Should we call a spade a spade?

[Polly D]

If your family has a long-standing jokey pet name for something, like for example you've always called a dog - a dig - what do you do about telling your child what something is called? I don't know whether this makes much sense but I'm finding it almost impossible to say: "Look R, there's a dog" but I don't want him to think that dogs are called digs...what do other families do?

[Pickle]

Ha ha, this is very relevant in our house! When I was a kid we had all sorts of odd names for things that stemmed from my early attempts at speech, but they've stuck (and I'm fully aware of the real names, so it hasn't caused lasting damage!). My son has all sorts of funny words for things that we all use (bee bubbles for breakfast anyone?!), but I know he also knows the "real" names for the same things, so can't see why he shouldn't use them.

I figure as long as you also use the proper names at times there's no harm done :)

[helena handbasket]

We have the pesky issue of being bilingual...... in English! I am constantly having to correct myself when using Canadian vs British terms, and my poor kid has had to learn to talk at the same time that I'm learning my "second" language. We have two words for so many things, but I have to admit to feeling weird suddenly having new words for things I've always called something else. He's pretty good, he goes back and forth so hopefully he won't be the weird kid at school who sounds normal but says weird things!

The kids at the snow hill the other day must have wondered what the hell a tobaggan is! And I don't care what my husband says, a toque is a toque, eh?

[veryseriousgirl]

helena handbasket Wrote:

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> We have the pesky issue of being bilingual......

> in English!

Hah - I am the same with American English and have resolved to remain "Mommy" for as long as possible! :)

[EDmummy]

One Australian parent, one parent from the North West and they live in London - our kids are tri-lingual. They use North West of England pronunciation when talking to their dad and London for me. If I pronounce things in "Australian" they ask me to speak English!!

[Sanne Panne]

Bilingual Dutch-English here... our 17 month old uses loads of words but doesn't distinguish between Dutch and English at all. When she started at the childminder I had to tell them that that word that sounds like "b*tch" actually means "dummy".

I think in your case with the dig-dog example you may run into a few funny situations in public but I'm sure your kids will learn the difference WAY before the age when it changes from cute to embarrassing.

[Pickle]

I guess we're a tri-lingual house within the realms of English then :)) NZ English from me (which the kids pick up on a lot), Scottish from hubby and they also seem to have a good "Sarf London" accent when it comes to certain words. It's only when I hear the kids pronounce something with a New Zealand accent that I realise just how strong my accent must still be!

[Fuschia]

Sketti be-sketti we eat, here.

[candj]

Funny. I call myself Mommy (American), daddy calls me Mammy (Irish) and my two call me Mummy. Also was corrected the other day by eldest daughter when reading night time stories on the pronunciation of the letter Z... It is endless.

[sillywoman]

We still use the dut-dut (channel controller) - when we can find it! (eldest now 13 & sometimes losing patience with 'family words' for things "oh for goodness sakes Mum - it's just so lame". Hold onto it while you can.

[Mellors]

We go "up those jolly trotters" to bed (no idea what this is, my Mum used to call the stairs that when I was little).

I am northern, and am quite often picked up on how to "say things properly Mummy!" by my 3 year old. I relish teaching him things like "eeeeh, by gum!" .....

[nunheadmum]

My 3 yr old was driving me mad, she kept telling me off for calling my youngest Isla (a friend's daughters name) rather than Ella when I knew fine well I'd said the right name. (It wouldn't have been impossible as the grey matter is crumbling but after two or three times I was being careful!) It finally came to me that it's obviously my Scottish accent that she's struggling with. Not sure why as she's heard it from birth.

[Belle]

I'm wondering the same thing about some Scots dialect words (not that I use many - but the sort that make my husband look at me like a crazy lady) - I really want my little boy to know some though. Still can't get my head around the fact he won't have a Scottish accent!

[GSJ57]

Belle - I know what you mean - my two boys are American through and through .....no trace of my Sarf London accent!!