Charlie's got a way to go then, but after a slow-ish start he's suddenly getting into his stride, words-wise. New words (or neologisms) are minted almost every day, and most are the kind of things you might expect. But there are also some surprises. Anyway, as we're now into double-figures I thought I'd better start recording them. And what more auspicious day for doing so than the birthday of England's national wordsmith? Actually, Shakespeare and Charlie have got one thing in common - if they can't find the right word, they both make one up! So, a St George's Day competition for you all. How many of Charlie's first words can you translate? Here's a list of the most frequently-used words, most of which are nouns and all of which are spelt phonetically -
- iggoo
- amm-mar
- aieee
- dar
- cah
- mamama
- dadah
- oggleog
- nana
- ayaya
- bah-bah
- bah
- buh
- aiee-ya
- did-uh
Too easy, surely? First prize - a signed copy of my next book In a Mum's World... (Crumbs - I'd better get it written...Meanwhile, enjoy the cover.)

What a handomse boy!
ReplyDeleteLovely picture!!!
ReplyDeleteI can only guess at mamama - mum, dadah - dad, nana - nan, bah - bath, cah - cat???? Although i have a feeling im completely wrong :)
Like father, like son - see your spelling of Shakespeare under Labels. The bard would ahve approved, though, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteLove this, Tim! One of my youngest's first words was also "bah" which to him meant "back", as in "give it back, you mean older brother!" But Charlie can't possibly have that problem with his poetess sister!
ReplyDeleteCharlie's not bad-looking either, Laura!
ReplyDeleteOh, you're closer than you think, Halo. Very good!
Well, he could never decide how to spell it himself, could he DD?
I wouldn't go that far, Sue - although 'bah' does mean something different here...
Right in my attempt to win your book I shall take this seriously.
ReplyDeleteIggoo - Thankyou
Amm-mar - Grandma
aieee - ouch
dar - there
cah - cat
mamama - Mummy
dadah - Daddy
oggleog - yoghurt
nana - banana
ayaya - highchair
bah-bah - baby
bah - bath
buh - bug
aiee-ya - big ouch
did-uh - sister
Btw, do pop over to mine for a visit. Consider this an official invitation!
MT
What a lovely picture! I love the sound of an oggleog! x
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful photo, you both look so happy
ReplyDeleteHere's my foolish attempt (gosh, I should get a life...!)
ReplyDeleteiggoo = Iggle Piggle (ITNG)
amm-mar = Grandma
aieee = Sally
dar = that
cah = cat
mamama = banana
dadah = Daddu
oggleog = little dog
nana = Other Grandma
ayaya = papaya (they do grow wild in your garden, right?)
bah-bah = sheep
bah = bath
buh = book
aiee-ya = Sally - there
did-uh = dinner
Are any close?
How long 'til he says....
ReplyDelete.... munny
That is the best book-to-be cover EVER! Here are my guesses but I will be buying a copy of your next book so don't give it to me should I win...'cos I am sooo good at these guessing games (not).
ReplyDeleteiggoo - Tickle
amm-mar - Emma
aieee - Play
dar - Star
cah - Car
mamama - Mummy
dadah - Daddy
oggleog - Dog
nana - Banana
ayaya - Papaya
bah-bah - Bottle
bah - Bath
buh - Book
aiee-ya - Hyena
did-uh - Didn't
Ooohh, MT, CW and DJ you are all SOOOO close!
ReplyDeleteBut don't give up - no-one's got a full-set yet!
You'd love it even more if you heard Charlie say it, Kitty. In fact, I might record it and post it here sometime.
Yes, AG, a rare moment of peace, tranquility and bliss. And for a short time Charlie was actually stationary.
Good question, NB. At the mo he doesn't need to say it, he just eliminates it instantly. Honestly, kids are so expensive...
Beautiful photo! I'm a bit past this stage with mine and seem to have lost the knack of translation, though I think I would be better if I could hear him.
ReplyDeleteTG's best one was 'elulut' which translated into 'elephant'!
Really good pic of both of you!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to give it a whirl...(because I want your book!lol!)
ReplyDeleteiggoo - Thank you
amm-mar - Grandma
aieee - Sally
dar - star
cah - car
mamama - Mommy (Mummy)
dadah - Daddy
oggleog - I love you
nana - banana
ayaya - water
bah-bah - bottle
bah - bath
buh - bye
aiee-ya - sally!
did-uh - sister
There you have it! I want that book! lol!
OH! Fantastic photo of you two handsome boys!
ReplyDeleteD'you know I think that's a better word than 'elephant', Sub!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robert - although it's not my best side...
Some seriously good suggestions, B&R. And one, in particular, seems very perceptive. You've been reading my blog, haven't you?!!
I thought that I could easily win the book but now I've just discovered that Google don't have a Charlie to English translation service. So I'm clueless.
ReplyDeleteHmm.. I think everyone beat me to the rest, but I'm guessing did-uh is dinosaur.
ReplyDeleteReally, Troy? How will I find out the answers?
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I can see your reasoning ZnT....
OMG! Charlie is a genius! Still a toddler and already speaks Italian toddlerish. See below:
ReplyDeleteiggoo = Italian toddler’s word for “uncle”
amm-mar = ammare = let’s go to the seaside
aieee = Italian football hooligan scream
dar = dare = give
cah = cacca = poo
mamama =mamma = mum
dadah = dada [umpa] = Italian cartoon series probably inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
oggleog = google (that’s what my daughter used to call “google” when she was two (and already playing on the computer – shame on me!) PS. She’a half Italian of course!
nana = nanna = nap
ayaya = ahi ahi = Italian cry of pain
bah-bah = barba = beard
bah = bah = Italian uttering to mean “don’t care”
buh = Italian dog sound = woof
aiee-ya = come on, go
did-uh = didin = Italian toddlers’ word for money
Congratulations! And to Sally too. What a lovely photo of two gorgeous boys! Ciao. A.
Such a lovely photo! Congrats to Sally and Charlie for his creative english!
ReplyDeleteSuper photo, D, really beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a lovely post so close to the Bard's birthday.
I would work those out in a jiffy but i'm due for my next fag xxxxx
Gorgeous pic! x
ReplyDeleteI agree with Katy...wonderful photo! Will Self was on Radio 4 recently advocating that the English should evolve as it always has done. So I'm sure...Charlie's words will become the new lingua franca...or lingua britannia...so to speak!
ReplyDeleteGosh, I shouldn't have had that glass of wine before reading your post, Tim. I'm sure I could have cracked it. They all make sense to me!
ReplyDeleteThat is one gorgeous picture. Charlie looks like a mini-you!
ReplyDeleteCJ xx
another list:-
ReplyDeleteiggoo - thank you
amm-mar - grandma
aieee - Charlie or Sally
dar - there
cah - car
mamama - grandmama
dadah - ta ta! or Dadda
oggleog - chocolate
nana - banana
ayaya - papaya, aeroplane or here you/I are!
bah-bah - baby, bye-byes (sleep) or sheep (baa baa)
bah - bath
buh - book
aiee-ya - here you are
did-uh - get up
Talking of the Bard you might be interested to learn about Angela's (Your half cousin twice removed or something!) latest news. It seems that a hitherto unknown but now authenticated painting of the Bard in his younger years has been discovered and is to form the centre-piece of an exhibition in Stratford-upon-Avon this summer. Angela is over the moon at having got herself a part-time job at the exhibition and with her knowledge and passion for Shakespere she is hoping it will lead to greater things!
ReplyDeleteFive of them are TellyTubby-isms, and the rest are pure Shaekespeare (sic) - I put it you that your son is a plagiarist! ;-)
ReplyDeleteAha, a multi-lingual approach. Full-marks for ingenuity, Antonella!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jen. Creativity abounds at present!
It'll give you inspiration, Jenny. Writers always smoke in films...
Thanks, Katy. And thanks Hadriana - lingua Brittanica: I like the sound of that!
He is, CJ - a 'mini-me'. It's like watching myself as a child. Magical!
Close, Jinksy, very close.
Ah, so a family connection to the Bard at last! Thanks, dad.
Guilty as charged, Gadjo. But then, there's nothing new under the sun...