Lydia Day

[mamculuna]

Today was a Lydia day. She's such a sweetie, even a tiny bit sick (we're thinking she's running into every virus in the US, but nothing has been serious so far).

She's discovered "no." I'm sure we'll get tired of it, but it's so cute right now. I told her that she'd have had a tough time if she'd stayed in Hunan, since Mandarin doesn't have a word for no (or yes, for that matter).

Today was a real language breakthrough! She'd already progressed to two-syllable words (na-na for banana and py-do for play dough) but today was real syntax. We looked out the window for birds at the feeder and I thought there weren't any, but little sharp eyes found a tiny finch and announced "A boo!" (boo is bird) I could accept that as just another two syllable word, but later she looked out and saw the feeders empty and said "no boo." Since her mother and I are both linguists of a sort, we were excited, because that's the point where speech becomes real speech--being able to combine words in new patterns. Children always start with the two word combos, usually a noun and an adjective or noun and verb.

Also we saw a picture of a toothbrush in a book--she was very interested and I asked if she wanted to brush her teeth. She said yes, and I asked her to take me to her toothbrush--and she did. The change from one or two words to real communication is so amazing! It's like seeing the mind blossom.

Of course this is all made so much sweeter by her loving, charming smiles and laughter. Not a tear or frown in three hours of play (of course, I'm not trying to do anything but watch and have fun with her, and since I see her only once a week or so, I'm never bored. Wasn't like this with my own kids, sadly. I see now why grandparents are such great things). Anyway, here she is (briefly--I'll take this down in a couple of days): http://kreml.home.mindspring.com/lydia2.htm

Comments

[graffitiandsara.livejournal.com]

She is a beautiful little girl!

How does a language work without a word for yes or no? That boggled my mind! Please explain!!!

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

In Mandarin, you can say "not" plus whatever verb, or affirm by repeating the verb, but there's no separate word meaning just general yes or no. so instead of her saying NO when I try to feed her, she'd have to say not feed or something like that. It's not too hard for adults, but NO covers a lot of territory at 18 months!

[ladystarlightsj.livejournal.com]

Very cute! And that made me wonder quite a bit about John -- he never really had that "intermediate" language stage. He would spout this long, liquid sentence (one person said it sounded like Blackfoot), look at you, and expect you to reply. In his mind, he was speaking to you. So there was communication, of a sort.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, she has those too, complete with intonations and gestures. and is very frustrated that we don't get it!

[fraydecat.livejournal.com]

what a face! a beautiful little boo.

[maeve-rigan.livejournal.com]

Wonderful! You are very fortunate!

[midnightsjane.livejournal.com]

She's beautiful.

[mummm.livejournal.com]

She is so beautiful!

[wisewoman.livejournal.com]

What a gorgeous little girl! I'm excited because I get to look after my friend's recently adopted 11 year old son on Monday.

I can't quite explain my relationship to him. He's not my godson as none of us is religious, but my friend is a single parent, and if anything happens to her, I've agreed that I will raise Dylan, so he's very special to me, even if there's no name for that!

dub

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

That's kind of like my relationship with Lydia. No real official category works, but I planned before she came to be and remain a big part of her life.

It seems that as blood families are scattered by divorce and geography, intentional families rise up to take their place.