Michael Strong talks with five-year-old Alana about her martial arts wins, then asks her questions about how her baby brother Logan learns language. They explore words she doesn't know yet, and Michael introduces "stupendous" and "eloquent" to see what she understands.
I'm well. I hear you did really well yesterday. Can you tell me about it?
Yeah.
What happened?
I, I won a katana and a medal.
Wow! How did you do that?
By winning in the gi division and the no-gi division.
Is it hard?
No, it wasn't.
Wow! I saw you up, you got to go on a platform and they gave you a medal and everything?
Yep, and on the first there was nogi and I won the katana in the nogi, and then the gi I won the medal.
Excellent, excellent. Was it fun?
Yes, it was.
Okay, congratulations!
Thank you.
You're welcome. So I want to check in. Do you remember what we talked about last week?
Uh, no.
That's okay. Um, we started talking about how maybe Logan sees the world differently than you do. Does that make sense?
Yes, it makes sense.
In what way do you think Logan sees the world differently than you do?
Um, Because like he does like, he does more because like he gets to like eat. I mean, I mean, I don't know.
That's okay, that's okay. Is he speaking yet?
He speaks a lot, but sometimes in baby language, sometimes some words.
Do you think that he understands your words?
Yes, I think so.
Does he ever not seem to understand?
No, not really.
Okay, so can you have a real conversation with him like you and I have?
Sometimes.
And other times does he just not pay attention, or what's the problem? Why is it hard now?
He doesn't want to say things.
Okay. If you ask him a question, will he answer?
Sometimes, but not really.
Okay. Do you think when he's talking baby language, it makes sense?
No, it doesn't, because I don't even know what he's saying.
Do you think he knows what he's saying?
Yes, I think he does.
Do you think you used to speak baby language?
Yes, of course I did.
Do you think you used to understand what it meant?
No.
So wait, you're saying Logan understands his baby language, but when you spoke baby language, you did not understand your baby language?
Yeah. Maybe all babies are different.
You think all babies have their very own different baby language?
Yes.
Okay. Do you ever teach Logan a brand new word?
I try to, but he doesn't really listen.
Does he listen to your mom and dad?
Sometimes.
Do you think he wants to understand?
No, I do not think so.
Why not?
Because like when he's a baby, he actually just wants to speak his language.
Really? Well, do you think that he will someday speak English as well as you do?
Yes.
Does he speak any Spanish?
No. He knows "sí." Sí.
Muy bueno. Well, I like the idea of figuring out how his mind is going to change. I want to check in. Do you think your mind is going to change when you get older?
Yes, I think so.
How so?
Because like I'll know more stuff.
Are there words you don't know right now?
I think so.
Have you ever heard a word, like your mom and dad say a word, you're like, what does that mean, mom? Or what does that mean, dad?
Nope.
Never? Never. Okay. Well, I'm tempted to use a word that you might not know. That's okay.
Yes.
Stupendous.
Like you're— like you see something and it's so amazing.
I am impressed. Great. Good for you. Let me try another one. How about eloquent? What does it mean to be eloquent?
Um, I don't know.
Okay, okay, I will give you time to ask your mom, and then we can talk about it.
Okay.
Congratulations! Bye-bye! Bye-bye! Bye!
