How Deep Need Can Lead to Increased Language Complexity
July 10th, 2006
At our big family gathering near Boston last week, one of my nieces -- around four years old -- had this conversation with another of my little nieces (almost two):
Older Niece (excitedly): "Can I feed you?"
Younger Niece (firmly): "No."
A beat, while Older Niece absorbs this rebuff. (All day she's been looking forward to feeding her little cousin, whom she seems to regard as the most amazing, feature-packed doll in the world.) Then:
Older Niece (tentatively): "Can I feed you?"
Younger Niece: "No!"
A long pause, as Older Niece stares plaintively at her tiny relative. Finally:
Older Niece (passionately): "I want you to want me to feed you!"
Entry Filed under: let's digress
2 Comments
1. Julie Bernstein | July 10th, 2006 at 11:03 pm
That’s so cute!
2. Josh Kornbluth | August 5th, 2006 at 10:45 am
Thanks, Julie!