A friend posted something about how funny her born-and-bred-in-Japan son was conversing in BM at home (he goes to a Japanese nursery school and he talks in Japanese most of the time). The word for the day was 'tumpah'.
I suddenly remembered a funny incident which involved Neesa chan and the word 'tumpah'. We were in Redang during our home-leave, and were about to go for a snorkel after breakfast. I was walking fast while Reina was scurrying behind me, followed by Neesa and their Ayah. And suddenly Reina chan fell down. Oblivious of what was happening, I heard Neesa cried " Ibu, stop! Adik tumpah!" I turned around and saw Reina getting up on her feet and Idhamu-san laughing. It took me a while to realize that Neesa had translated directly from Japanese without really knowing that 'tumpah' does not apply to human being...
Another case of direct translating and not code-switching was when she would say "perut banyak" every time her tummy was full and she could no longer continue eating. We had to correct her every time but sadly, the word "kenyang" does not seem to get stuck long.
Haishh...And to think that I have been teaching her BM everyday for the past one year. Hmm...I wonder what weird phrases would come out next if we are to stay here longer...
