Big - Language - Bang - Portfolio
An explosion of vocabulary is an accurate and appropriate image descriptor of how language develops in toddlers. So much of the language which is produced by young toddlers is misused or generalized, but a large amount of language and learning is happening in a short amount of time, these mistakes are encouraged.
Children go from having about 50 words in their repertoire, to having over 200 words that they can use with those who can understand them. These toddlers switch from giving their parents one word commands like, "milk!' or "no!" to saying things like, "I'wa' milk please!" or "No, I do' wa' that!"
In this process, my daughter made some amusing developments. I don't mean the, "I want a tweet!" Although adorable, those types of mispronunciations are a product of how sounds are heard and perceived by the child.
When Violet was young, maybe around one and a half, she was learning to say more and more words. She hadn't learned to verbalize, "thank you," yet because she knew the sign for it, so relied on that form of communication. As we started seeing more vocabulary development from her, she finally started saying her version of, "thank you."
"ma-moo"
(Both syllables were cut off, just as if you were to say thank you).
We let it go, with some of the issues she had, we let a lot slide (she is fine now, she has been seizure free for over three years, clean bill of health!). Every time she signed it, it was accompanied by her, "ma-moo." We were stricken, and giggled about it for a while, until it became so normal that we forgot to explain it to friends and family. My sister is usually pretty good at interpreting baby talk, with three kids of her own, and even she gave me a weird look; even though she knew what she was trying to say, due to the sign language.
It eventually evolved into "maaaaaaaaaah." We aren't sure why; "ma-moo," had the same intonation as, "thank you," but her new version didn't sound anything like it.
She says, "thank you," normally now, but this got me thinking. This evolution of language; particularly how technology has influenced this change so heavily, and how so many experts whine about how technology is changing language; and because spoken and written language are in order to communicate, and its effectiveness is rated by its users - I ask myself this question: Is there such thing as correct usage? If two parties are using language in an "incorrect" way, but are effectively communicating without an abnormal amount of misunderstandings, shouldn't we consider that correct for them? What does it matter if I say, or write, things differently, as long as my intended audience understands me without any hindrance?
Ma-moo for reading.
Children go from having about 50 words in their repertoire, to having over 200 words that they can use with those who can understand them. These toddlers switch from giving their parents one word commands like, "milk!' or "no!" to saying things like, "I'wa' milk please!" or "No, I do' wa' that!"
In this process, my daughter made some amusing developments. I don't mean the, "I want a tweet!" Although adorable, those types of mispronunciations are a product of how sounds are heard and perceived by the child.
When Violet was young, maybe around one and a half, she was learning to say more and more words. She hadn't learned to verbalize, "thank you," yet because she knew the sign for it, so relied on that form of communication. As we started seeing more vocabulary development from her, she finally started saying her version of, "thank you."
"ma-moo"
(Both syllables were cut off, just as if you were to say thank you).
We let it go, with some of the issues she had, we let a lot slide (she is fine now, she has been seizure free for over three years, clean bill of health!). Every time she signed it, it was accompanied by her, "ma-moo." We were stricken, and giggled about it for a while, until it became so normal that we forgot to explain it to friends and family. My sister is usually pretty good at interpreting baby talk, with three kids of her own, and even she gave me a weird look; even though she knew what she was trying to say, due to the sign language.
It eventually evolved into "maaaaaaaaaah." We aren't sure why; "ma-moo," had the same intonation as, "thank you," but her new version didn't sound anything like it.
She says, "thank you," normally now, but this got me thinking. This evolution of language; particularly how technology has influenced this change so heavily, and how so many experts whine about how technology is changing language; and because spoken and written language are in order to communicate, and its effectiveness is rated by its users - I ask myself this question: Is there such thing as correct usage? If two parties are using language in an "incorrect" way, but are effectively communicating without an abnormal amount of misunderstandings, shouldn't we consider that correct for them? What does it matter if I say, or write, things differently, as long as my intended audience understands me without any hindrance?
Ma-moo for reading.
Jared--Some day you will have to put all of these writing pieces for Violet in a book and give them to her as an adult. She will love having all of these stories you have written about her. I suspect even your 8th grade EL would enjoy this because they are learning language and have younger siblings. Even as adults we say things wrong and thankfully our listeners understand us.
ReplyDeleteI read all of your other pieces too but since no one commented on this one I wanted to make sure you got a comment :).