First words...

I've been stumped recently, and I thought that, if I brought my questions here, some of you might know more about speech development than I do!

Both of my boys have been saying the usual first words, mama/mum-mum, dada. AJ also calls Benny bruh-bah. Normal, simple words, and they appear to know what they are talking about when they use the words.

However, in the last couple of weeks, Ben has been saying (trying to say) 'what's that'/'what is that.' I know that I ask the boys that all the time. Whenever they are studying something, or if they are intrigued by a new sound/sight, etc, I ask them that question. When Ben uses the phase, he uses it correctly - like he will scoot over to a toy, pick it up and study it, and say, "dut ih dat?" or "dut dat?" He echoes my inflection perfectly, and it sounds like a question. I found that I was answering him, like, "that's a blue ring, Ben!"

But then I started thinking... he isn't actually asking a question, is he? I mean, he's just repeating the sounds because I do it, right? I know that many 9-month-olds can speak - especially basic, simple words, but are they capable of conversation????

I know it's a technicality of speech development, but I just had one of those 'I-am-becoming-a-senile-stay-at-home-mom-because-I think-my-nine-month-old-is-asking-me-questions' moments, so I just wanted to see what other moms (and maybe some with experience/expertise in linguistics) thought!

 

I think it is very possible - having some type of conversation at that age.

Not speaking from my personal experiences with my boys - but when I was about 9 months old and we were at a restaurant the waitress asked my mom if I would like anything to eat and I said "smashed tatoes please". So, my thinking is that if a baby can answer a question - they could ask one, too.

You have some early talkers! I always wondered if any of our 3 would talk early as both my DH and I were talking by 9 months - but so far all of our's have been "textbook talkers"!

Enjoy it - and the shocked look on people's faces when they hear them talking so young!

 

Yes, I believe so! They hear words and see meaning referred to them since they were born. Sounds like they're learning really well .

 

QUOTE(SweetGirl @ Oct 25 2008, 08:45 AM) [snapback]1041444[/snapback]
Yes, I believe so! They hear words and see meaning referred to them since they were born. Sounds like they're learning really well .


I think so too. Mine will call for my parents cat and for our dogs.

 

I think that he is also having a conversation with you. I am not a speech pathologist, nor a linguist (sp?), but I did take a few classes in both fields while in college. He may or may not know what the words mean, but he understands that having a conversation with you means using that inflection in his voice and that is the first step. The words will come (in pronunciation and meaning for him).

Last night I was at a friend's house and her 4 year old was showing me how he could sound out such words as "field trip" and "October". It was so funny to watch him go fff-eee-ld, ff-ee-ld, field, tr-iii-p, etc. He was so proud of himself when he realized that he figured it out and it was about the field trip he took to the fire station on Monday. His mom and I are both middle school teachers, so of course we were just laughing and cheering him on. She said she has not done any formal reading instruction with him, but just read to him.

Sounds like you are doing the same thing. Nothing but having normal conversation with them and they are picking it up! Great job Mom!

 

I think they know what they are saying through repetition. Its amazing how quickly it takes off too! My girls have quite the vocabulary now.
I realized today that Maia is saying a new word: FLOWER! She was pointing to the flowers on her shoes and looked at me like 'duh mommy, dow-da!' I had been trying to figure out what she has been saying for 3 days now. :lol:

 

Thanks all, it's good to get some outside opinions!

QUOTE(mama23boys @ Oct 25 2008, 08:57 AM) [snapback]1041394[/snapback]
Not speaking from my personal experiences with my boys - but when I was about 9 months old and we were at a restaurant the waitress asked my mom if I would like anything to eat and I said "smashed tatoes please". So, my thinking is that if a baby can answer a question - they could ask one, too.

You have some early talkers! I always wondered if any of our 3 would talk early as both my DH and I were talking by 9 months - but so far all of our's have been "textbook talkers"!

That's amazing!! My parents insist that I was saying several words at 6 months, and sentences at one year... I just wonder if their memory is selective! :winking: My DD said her first word (mama) at 6 months, but didn't say any more words until her first b-day! Now both of the boys have started talking around 7 months.


QUOTE(Fireweed in AK @ Oct 25 2008, 11:32 AM) [snapback]1041553[/snapback]
I think that he is also having a conversation with you. I am not a speech pathologist, nor a linguist (sp?), but I did take a few classes in both fields while in college. He may or may not know what the words mean, but he understands that having a conversation with you means using that inflection in his voice and that is the first step. The words will come (in pronunciation and meaning for him).

Last night I was at a friend's house and her 4 year old was showing me how he could sound out such words as "field trip" and "October". It was so funny to watch him go fff-eee-ld, ff-ee-ld, field, tr-iii-p, etc. He was so proud of himself when he realized that he figured it out and it was about the field trip he took to the fire station on Monday. His mom and I are both middle school teachers, so of course we were just laughing and cheering him on. She said she has not done any formal reading instruction with him, but just read to him.

Sounds like you are doing the same thing. Nothing but having normal conversation with them and they are picking it up! Great job Mom!


It's funny that you mention the 4-yr-old, because this is exactly what my 4-yr-old is doing now! We haven't done any formal reading training (except the Leapfrog learn-to-read DVD's and the TV show WordWorld), but we've started breaking words down phonetically, and she LOVES it! Just in the last week, she's started doing it herself when she sees written words!


QUOTE(cohlee @ Oct 25 2008, 01:15 PM) [snapback]1041637[/snapback]
I think they know what they are saying through repetition. Its amazing how quickly it takes off too! My girls have quite the vocabulary now.
I realized today that Maia is saying a new word: FLOWER! She was pointing to the flowers on her shoes and looked at me like 'duh mommy, dow-da!' I had been trying to figure out what she has been saying for 3 days now. :lol:

This is what I was doing with Ben, too! For days, I heard him saying, "Di-dat, di-dat" and finally it hit me that he was trying to say "what is that?" Now he says it much clearer; this morning, it sounded almost perfect - like, "wad-ih-dat?" So cute!