In late January, we wanted to test Baby-Ao’s understanding of what we say, in both French and Mandarin.

So Daddy and I took turns asking Little Buddy, as he was playing with his Duplo after dinner:

• Do you want to change your nappy: “Est-ce que tu veux changer la couche?” / “我们去换尿布好不好?”/”你要不要换尿布?”
• Do you want to take your bath: “Est-ce que tu veux prendre le bain?” / “我们去冲凉好不好?”/”你要不要去冲凉?”
• We’re going to sleep soon: “On va dormir bientot” / “我们很快就去睡觉好不好?”/”你要不要去睡觉?”

Each time, Baby-Ao would reply: “No!” authoritatively. And his No!! would get louder and more emphatic the more we asked him these questions.

But if we asked him:

• Do you want to eat more food: “Tu veux manger plus?” / “你要不要吃更多?”
• Do you want to play with your Lego?: “Tu veux jouer avec ton Lego?” / “你要不要玩积木?”
• Do you want to read a book?: “Tu veux lire un bouquin / un livre?” / “你要不要读一本书?”

… then he wouldn’t answer but just continue doing what he was doing. Or in the case of reading a book, he would trot off to the bookshelf, pick out a couple of books, and bring them to us.

So clearly, the Little Buddy:

1. Understands everything we say, in both languages (and he definitely understands English too)
2. Has his own mind
3. But is only willing to speak to contradict us (“No!!) – if he’s okay with what we suggest, he doesn’t really deign to respond with a “Yes” or “Oui” or “是的”