Vroom, vroom

Or maybe it’s “Brrrm, brrrm.” The onset is a labiodental approximant, followed by an extremely rhotic semi-rounded mid/high central/back vowel, with a bilabial nasal coda. And as of Wednesday, that’s both the sound that a tractor or truck makes and the word for a tractor or truck. Something has to be the first word.

David has been communicating perfectly clearly with head shakes and reaching and gestures and pointing and signs. And he imitates sounds for various animals, including a lion’s roar, a cow’s lowing, an occasional dog’s “woof,” and a convincing open-mouthed hiss of a swan protecting her cygnets. But there was something more referential and word-like in how he used “vroom” for his toy tractor on Wednesday.

Wednesday began when L was unloading the dishwasher. David walked over to the dishwasher, picked out a fork, opened up the silverware drawer, put the fork inside, and closed it. No words involved, but you have to admire his helpfulness.

Today he suddenly burst out with “uh oh” in response to toys falling over. He spent the next hour knocking over toys and saying “uh oh.” So maybe that’s his first word.