Repost from My Old Blog: "Learning a Second Language"

I originally wrote this over 3 years ago when GD was about 15 months old.  He has a much wider vocabulary now!

I used to never understand how parents could comprehend what their small children were saying.  I would hear a mother carrying on a conversation with a toddler in which one side of the exchange sounded like a jumble of syllables.  I used to think the parents were just pretending to understand and making up responses, but now I'm realizing that as a child is learning to communicate his or her parents are learning a second language.  My new second language consists of words and gestures and mainly revolves around tractors, our cat Jack, and ducks, but every day I am adding to my vocabulary.  This is what I've learned so far; italicized words refer to actions used to communicate.   

Mum = Mommy

Dadadadada = Daddy

ha = usually accompanied by a wave, this is a greeting mainly reserved for tractors and Jack

Ja = 1. our cat Jack;  2. our cat Bobbi;  3. any cat;  4. any animal not otherwise specified, most commonly polar bears, sheep, and rabbits;  5. anything that might resemble Jack   

Ja oof or Ja panting or Ja oof panting = 1. a Jack that woofs and pants, more commonly known to adults as a dog;  2. a giraffe

Ja moooo or moooo = cow

Ja ta = Jack stop, usually used while trying to snap fingers to get the cat to stop scratching at the back door

eeooooo with arm straight out from face = elephant, could also refer to a rhino but those are more commonly known as Ja

du = 1. duck, may be repeated several times to convey the pure joy inherent in seeing ducks;  2. penguin;  3. any bath toy;  4. anything that resembles a duck such a chicken or rooster 

vroom = tractor

dador = another less common term for tractor

hmmmmm = vaccuum

brmmmmmmmm = lawn mower

ee-ee-ee = 1. monkey;  2.  the sound any stuffed animal makes

pointing to anything = I want that

ah! with hands to forehead = oh no!

clapping hands = yay!

sign language for 'more' = I want to eat cheddar puffs

sign language for 'eat' = I'm hungry, however this is usually communicated by grumpiness or trying to open the pantry

sign language for "all done" = I'm finished eating; this statement is often recanted seconds later by resuming to eat 

making a fish face = 1. fish;  2. when preceded by "du" the act of making a fish face may refer to a bath toy that is a fish

tapping hand on refrigerator = I'm hungry/thirsty

tapping had on garage door = I want to go outside

ah! while tapping head and reaching toward comb = I need to comb my hair right now!

pointing one finger into the palm of the opposite hand = this is a new sign that he came up with on his own and has no direct translation into adult English, the best description for the meaning of this gesture is "Please put a vanilla wafer in my hand so I can stuff it into my mouth."

The Beloved and Tolerant Ja