🇬🇧 TALKING TO BABIES AND KIDS #2 🧒 👶
👉🏻👉🏻👉🏻 USING 3rd PERSON + INDEF. PRONOUN 👈🏻👈🏻👈🏻
Hi ladies and gentlemen! Here we have the 2nd installment in the little Baby Talk series I'm putting together for people who want that extra native touch when taking to babies and toddlers.
✅ So why do we use the 3rd person instead of saying: you?
With kids and well as with adults, it's in our culture to talk in a very indirect way as the opposite might be seen as an invasion of someone's personal space, something which we in the Anglosphere hold sacred. (That's how passives can be used for example; to avoid saying 'you' - The car really should be washed today! = you should wash it). So, using the 3rd person and such nouns are a way of creating ' a safe distance.' But with babies and young children this structure can be used for 'sweetness' 🥰🧒👶
✅ The indefinite pronoun: somebody, someone, anybody etc. can also serve the purpose of the above. It's less direct (even when talking with adults: Someone has drunk my Coke! = I know it was you but I just won't be so direct). With children it can be used for sweetness.
❗ The grammar: indefinite pronouns are used with a verb in the singular. However, they can be used with he/she depending on the baby/kid being a boy or girl. These pronouns can also be used with the 'singular they' principle:
👉🏻 Someone hasn't finished all THEIR milk, HAVE THEY? (sweet reprimand)
👉🏻 Someone here has filled HIS nappy! (= You have, son)
👉🏻 Some little lady is hiding from mummy! (= You are hiding)
✅ Useful examples (we are speaking directly to the child):
👉🏻 Oh look at her Majesty; she's slowly dropping off (falling asleep)
👉🏻 It looks like someone could do with a nice long nap.
👉🏻 I think it's about time daddy got your bottle ready (= I)
👉🏻 Looky look! Moany moany moan! Someone is hungry, AREN'T they?
👉🏻 Smelly! Someone needs their nappy changed, DON'T they? (= you)
👉🏻 Mummy loves you sooooo much, my darling! (= I love)
👉🏻 Here we go. Someone wants to go into daddy's arms!
👉🏻 Yes, your Majesty. Here is your dummy. Now off to sleep.
👉🏻 Baby wants a huge daddy-hug. Come here my angel! (= you want)
👉🏻 Oh someone seems rather displeased. Come to mummy, my love.
👫 Can you think of any other examples? Write below in the comment section.
🧠 Remember, there is no problem saying 'YOU' directly to your kids but the structures above are something nearly all native parents use with their little-ones. It's good to have the variety.
📹 When I have put all 5 posts up, I will do a streaming giving manyyyyy spoken examples on how to use these. So learn now and we'll practice when I am back from my trip.😎