At home, we often converse in English and I am guilty that my kids do not even understand a word of our Teochew and Kokkien dialect anymore.  To make matter worse, when Darren speaks Mandarin, he is often stammering and short of sufficient vocabularies in his mind dictionary.

Often even when they speak in English, they make funny mistakes by constructing the sentences wrongly.  I realized that Brendan was making the mistake intentionally in his spoken sentences, to adjust to Darren’s English standard.  Although I am greatly amused by the way they construct their spoken sentences wrongly, I also make it a point to correct them so that they can correct their mistakes.

Just a few hours ago, when we were driving home, Darren asked Papa Ed:”When the traffic light come, how you know can move?” Papa Ed and I listened to his question with confusion <scratching head>.

Then also a few hours ago, Darren was interrupting Papa Ed’s and my conversation. I told him not to interrupt when others are talking and told Brendan to remind him. Brendan said :”When big people speak, you don’t interrupt.” “Big people” (he meant adults) <lol>. Thinking that Darren does not understand the word “interrupt”, I asked Darren whether he understood. Darren said “interrupt is don’t talk together” <lol>.

Then everytime when Brendan mentioned about “Harry Porter“, Darren would say “Helicopter“. No matter how we have corrected him, he would still say “Helcopter“.

Just when I was writing this post, I heard Darren ask Brendan “Can spill until the water?” Next, he continued :”I want to ter ter ter ter. Help me to ter ter ter ter.” <Haha, another of his self-invented English, which Brendan could understand. Very strange and funny>.

These boys are so funny to listen to <Big Grin>.