Ella is exploring language. She frequently yells at us in her own tongue.I'm sure it's a natural step in language acquisition. Perhaps it also has something to do with the languages we throw around daily.
Meli: "Ella, quieres agua?"
Ella: "No, leche."
Eph: "Is Isaac a teine?" (girl)
Ella: "No, he's a tama." (boy)
Or we argue, "Ioe!!" (Yes). "Leai!!" (No).
Not that our goal for her is fluency in any language other than English. But Ephraim and I use Spanish when talking about the chocolate we're secretly snacking on, the family rules we're inventing on the spot, or really bad news, like death. And right now we're both trying to make some sense of this confusing Samoan language we hear around us.
I know there are many of you out there that are educating your children multilingually. Did your kids create their own language?
Or is that the pure Adamic that we'll all speak in heaven? Should I be taking notes?
7 comments:
that was darling! I love that you got her reading like that on tape. Jaydn used to stop when I got the camera out.
I think you have the same couches that we had....
Happy Umu Thanksgiving next week!
Jessi
Enzo screams at us all day saying NAO, this means no. I think the bilingual thing has him confused because he doesn't say many words except for NAO. He does say cheese in english. I don't know if he knows what it means. If we make progress in his bilingual upbringing I will let you know.
Awww she's so fantastic.
I haven't really experienced much of that with Eleanor. She hasn't been exposed to other languages as much, even though Grant should be speaking Spanish to her more. Her cousin speaks Spanish, so whenever she hears Spanish, she says his name.
I can't wait to read your 6 things. I'm sure there are plenty of interesting things about you.
She is so cute. I don't know about making up languages but I have worked with lots of kids who are bilingual and they definitly slip in and out at random and it sounds like they are speaking another lanuage to me.
ephraim!!!!!!!! the wonders of the internet (and following the trail on other people's blog lists) brought me here :) i can't believe you're in Am Samoa...but it sure fits you!! we've been in norcal for 4 yrs. feel free to catch up on my blog...your kids are adorable! i'll have to catch up on your adventures. happy thanksgiving :)
woops, forgot to leave my blog address:
www.heathersendeavors.blogspot.com
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