speaking

I used to think that teenagers had really interesting conversations.

Nathan

I used to believe that I could talk when everyone around me knew that I was making no sense. Mark would look at the box of cornflakes on the kitchen table and point to a letter. "A" said Mark. Mum would say "Very good Mark," or nod approvingly. Then I would point at a letter and say "Yab" or "Boo" or any other sound that I could think up.

I think I got a lot of encouragement so I really did believe I was talking even though I didn't have a clue what I was saying. This extended from letters into words and sentences and I'd burble on for hours "talking" to everyone who happened to be around regardless of whether they listened. One day dad turned around and said "oh look Nico's talking!"

My parents can't remember my first word, or rather my first real word, my speech just evolved slowly into English.

Nico