BBC Learning English

The English We Speak

17th May 2011
Baby talk
William:

Hello! Hi! My names William. Im six years old and this is my best friend,
Wang Fei.

Wang Fei:

Oh hello everybody.

William:

(Yawn) I feel sleepy! Its almost time for beddy-byes!

Wang Fei:

Er William, why are you speaking so strangely?

William:

Im pretending that Im six years old.

Wang Fei:

Six years old! No wonder you sound more intelligent than normal.

William:

Ha ha, very funny. Well, the reason Im talking like a six-year-old is that last
Sunday, 15 May, was International Day of the Family. So I thought it might
be nice to look at some language which is used by children and with children.

Wang Fei:

So is the language used with children special in some way?

William:

Yeah, I think in English, like in any language, you wouldnt use difficult
words when you are talking to young children. And probably, like in any
language, there are some special words that we tend to use only with children.

Wang Fei:

Special words such as?

William:

Such as the phrase that I used a moment ago, beddy-byes.

Wang Fei:

Beddy-byes. Whats this?

William:

Well, if I say, beddy-byes, that means, time for bed'. Lets listen to this clip
of a father talking to his little boy. As you listen, see if you can hear some
other examples of baby talk.

Example
Father:

Come on Alex, beddy-byes! Beddy-byes! Have you got your teddy? Put on
your jim-jams. Put on your jim-jams - thats it! On they go. Jump into bed,
then. Sleepy time!

The English We Speak

British Broadcasting Corporation 2011

Page 1 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com

Shall I sing you a song? Twinkle, Twinkle little star, how I wonder what you
are. Night-night!
Wang Fei:

In that clip, I heard the man say jim-jams.

William:

Yes, he said put on your jim-jams. Jim-jams is a baby phrase for pyjamas
the clothes that we wear to sleep in. He also made sure that his little boy had
his teddy, his soft cuddly toy.

Wang Fei:

And then at the end, he didnt say goodnight to him.

William:

No, he said nighty-night. Now, there was a lot of language in that clip, so
lets hear it again.

Example
Father:

Come on Alex, beddy-byes! Beddy-byes! Have you got your teddy? Put on
your jim-jams. Put on your jim-jams - thats it! On they go. Jump into bed,
then. Sleepy time!
Shall I sing you a song? Twinkle, Twinkle little star, how I wonder what you
are. Night-night!

William:

(as a six-year-old) Wang Fei, do you want to see my teddy?

Wang Fei:

Er not really.

William:

Here he is! Hes called Badger.

Wang Fei:

A badger?! Oh, wow, he looks so old and tired. Why? Where are his eyes?

William:

Well, hes been cuddled a lot. And, Wang Fei, do you want to see my jimjams?

Wang Fei:

No, I think we should end todays programme here, because I can tell that
William is getting ready for beddy-byes.

William:

Look, Wang Fei, theyre blue and theyve got racing cars on!

Wang Fei:

I dont want to see! I dont want to see! Goodbye!

The English We Speak

British Broadcasting Corporation 2011

Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com