I have always loved languages. I studied English and French in college, I write in my spare time, I love to read, and, though you may find it hard to believe, I love to talk. I love words, love learning new words and word origins. I’m just a big word nerd.
This love of language has come in handy during my adventures in mommy-hood. First, you must know that Pumpkin appears to love words as much as mommy. She loves to read, sing, and talk – she is doing all three almost constantly. The problem is that most of her little words are not readily comprehendible to the untrained ear. I fancy myself something of a translator of the spoken Pumpkin word.
Granted, sometimes it feels like I’m deposing her trying to figure out what a phrase like “Ganoo Ah-yee Cuhk-cuhk” means, but I cannot explain the over-the-moon excitement I feel when I actually figure it out. Yesterday’s interrogation went something like this:
Me: Really?
Pumpkin: Yess.
Me: Did you like that?
Pumpkin: Yesss.
Me: Can you show mommy?
Pumpkin: Thrusts grubby stick hand in air.
Me: Was it yummy?
Pumpkin: Yessss.
Me: Ohhh…Miss Gaynell gave you a sucker?
Pumpkin: with a self-satisfied look on her face – Yesss.
So, for those of you who are not fluent in Pumpkinese, let me provide you with a pocket translator of those words and phrases that you are most likely to need in your dealings with Pumpkin. I have broken them up by category for your convenience. Where needed, a brief explanation follows. Because Pumpkinese is not a written language (because Pumpkin cannot write), all words are provided phonetically.
Names
Ahh-yee (Aly – see above)
Shamone (T-bone, our Chihuahua; pronounced like Michael Jackson’s famous and undefined musical term)
Bay Bay (Baylor, our schnauzer)
Ganoo (Miss Gaynell, her teacher – see above; this is not to be confused with Ganny, as in her paternal grandmother)
Yana (Miss Lana, her teacher – not to be confused with Nona, her maternal grandmother)
Pop-pop (Papa, her maternal grandfather)
Kee-kah (kitty cat)
Ahmo (Elmo, one of her favorite non-people)
Mickeys (her absolute favorite non-person; always pronounced in the plural; this term may be used to describe the mouse, the cartoon, the doll, the book, the cup, or any one of the other characters generally, though she does know each of their names individually; this word can be used as an exclamation [as in: I see Mickey] or a demand [as in: turn on Mickey]; this may be the most important word in the Pumpkin language).
Food and Drink
Wadoo (Water)
Joose (Juice)
Cuhk-cuhk (sucker – see above)
Ha-ahm (Ham, pronounced with a British accent and 1 ½ syllables)
Nana (Banana, not to be confused with Nona or Lana)
Geeps (Grapes)
Pee-sa (Pizza)
Fun and Games
Pazoo (Puzzle, not to be confused with Pizza)
Dentz (Dance, usually this term is said as a command when you are standing, music is on [though this is not a requirement] and Pumpkin’s arms are thrust skyward)
Popples (Bubbles, not to be confused with Pop-Pop, Pazoo, or Pee-sa)
Apparel
Coe (Coat, technically, but also used to refer to any shirt that does not pull over the head)
Zipip (Zipper, technically, but also used to refer to anything that fastens a coat, including buttons)
Places
Bee (Bed)
At-sye (outside)
Choo choo (car, but also, occasionally, train)
Sha-wah (shower)
Miscellaneous commands and manners
Ah-pee (open)
Mohr (more, also said with a slight British accent such that the end “r” is really silent)
TayKyoo (thank you, this one is said as two syllables but as though the words were one, with the emphasis and speed picking up at the hard K sound)
Ah-gun (All done, though it sounds uncannily like all gone; when you confirm that she is, in fact, ah-gun [with her meal] she will say no but will hand you her plate which indicates she is, in fact, all done).
By-yee (bye, this word translates easily from the American English language but in Pumpkinese must be addressed to most all inanimate objects as well as people, particularly when parting, as in “by-yee sha-wah” at the end of a shower, “by-yee bike” when riding is done, etc.).
Feel free to print this handy reference guide, as it is sure to come in handy when communicating with Pumpkin. Pumpkinese is a fast-growing language, and it seems as if each day brings a new term, so if you find yourself in a bind, please feel free to contact Pumpkin’s personal translator, ma-ma, anytime.
Comments
Post a Comment