Wordsmiths

They say kids say the darndest things.

Tis true.

Context: Everyday, the twins go for a walk. Round the back of our house is a monstrosity of a house also known as McMansion. McMansion has beautiful wrought iron gate that frames a fountain. The twins are fascinated by it. They have learnt to say "fountain" albeit pronoucing the "f" as a "p". As with all these water features, it broke down. As a result, the twins having gone to visit it and discovered it not to be spouting water as any good fountain should, learnt the term "spoilt".

Question to Evan: Evan, what happened to the fountain?
Evan: Spoilt.
Question to Evan: Who spoilt the fountain?
Evan: Mommy!
Mommy: Really?
Evan: Papa!
Mommy: Is it?
Evan: Ah Ma!
Mommy: But Ah Ma is away. Are you sure?
Evan: No! Ah Tik and Ning Ning! (His uncle and cousin who live far away from us)

Such accusations.

Context: School. Teacher is guiding Evan through some colouring. Evan drops his colour pencils to go do something else.

Teacher: Evan, you haven't finished your colouring.
Evan: No. Tired.
Teacher (wondering if she'd heard correctly): What?
Evan: No. Tired.

Slacker even at such a young age.

Now... Jordan. Jordan doesn't have as many words as Evan. But she has her moments.

Context: Aforementioned fountain.

Mommy: Jordan, what happened to the fountain?
Jordan: Spoilt!
Mommy: Who spoilt the fountain?
Jordan: Sparrow.

Bizarre.

Context: Immediately after the sparrow spoiling the fountain conversation. And Baby J has a runny nose. Again.

Mommy: Jordan, what happened to your nose? It's so drippy.
Jordan: Spoilt!

Context: Jordan likes combing the hair of others. At the dining table one night, holding her comb. Don't ask why she is holding a comb at the dining table. She was holding an empty drink carton while getting ready for bed just now.

Mommy: What do you use the comb for?
Jordan: Hair
Mommy: Whose hair?
Jordan (Going round the table): Ah Ma. Ah Gong. Mommy. Papa.
She stops, looks at her great grandfather who has no hair. Reaches over, rubs his head and pronouces: Tai-Kong...No More.

So, it's a barrel of laughs every day now when they're not driving me crazy.

Technorati Tags: twins, language development