Last post on languages, I promise (at least for now): Do you speak ‘baby’?

The other day we were at the tennis court, playing with a couple - friends of ours. Abraham is very good about sitting in his stroller in the shade, playing or snacking, while we play tennis for about an hour. If we go longer, he will -patiently- run out of patience, eventually fuss, and let me know he’s ready to do something else. Usually I take him to the Maadi House playground afterwards. It was about that time - we were still playing - but Abraham was making himself heard, so I walked over to him and asked him what he wanted, “More juice? More fruit pieces? Or are you ready to go play in the sand?” Abraham let me know that he didn’t want anything to eat or drink; he just wanted to go. Our friend, who was sitting on the bench next to the stroller having a drink of water looked at me puzzled, and asked, “How do you know what he just answered?” I wasn’t sure what he meant, so I asked him. He clarified, “How do you communicate with him?”

I told my friend the story about William claiming Abraham doesn’t speak English, and he thought it was funny. It is not as straightforward as an adult conversation, I guess, but talking to a baby isn’t much different; you use words and gestures, and you base your assumptions about the other person on the history of your relationship. Abraham had made discontent sounds telling me he wasn’t happy, turned his head away from any food or drink offerings, and pointed to the tennis court gate, saying “Oy, oy.” I know he knows we go to the playground after tennis. I know he misses the boys when they are not with us. He wanted to go play with the boys. I thought it was pretty clear.