American in Spain

Use Your Words

June 4, 2010

thumbNora has understood the "first I talk, then you talk, then I talk again" format of human conversation for several months now. But it wasn't until just recently that she's begun forming clear sentences with what are clearly words. Unfortunately none of the words she speaks are in either of the two languages I understand. As you might imagine, it can be very frustrating for both sides of the conversation. It is clear, however, that she is trying to express some concept through speech. And, because the words seem so much like words, only in a foreign language, sometimes I get asked on the street by people that know my origins if she's speaking English. Perhaps the set of sounds she's making is what spoken English sounds like to a non-English-speaker? We spend a lot of time playing the speaking game just like we are in the video you are about to see. One of the most fun parts of the game for me is my introspection as my brain does its very, very darnedest to make some sense out of the words it's hearing. Be aware of the work your brain is doing as you watch the video. I'm afraid that anything you hear is likely just pareidolia, and she's not really commenting on Kirstie Alley.

The pajama she's wearing is from Marga's cousins, the youngest of whom is about to turn 19 years old.