Language related
3V0856.01 Anticipating trouble; the unusual is forbidden (5/27/80) Miriam and Peggy were outside. Miriam wanted to go down to the beach without her sister, so she told Peggy that “Mommy wants to speak to you. Peggy headed inside remarking, “Am I in trouble?” Peggy was pestering me mildly as I sat at the table, so …
3V0852.02 More imitation: (Bob with cast on leg, using Rob’s boot) (5/23/80) Peggy was playing with one of Miriam’s old cowboy boots. She put it on one foot and stumped around remarking, “I have cow boot. I have a cast on my leg.” [bob had broken his foot on Good Friday, and has had a …
3V0852.01 Verbal aspect: self correction I do -> I did (5/23/80) Peggy has been to the beach with Gretchen. Returning from Boston, I heard of Peggy falling down in the water and began to talk about it with her: Bob: You fell ? Peggy: I fall in water. Bob: You do ? Peggy: (correcting me!): …
3V0851.02 Lonely discovery: another micro-script {This little piggy…] (5/22/80) Upon awakening late this morning, I could hear Peggy through the partition separating our rooms, talking to herself. She said, “This little piggy…wee wee home.” We have recited this game for Peggy for some while (and Gretchen did so when Putting Peggy to bed last night). …
3V0851.01 Inappropriate color names: red and blue are green also (5/22/80) Peggy is sensitive to color as an important descriptor. She interprets color names as such and uses them in her speech — but the application is all wrong. Her favorite color term is green — she applies it generally (and with no obvious uneasiness) …
3V0846.02 Directed speech: Peggy in multiple roles and reading (5/17/80) Peggy found the other day a toy candy dispenser with a rabbit head on top. Today she sat on the floor, playing with it and reading the Britannica ‘Thinking’ book. She asked the rabbit: Peggy: Wanta read it to me rabbit ? Rabbit: That’s a …
3V0846.01 Third person for intense emphasis: commands to Scurry (5/17/80) Peggy played with Scurry, trying to get her to SIT (a command which Scurry will obey when she chooses). With the dog on a leash, Peggy pulled her around for a while and in the course said “sit.” Scurry did not obey. Intensifying her command, …
3V0841.01 Causation: {Scurry did it. She bumped my head.} Under her overlong bangs, I noticed a bruise on Peggy’s forehead and asked what had happened to her. She replied, “This? (pointing to bruise). Scurry did it. She bumped my head.” (This is not a quotation but records the sense of what she said.
3V0840.01 Using “then”: example of suitable temporal conjunction (5/11/80) This is a lost example. I can no longer recall precisely what Peggy said, but the import remains to me. She connected two sentences together with “then” explaining to me some earlier action of hers. It was a clear case of suitable temporal conjunction — a …
3V0839.01 Assimilation example: dragon/’snake’ (5/10/80) Miriam brought home from the library a recording of “The Hobbit.” Pictured on the cover is the dragon, ‘Smaug’ (as Tolkein notes, a “low gothic joke.,” the past participle of “smugen” to extrude from or through a hole). No one, I believe, has even mentioned dragons to Peggy and no …
3V0836.01 Imitation of role: (bob in chair, chasing away kids) (5/7/80) Peggy was sitting in Bob’s big recliner, reading. When Miriam came along, Peggy said to her, “Go away, Mimi… I trying to work.” At about the same period or slightly later, she chased Robby out of that same chair, telling him to leave because …
3V0833.01 “Meaning”: asking about unknown references (5/4/80) Peggy has begun to inquire about what some incomprehensible utterance means. At supper this evening, we were discussing my next trip to Boston (Peggy is beginning to claim she should come along.) When, among familiar words, I mentioned going to “Logo”, Peggy immediately asked, “What meaning ‘Logo’?” Gretchen …
3V0831.01 Names as unique identifiers: Rob is a person; she is a toddler, not a person. (5/2/80) Peggy has two toys, a dog and a cat, which were once containers of bubble bath. The blue cat she refers to as “kitty.” The pink poodle she formerly referred to as a dog. Recently I told her …
3V0830.01 Limit to script competence: ( fabricated date: 5/1/80) After Miriam’s “Timber” knock knock, Peggy began “knock-knock.” Miriam responded, “Who’s there?” Peggy appeared a little distressed for a moment, then responded, “Mimi said.” and smiled.
3V0827.01 Reading: naming and describing (4/28/80) When Peggy reads pictures, she primarily identifies, i.e. names the characters. Thus in Richard Scary’s books, she might exclaim, “There’s lowly worm.” Encountering some rarer figure, she asks “Who’s that?” Beyond naming, Peggy has begun to go on to interpretation of the pictures, describing what the character is doing.
3V0824.01 The joke’s on us: [that’s What !] (4/25/80) Upstairs, Peggy called repeatedly: “Mommy…Mommy…Mommy.” A bit annoyed, I called back, “What? What? What?” Peggy instantly replied, “That’s What!”
3V0822.01 Why did it?” (4/23/80) I changed a soggy diaper and dropped it into the diaper pail. Peggy said very seriously, “Why did it ? Why put diaper in there ?” Gretchen
3V0820.02 Past form (4/21/80) Peggy very clearly said, ” I wanted grape, like this.” When we discussed my earlier mistake in getting her milk instead of orange juice.
3V0820.01 Pronouns (4/21/80) “I spilled stuff in my dress. It’s juice.”
3V0819.01 Progressive Verbs (4/20/80) Peggy has used present participles as progressive verb forms in a descriptive mode (as on last page). In two incidents, the context makes clear her richer semantic framework served by those forms. Yesterday I sat on the front stoop. Peggy came up the path and before reaching the stairs said to …
3V0818.01 Directed speech (cf. 4/5) (4/19/80) Peggy inherited from Miriam a large number of small Fischer-Price “people” and toy animals. Today Peggy played with the toys in my hearing. Walking them down the piano, Peggy gave directions to the toys, as people — and language addressable creatures, about where to walk and what to say …
3V0817.01 No function words (4/18/80) Peggy and I walked down the drive way toward the house. She held her “Bear Hug” by its arm. Holding the bear at ground level and bouncing it, she said, “Bear walking me.” Playing inside with an ovoid on four wheels, painted as a lady-bug, Peggy remarked, “Playing Lady Bug.” …
3V0813.01 Why because! (4/14/80) Peggy has been driving us crazy with her “why?” queries (I am much more aware of this than I was with the two earlier children). Her use of the question is at least twofold (see also 4/12/80 entry), as conversation continuer and as argument. By continuer, I mean Peggy uses “why” …
3V0811.06 Birds (4/12/80) Miriam made a cardinal “Make it bake-it.” years ago; it hangs from the center of our dining-room window and is frequently remarked upon by Peggy. Since the birds have returned this spring, she has more to discuss at table. Climbing in a chair by the window shoe noted, “See more birdie…Right there…He’s …
3V0811.05 Multiple farewells (4/12/80) I was taking a bath and Peggy was in the room. She turned and went out, saying. “I’m going to see Mimi.” G: OK. P: “Bye-bye.” G: Bye, Peggy P: See you later, Mommy. G: See you later, Peg. Gretchen
3V0811.04 Surprising syngnosticity (4/12/80) Peggy’s toy elephant she names “Arroot.” Miriam received as a birthday present a pig hand-puppet which Peggy very much admires. She asked the name and Miriam called it “Alfred,” since which Peggy has been chasing and pestering her for “My arroot.” The resolution a half hour later: Peggy came in the …
3V0811.03 Correction (4/12/80) With my cast, I received a small boot to protect the plaster from the weather. I’ve told Peggy this is my “bootie.” I just sent her out to get her face and hands washed (she is very sticky after Miriam’s birthday party.) As she passed my foot, she leaned on my foot …
3V0811.02 ‘That’s what’ — a microscript (4/12/80) Peggy’s “Why?” question — which has come to follow our every utterance to her — has become quite annoying. Sometimes we ignore her question, treating it as an annoyance. Other reactions of ours, similar in kind, are “because I told you to” or in truncated form “because…” Outside, …
3V0811.01 Peggy writing ‘Daddy Lawler’ (4/12/80) I came home from Cambridge last night with a cast on my leg. Robby and Miriam both put their decorations on them. Peggy, this morning took a blue pen somehow indicating she wanted to write on the cast. When I asked what she would write, Peggy said, “Daddy Lawler.” …
3V0809.01 Letters and words: [QNA = “Peggy Lawler”] (4/10/80) Peggy played on the floor with her magnetic desk. On the surface, grouped together she put the letters, Q, N, and A.” She got my attention, pointing to the three “Who’s that, Daddy?” I answered that I didn’t know. She informed me, “Peggy Lawler.” Picking up …
3V0805.02 Aspect: [ I get the socks… I got one.] Sitting on the back steps on a really nice day, Peggy’s socks were on the ground. I told her we should put on her shoes and socks so she could run around outside. Beginning to climb down, she remarked, “I get the socks… I got …
3V0805.01 Language as formulating experience (Eavesdropping) (4/6/80) Peggy wakes early. As I brought some morning coffee to Gretchen, I heard Peggy talking in the crib (through the wall) “Look at the spider, swinging…swinging…” Why is this significant ? Language as formulation of experience, expressing the flow of understanding without communicative intention; fluency as delineating the …
3V0804.01 Directed speech (4/5/80) I consider the appearance of this phenomenon one of the most striking evidences of the elevation of control. Several days ago, Peggy approached me with her favorite toy, “Bear Hug.” She said to me, “Say ‘Hi bear’.” I did as she asked. This was repeated a few times, with Scurry as …
3V0803.01 Agent, patient, and word order: [Peggy hurt — ] (4/4/80 or earlier) Miriam sat by the stove, reviewing her multiplication flash cards. Peggy, Mad at her for some reasons, hit at Miriam and hurt herself by striking the flash cards. She cried, “Mimi hurt Peggy !” Miriam corrected her, “No. You did it yourself. …
3V0798.01 Relation of heard imperative and reconstructed declarative (3/30/80) Peggy to me: “Mommy, be quiet… be quiet.” [I am not talking at the time.] I reply, “I am.” Peggy: “I am quiet…I am quiet.” (accent more on quiet than on “am”) Gretchen
3V0797.01 Expression of temporal order (3/29/80) At breakfast (possibly lunch) Peggy posed a specific but unsuccessful demand, “want juice for cup.” (this cup has a frog sitting on the bottom; it is revealed when the cup is half emptied.) I brought her the cup, but it contained milk requested earlier, “Drink the milk, Peggy.” She …
3V0795.02 Standard sentence [I want baby diapers (paper ones)] (3/27/80) no further text. Gretchen
3V0795.01 Non-standard sentence [me out go side] (3/27/80 As I was going back and forth hauling wood inside — Peggy said “Me out go side.” Gretchen
3V0794.01 Birdies (3/26/80) “Birdie… Saw birdie… in a tree.” confer 3/30/80 [birdie fall out of tree] Gretchen
3V0792.01 Context appropriate verbal accompaniment: remembered rhyme (3/24/80) Sitting with Peggy on my lap, I became aware that she was babbling to herself. As I listened, I realized she was reciting an appropriate jingle… something like “Go horsie… go town… take-a Peggy…all fall in.” Gretchen
3V0791.02 Book all words (3/21/80) Sometimes Peggy tries to claim one of my books that I am reading as hers. Then I tell her, no, it’s my book, and look, there are lots of words but no pictures. Today, Peggy picked up an adult book, leafed through it, and remarked, “Book all words.” Gretchen
3V0791.01 Peggy’s now is when? (3/23/80) Peggy pointed a phonics dictionary and said, “Mimi’s.” I replied that yes, I thought it was. Peggy continued, “Mimi’s, // is Peggy’s now.”
3V0790.01 Name: [Daddy name Bob] (3/22/80) Pointing to her father working at his desk, Peggy said, “That Daddy.” G: Yes P: Daddy name Bob.” Gretchen.
3V0789.03 Word order variations ( — loves — ) (3/21/80) Bob questioning Peggy… B: Daddy loves Peggy? P: Yes B: Mimi loves Peggy ? P. Yes. B; Mommy loves Peggy. P: Yes B: Anyone else ? [looking for mention of Robby…] P: Peggy loves Peggy. More questions… Peggy love bear ? P: Yes B: Bear …
3V0788.02 Peggy love bear — any way will do (3/20/80) So Peggy began a conversation. I repeated, “Peggy love bear?” . P: Right , she replied.. B. “Bear love Peggy, ” I continued. P. “Right.” (again). B. Finally “Love Bear Peggy ?” I asked . P: “OK, ” agreed Peggy.
3V0788.01 Knock-knock again (3/20/80) This morning Peggy said to me suddenly: P: Knock knock G; who’s there ? P: Tim-mer. G: Timber ? Timber who ? P: (giggled and shrugged). She repeated this conversation several times. Gretchen
3V0787.01 Knock-knock variations (3/19/80) Sitting with Peggy and Miriam after dinner. somehow the phrase knock knock came up.. M&P: Knock knock M: knock knock P: Who’s there ? M. Tim P: Tim who ? (the first time I heard her make the appropriate response at this point) M. Timber ! – a second go: M. …
3V0785.04 Me dumb dog — a joke by Peggy (3/17/80) Gretchen was getting Robby from scouts. I was in bed early. Miriam put Peggy in her crib because she would not watch TV with her. Peggy was most unhappy. I rose from bed, rescued her, and we crawled under the covers together. After a little …
3V0785.02 Girl go in moto-cycle (3/17/80) This refers to the Fisher Price doll in a motor cycle.)
3V0781.01 “Peggy Lawler” – what symbols mean to her (3/13/80) Ever since Miriam’s gift of the Grover Book (wherein she wrote PEGGY LAWLER on the inside cover to show ownership), Peggy has interpreted any group of letters as meaning “Peggy Lawler.” She distinguishes (more or less) between four things: letters, seen as individuals; pictures in …