3V0666.01 [bear come Peggy]: near sentence example. (11/9/79) She got away from us — up the stairs where the older children were while Gretchen and I were in the living room. When I realized she was gone, I raced to the stairwell and found Peggy at the top, coming down one step at a time, …
3V0664.01 Important observation and speculation: hiatus in holophrastic period as structure transition indicator; its disappearance indicates a new level of organization (11/17/79) [following write-up of [bear come peggy] incident — This last incident contrasts with what has been Peggy’s normal usage in situations of accompaniment. It has been typical that when Peggy saw some action …
3V0660.01 [with daddy]: answer to question “where’s Mimi ?” (11/13/79) Reported by LaRene Despain: Waiting for me in the car, LaRene talked with Peggy. Peggy mentioned “Daddy.” LaRene, “He’s in Boston. What about Mimi ? [Miriam]. where is Mimi ?” (Peg replied) “With Daddy.” Gretchen.
3V0653.01 [Robby run] (later) [kuldah run]. (11/6/79) Watching Robby trot down the drive to the mailbox – “Robby run.” Later, when Scurry was tearing around inside “kuldae run.” Gretchen.
3V0650.01 Diminutive “y”; is it a personal relation indicator, nominal date inserted: 11/3/79 from “Early November” Peggy has been appending the “y” suffix to a number of words, e.g. “dog” has become (on occasion) “doggy.” She exhibits the typical extension in using any new feature. For example, not only has the dog become “doggy” an …
3V0647.01 Baby becomes a toddler on getting shoes. (10/27/79 & 11/1/79) Peggy just got her first pair of shoes (blue sneakers) and appears very pleased. I remarked to her that she is a big girl now and had her very own shoes, so she would not have to use other peoples’, and Peggy in reply …
3V0644.01 [/pinsh/ (punches doll)…shame] (10/28/79) Peggy had her doll completely undressed. At one point, she punched it on the chest, remarking as she did [pinsh…s’em]. Gretchen.
3V0643.01 Verbal imitation + action:[Shame (on scurry; kicks her)] (10/27/79) Today Scurry committed some minor fault against Peggy (such as eating her cookie) and I scolded her. “Shame on you, Scurry,” Peggy repeated [s’em] then kicked the dog neatly under the chin (She was wearing shoes.) Gretchen.
3V0639.02 [hold dog]:assembled command. 10/23/79 Going upstairs, Peggy paused at the bottom, then handed me her “snoopy” pull toy and ordered [hold dog]. Gretchen.
3V0639.01 /gae/mr/ = grandmother (visiting); /teh/teh/=tickle. 10/23/79 Peggy’s grandmother has been visiting for the past several days. Today Peggy names her /graemm’r/. Gretchen.
3V0638.03 Naming: metalinguistic note: changes in the name of Scurry; Naming Miriam and LaRene /nehm/. 10/22/79 Over the past week or two, Peggy’s name for Scurry has shifted somewhat from /kuhl/dah/ or /kuhl/dae/ or /kar/di/ (roughly). She has shown a tendency also to call other dogs /dawg/ rather than /kuhl/dae/. I have told her that …
3V0638.02 Everything’s a pen if it comes out of my pocket. 10/22/79 Recently I’ve done some electrical work. I usually keep small tools in my pockets — a screwdriver, for instance. when Peggy sat in my lap this afternoon, she found in my shirt pockets a pen knife (she had seen it before and knew …
3V0638.01 Holophrase sequences: [goody…scurry…food…treat] see note below: # 289 10/22/79 Peggy knows where Scurry’s goodies are kept, and often asks to give her one (frequently giving it a nibble herself in transit). She has always called it /fu/ (“food”). Today, as I got Scurry’s heartworm pill from the shelf above, Peggy pointed up and said …
3V0636.01 /cup…au.ehl/: adjective < further specification of idiom "owl-cup"; idiom degenerates and is reconstructed from more successfully competitive /kup/ in pre-standard order MAJOR EXAMPLE Pointing to my own coffee cup, Peggy remarked /kuhp/, then after a pause said /au ehl/ (owl). I have always identified this cup for Peggy as my owl cup, and pointed ...
30V633.01 Spontaneous identification of toy whirling-disk as a fan ? 10/17/79 Pointing to a part of her crib toy, a circular multi-colored piece that spins in either direction when you twirl the knob in the middle, Peggy identified it (without being asked) as a /faen/. Peggy sometimes sucks on her middle fingers until they are …
3V0632.01 [/teh/boin/?]: speculation about remote activity-telephone [sae/vi]=sorry after poking with a pen. 10/16/79 Upstairs with Peggy when the telephone rang. I went downstairs, answered it, and returned to Peggy upstairs after a short conversation. She looked at me and commented /teh/boin/, i.e. “telephone.” Peggy poked me with a pen. I said “Ouch!” and she replied …
3V0630.01 [gotcha]: verbal accompaniment of micro-script. Peggy sat in my lap as I warmed me toes before the fire. At her request, the toy Scotty was in her lap. She remarked [fire… hot], repeating our frequent warning to her. I said “toes warm” and taking her legs, held up her toes parallel to mine. The …
3V0628.01 [hurt…ham(mer?)]: instrumental case in presyntactic form 10/12/79 Working at completing the partition in Robby’s room, I set a chair across the doorway to keep Peggy away from the tools and paint. Having removed my shoes (paint on the bottom of one), I came out of the room carrying a hammer. Stepping over the obstacles, …
3V0626.01 [mama hurt. mama hurt. hurt head] Context permits 10/10/79 This morning was a bad one for me. Rearranging the fire in the upstairs fireplace, I banged the back of my head on the lintel. Peggy could see and hear that I was upset. Less than five minutes later, I passed through the partially completed …
3V0625.01 Spontaneous [wet]: G: are you wet? P: /shen/.=”change”. 10/9/79 Peggy came over to me, pulling at her diaper and exclaiming /weht/. “Are you wet ?” Peggy replied: /shen/. Gretchen.
3V0623.01 [my daddy]: first recorded use of possessive modifier without hiatus and inverted order (see note #242) 10/7/79 With the picnic table newly set up in the kitchen, Peggy came walking more or less cautiously down the bench to run to my arms. She put her arms about my neck as I caught her and …
3V0622.02 [bag…culdae gone]: extremely non-standard order. Peggy was roving about with a plastic, opaque bag in one hand. She picked up the toy Scotty we bought in Boston and stuffed it in the bag. Peggy saw me looking at her and explained, [bag culdae gone]. Importance: locative (into the bag) Agent (culdah) Activity (playing game …
3V0622.01 [mama got eye]: MAJOR NOTE on cognitive structures behind speech; topic and comment at “discourse” level, not a word level. 10/6/79 Gretchen long ago began instructing Peggy in the names of body parts, especially of the face. Recently, Peggy has surprised me by making comments about the commonality of the body parts. For example, …
3V0620.02 [memi]: calling Miriam by name. Peggy was inquiring for her father, “Dada ?” I told her he was in Boston. Peggy then said /meh/mi/ which I interpreted as “Miriam.” Gretchen.
3V0620.01 [(ice)cream]=/kim/ 10/4/79 Last night, Robby and Peggy had ice cream. This morning as she picked up her used dish, brought it over to me, and inquired hopefully /kim?/ Gretchen.
3V0619.02 [/cul/du/eat]: sentence. 10/3/79 Peggy left a partially eaten hot dog on the low hearth. Later I saw Scurry prowling about, and asked Peggy, “Where is your hot dog?” She replied [/cul/duh/ eat] Gretchen.
3V0619.01 Calling Robby by name. 10/3/79 Today Peggy started calling Robby by name. She called him repeatedly during this day and the following. Gretchen.
3V0615.02 [ma cup]: progression toward standard order. 9/29/79; cf. 9/17 Another “cup” episode under similar circumstances, save that Peggy’s first comment was [ma cup]. Gretchen.
3V0615.01 [bag gone]: hiding bag behind her; 9/29/79 Peggy playing “gone” with a bag, holding it behind her, and remarking [bag gone]. Gretchen.
3V0614.02 [Da…door…go]: pre-sentence 9/28/79 Upstairs with Peggy in our bedroom. The door shut to keep her from going downstairs, since we are here only a short time and I don’t want to bother with the gate. Peggy was a little restless, wanting to leave. She went to the door and pushed, saying [door…door]. Then (knowing …
3V0614.01 [gone]: first explicit verbal joke. 9/28/79 Peggy still enjoys putting things in my pockets and taking them out. Not only does she ask for a pen (/pehn/) but she explains that she is putting in or taking out of the pocket (pae/taet/) by saying [in there] (as she stuffs a pen in) or [put …
3V0613.01 [please]: first time use noticed; not a family focus. Peggy wanted a drink of my wine. She approached me pleading, “sip…sip…sip…sip…sip…sip…p’ease ?” She has used /sihp/ previously to mean [give me a sip], but this is the first time I have heard her use “please.” This word has not been emphasized to her. Gretchen.
3V0615.05 More word practice and an inference: “sleepy” is a signifier appropriate to an observed yawn. 9/26/79 I yawned. Peggy looked at me and immediately inquired /S’ipi ?/ The following morning a similar incident occurred with Miriam. For a day or so, every time any one yawned, Peggy would as /s’ipi?/ This is another word …
3V0612.04 Word practice: (“terrible” = /teh/bu/) 9/26/79 This morning, changing Peggy’s diaper, I remarked to her “Poor Peggy. You are wet and soggy. That’s terrible.” Later on in the day, I heard Peggy repeating something to herself. Listening, I heard /teh/buh/. She repeated the word a number of times, as if practicing. Gretchen.
3V0612.03 Getting a name wrong: [pooh pooh]: Tiger in Madeline (=> a new word = last phrase in discourse) 9/26/79 [Pooh pooh] (with falling intonation). Reading Madeline today. As we turned the page which shows the little girls skating (left) and at the zoo (right), Peggy immediately pointed to the tiger in the right hand …
3V0612.02 [help…zzzzz]: ie. please wind up my toy car. 9/26/79 Conversation: Peggy “He’p” Gretchen: Help? do you want some help ? What do you want help with ?” Peggy: [Zzzz…] She wanted me to wind up a little spring driven car. Gretchen.
3V0612.01 [kiss]: spontaneous and kisses Gretchen. While I was working in the kitchen, Peggy walked by holding a doll. She held it up , said “kiss” and kissed the doll. A week later (9/26) Peggy repeated this with me, saying spontaneously [kiss] and leaning over to kiss me. (repeats text of 3V0604) Gretchen.
3V0611.01 Counting cookie request [one…two…two ?] 9/25/79 This morning, Peggy asked for a cookie. As I gave it to her, she said “One,… two…. two ?” She waited until I gave her a second cookie. Gretchen.
3V0610.01 [diaper…shit]: proto-sentence. 9/24/79 Peggy is taking a more active role in indicating a need for diaper change. Frequently she will come over and pick at her plastic pants. Today she included a verbal reference to /dai/puh/ (sometimes she will remark [wet] and after a pause added [shit]. (she was right.) Gretchen.
3V0609.02 [pass]: desired food at table. [bark] replacing /vae/vae’/ 9/23/79 At lunch today Peggy coveted our sandwiches. I don’t recall whether the offer to give her some was direct or indirect; but Peggy reached out her hand, waving and calling impatiently and imperiously, [pass, pass] “Bark” is replacing “vava” as the word indicating what dogs …
3V0609.01 [light off]: complex situation represented by order free catenation of words. 9/23/79 Peggy and I have played with a flash light recently, which I switched on and off and gave to her to play with. I named it for her as a “light” which she reproduced as /lait/. Peggy has since found lights everywhere …
3V0605.01 [kiss]: kisses doll spontaneously; verbal self-direction 9/19/79 While I was working in the kitchen, Peggy walked by holding a doll. She held it up , said “kiss” and kissed the doll. A week later (9/26) Peggy repeated this with me, saying spontaneously [kiss] and leaning over to kiss me. (text repeated in 3V0611.1). Gretchen.
3V0603.01 [cup…mama]: word catenation used to express an instantaneous relation that later becomes syntactically expressed. 9/17/79 Peggy sat in my lap while I sipped at my morning coffee. She has lately been naming the containers from which I drink things, e.g. /kaen/ for a beer can and /kuhp/ for such a one as she pointed …
3V0597.02 Gotcha: a game – shows fluidity of actions and control over them at the complete and partial changes of rules (see also P.85) Peggy has long played a game with me where she would come between my knees and I would give her a gentle squeeze, saying “gotcha”. Her control of the game was …
3V0597.01 [sharp]: diaper pins This morning as I was changing her diaper, Peggy handed me a diaper pin with the observation [sha] (sharp). She has often been told about pins, but not recently.
3V0594.04 [mommy, get door]: vocative action sentence. 9/8/79 Running the dishwasher. The last thing to go in was Peggy’s cup. she called after it [cup, cup, cup…]. Then she scrabbled at the closed door of the machine, finally turning to me and saying “Mommy” (not momma) “get door.”
3V0594.03 /cul’/dae/gen’/: elaboration of verbal portion of script for exploration beyond simple pragmatic requirements. 9/8/79 Peggy enjoys playing with Scurry in different ways, but most of them share the element of her getting Scurry to move where she wants her. The usual form involves tugging the dog’s tail or ear. Tonight, Peggy found Scurry with …
3V0594.02 ONE, TWO: [one, two]: note on standardization of Peggy’s counting 09/08/79; You can’t avoid counting, and it’s hard to avoid instructing those who don’t know what you know — but we’ve been trying to avoid instructing Peggy. The children are persistent, at odd moments that we can’t witness. So Peggy’s idiosyncratic counting [one, one, …
3V0594.01 /wae/thaet/: issues: discussion of what a word is. 9/8/79 Peggy has enjoyed playing with my belt as a baby but has not done so for quite a while. Today, she sat in my lap and, pointing at my belt buckle, said, “/wae/thaet/?” I told her it was a belt buckle, which answer seemed to …
3V0593.01 [maemae take bath]: CENTRAL NOTE: first complex follow up to /cul’/du/vae/vae’/ 9/7/79 This morning, as Peggy and I played on the bed, Gretchen asked if I were going to take a bath, and we agreed she should do so first. Peggy played with her bear, picked up a book, called out “Mama !” and …