The little devil
Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 11:19PM What does it mean, when a married couple who have Tamizh and English as their default languages, are seen speaking in Hindi? This from a couple who were recently seen talking to each other in "Spell"!
If you do not know spell, here is an example.
Dad : Do I G-I-V-E her I-C-E C-R-E-A-M today ?
Mom : A L-I-T-T-L-E
or
Dad : have to G-O T-O O-F-F-I-C-E soon etc.
There are two reasons..
1. Jr. has now figured out the English language in its totality. She can speak, write and read! That means, she KNOWS spell. That also means she is privy to information that we try to keep from the little one when we talk in Spell and promptly goes and tells the little one. This makes it look like we are conspiring against baby and Jr. is her guardian angel!
2. The little one now understands Tamizh and English to a point where she can embarass us in public. Here is a conversation from our trip to the east coast over the last weekend:
Mom : enga pora ? (where are you going?)
Me : Bathroom (in hushed tone). Watch them for a few minutes.
When I come back towards the stroller...
Me : lets go
Little one : (with a big smile on her face on seeing me walk towards her)
Daddy? Pooh-pooh DONE ?
I have no idea how she heard or caught on to the fact that I was visiting the restroom. She announced the question, in a tone that would put the airport public address system to shame. Everyone in Terminals A through C would have looked up and thought "Good for you Daddy. But why tell everyone at the airport?", and continued on with their business.
Now the adults in the family only speak in Hindi.
We are also planning to enroll in Chinese classes starting next quarter at the local community college as a backup plan.
.
Reader Comments (8)
LOL - that was a good one. :)
Too cute, the little one:-) LOL.
-kajan
Hey.. that was a good one. I have a friend who has 2 years old boy and he exactly does the same.. very interesting and amusing to watch them in action.. :)
Hey so this is common practice all over...We do it all the time at home in front of little tots
Amazing the way little one has picked your way of speaking.
Aaj Kal ke bachee bahut shaitan hai.. Siddharth also learned it.
Learning Chiness is good option.. Aaanoo mayoon chayoon..
I am sure it will be a good exposure for little one also. All the best..
The best way is talk by writing. Pass the letters through them i am sure little one cannot read now.. just an idea
LOl. I remember my older cousin's speaking and spelling in German to avoid me understanding, but then I started going to school and they could not have as much fun as before.
Might I suggest pig-latin? It is certainly easier than enrolling in Chinese classes.
thanks to all of you for your comments..
my aunt reminded me of how they used to have problems when I was a little one..
they used to speak with a ka added before every syllable in tamizh to keep it from me..
ka mu ka in ka dhi ka ri ... for mundhiri (cashews)! and I figured it out in a few weeks..
:)
we are going to try that here.
Interleaving other syllables inbetween used to be a code to keep communication within groups secret. :)
Sundaranna - you still ahven't given me your opinion of Canon 400 versus Nikon D40. :(