Baby Talk
Whakum
The term "Peekaboo" originally was
an adjective to describe see-through fabric. Now, however, it describes a
childish game played with babies. Parents, most frequently mothers, often
resort to childish babble in an attempt to make their babies understand
them. Do they realize how much of an effect this has? Terry
Pratchett, in his Discworld novels, has an orangutan for a
librarian. Somehow he manages to make himself understood simply through
the word "Ook." If left unchecked, this is what baby talk will
lead to.
We teach our kids Baby Talk, and then English, maybe a
foreign language or two. Everyone's first language is the same, no matter
what nationality, and it's only a matter of time before "Goo-goo" and
"Ga-ga" take over the global market.
Don't worry, though! As long as I spout decent English
nonsense to people everywhere, the language will survive. Heck, I should
write these essays in every language! Excepting baby talk, of course.