiple times, usually accompanied by a tug on your hand or your clothing :))
Capucine (his sister) - Capucine - Apu
shoes - chaussures - diggeul-diggeul-diggeul (where this came from, I have NO idea!)
cake - gâteau - diggeul-diggeul-diggeul (yes, this can cause some confusion)... however, he now says gah-koe for this
Jacques (his brother) - Jacques - Cacques (Cock)
Vicky (his sister) - Vicky - Kiki
please - s'il te plaît - AH p'aît!
thank you - merci - atsi (this used to be "ahni")
clown - clown - COO-loon
What is that/it? - C'est quoi? - nempah (I always think he's saying, "n'aime pas" - don't like - but he's asking what the thing is; not expressing his dissatisfaction with it, lol!)
car - voiture - *brrrbrrr* (a pseudo-engine sound; he incorporates the sound into his sentences just like it's another word :D)
The way his says "Alban" (another brother) and "lapin" (his "doudou") sounds exactly the same... it's a cross between the two.
He also has the cutest way of saying "MA maman!" when he thinks someone is threatening to take HIS maman from him for whatever reason! LOL! And when we ask him, "C'est à qui, Elliott?" (Who's is this?) and it's his, he says, "Moi-moi!" and points at his chest. Every time without fail. :)
You know what all this means, right? It's a two-for-one deal: I'm learning TWO new languages!!
His comprehension is better than mine, but my speech is better than his. I'll sleep well tonight knowing that I speak better than a just-turned-2-year-old. Oh yeah.
No, but seriously. :) The words little kids come up with when they're learning to talk is cute. In any language.
So I thought I'd share a few of Elliott's pronunciations with you. I'll put the word in English, then the word in French, then the way Elliott says the French word (in more-or-less English phonics)...
no - non - NON (This one he has down perfectly and has for some time now. :))
Monica - Monica - 'nica (At first, it was just " 'ca," but we've moved to two syllables now!)
stop - arrêtes - ah-get-uh!
come - viens - nyen!! (with great enthusiasm and emphasis, multiple times, usually accompanied by a tug on your hand or your clothing :))
Capucine (his sister) - Capucine - Apu
shoes - chaussures - diggeul-diggeul-diggeul (where this came from, I have NO idea!)
cake - gâteau - diggeul-diggeul-diggeul (yes, this can cause some confusion)... however, he now says gah-koe for this
Jacques (his brother) - Jacques - Cacques (Cock)
Vicky (his sister) - Vicky - Kiki
please - s'il te plaît - AH p'aît!
thank you - merci - atsi (this used to be "ahni")
clown - clown - COO-loon
What is that/it? - C'est quoi? - nempah (I always think he's saying, "n'aime pas" - don't like - but he's asking what the thing is; not expressing his dissatisfaction with it, lol!)
car - voiture - *brrrbrrr* (a pseudo-engine sound; he incorporates the sound into his sentences just like it's another word :D)
The way his says "Alban" (another brother) and "lapin" (his "doudou") sounds exactly the same... it's a cross between the two.
He also has the cutest way of saying "MA maman!" when he thinks someone is threatening to take HIS maman from him for whatever reason! LOL! And when we ask him, "C'est à qui, Elliott?" (Who's is this?) and it's his, he says, "Moi-moi!" and points at his chest. Every time without fail. :)
You know what all this means, right? It's a two-for-one deal: I'm learning TWO new languages!!
posted by Monnie | 9:28 PM
2 Comments:
Well put!!
Just so you don't speak French baby talk when you get home, it'll be OKAY with us!
Ta Ta, Miki! and other American baby talk,
Lub U,
Mom
I think the first two words EVERY child learns to say are NO and MINE!! (And some say there's no such thing as original sin...!)
Thanks for the smiles. A great post today.
Maybe you can market "Baby Pimsleur"
Tock to ewe tater.
IL Dottore
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