Early Evidence of Understanding

One Sunday in January 1991, Mark was in the midst of some extensive paperwork at the kitchen table while a tape of operatic arias played in the background. Puck had been wholeheartedly accompanying the tape with beautiful singing of his own when, after half an hour or so, I suggested “Let’s change this tape. I want to listen to some light rock.” Puck immediately interjected very forcefully “I like this!” and Mark and I stared at one another in disbelief. Although Puck had used each of these words in other phrases, we had never heard this sentence before.

There were other episodes that year that seemed to indicate Puck understood some aspects of language. For example, in February my niece and I were playing Scrabble near Puck’s cage when he said “Pray for people.” Now at the onset of the Gulf War I had said to him several times “Pray for peace.” But how much more pithy to say “Pray for people.” That statement really gets to the heart of the subject and yet I had never thought of it.

Then again, on June 26^th of that year, I greeted him in the morning with my usual “Hi, Puck.” He immediately came back with “Hi, mommy bird.” Somewhat taken aback, I proceeded to give him several kisses while I held him, and he tolerated this as usual. A few minutes later, however, he stated very clearly “I didn’t want you to kiss me.” Well, “mommy bird” almost fell through the floor, before collecting her wits and replying, “I know that, Puck, but you’re always going to get kisses from me, so try to enjoy it.” It was on the same day that I noticed that Puck seemed to have a sense of humor. Late in the afternoon I went to the cage to clean it, and Puck greeted me with “Who’s there?” as he cocked his head to one side. “Who’s” was a new word, but I sensed instantly that he was teasing me. What a creature! It became evident in 1991 that Puck often put together all the words he learned into original phrases and sentences. Mimicry was just the first step in his joyous use of language.