Saying "ta" instead of "thank you"

[saffstel]

Dd2 (10 months) is staring nursery in a couple of weeks. We did an intro hour yesterday.

Her key worker (who was also dd1's key worker) says 'ta' to the children when she hands them toys, food, etc.

This is a pet hate of mine and it annoyed me when she did it with DD1.

Wibu of me to ask her to say "thank you" instead of "ta"? The discussion sounds really petty when I have it in my head, but I really, really hate "ta".

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

In a shop around here the conversation would go something like this:

Cashier: E'am bab (here you go)
Me: Tar (thank you)
Cashier: Yum welcum (you're welcome)
Me: t'rah a-bit (bye)

I love language!

[PiratesLifeForMe]

I say ta (tar) quite a lot....never really thought about it! Never heard it pronounced ta as in tap before.

[Dawndonnaagain]

I say lavatory.

[PrimalLass]

In Scotland we use a short 'a' for a lot of words.

[willowstar]

When my daughter first started at the child minders she asked us if we said ta or thank you as she would do as we liked. We are a thank you sort of family and o was she so all was we
L. I understand your annoyance ...however putting your children in other pele's care will mean they are exposed o lots of things you would do differently, you just have to accept it.

[SPsMrLoverManSHABBA]

In stores it's normal for a cashier to say Ta love or cheers.

I have never thought it to be an issue. It's just normal to me.

I think everyone where I'm from says Ta. Pronounced tar, from babies to the elderly.

[shil0846]

YANBU - I hate it too. Makes me cringe when my MIL says it to my DS.
I would ask the key worker to say "thank you" instead.

[SPsMrLoverManSHABBA]

Sock I've heard 'Im off t' lav' before

[IneedAsockamnesty]

Fwiw, I would not make any assumption about anybody saying ta to a child other than "how nice" manners are important.

I don't use ta and I like to get stupidly impressed when my 22 month old says thank you very clearly and I wouldn't use ta at work however I do routinely and loudly say festering fucking cunt at work, so not sure my opinion counts for much

[Bowlersarm]

But it is speaking properly

No it isn't! 'Thank you' would be speaking properly.

[SPsMrLoverManSHABBA]

Where I'm from Ta is normal and it is speaking properly. It's a word

[yummystepford]

I think the issue with ta is that if you are showing appreciation to someone you should have the respect to actually say thank you instead of lazily saying ta, which really does not sound at all like genuine appreciation. This is why it feels common, it's the associated disrespect.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

That's a bit odd. Surely no-one actually thinks you are rationing your syllables?

[nickymanchester]

No it isn't!

...Oh yes it is

[charitymum]

YABU and the snobbery is hysterical....

Those with real class tend not to notice the accents or affections of others-it's a real faux middle class thing.

Wait til you child calls you a 'little beggar'- brilliant from our 18 month old this week - from either nanny or nursery. Or cheeky bugger from our two and half year old-from me!

[SPsMrLoverManSHABBA]

So saying two words means a lot more than the one? There's me thinking it was just the same thing.

You can say thank you an not mean it.

[msmoss]

YABU learning to communicate us about much more than using the 'proper' words, using ta is simply providing a sound in acknowledgement for someone giving you something, they'll have moved on to thank you by the time your DC is able to form words more easily and understandably so you can unclench.

[charitymum]

Yummy - seriously?

Then how do you explain the - very posh - Sloane 'ya' instead of yes. Is one letter less ok because they are posh girls?

[Dawndonnaagain]

charity it's 'yah'!

[Grennie]

Just wanted to say around the issue of baby talk, research into speech development has shown children taught with baby talk, learn speech in general faster. There is a theory that baby talk from, adults to small children is perfectly natural.

[msmoss]

yummystepford we're talking about a 10 month old baby

[Grennie]

And given the many and varied pet hates of parents, no sensible nursery is going to accommodate this request.

[jamdonut]

Oh good god! This argument makes me mad!

I'm nearly 50, and I was brought up (in the South) saying 'Ta',but it doesn't stop me saying 'Thank you' now. I still use 'Ta' informally,though.

I taught my own children to say 'Ta' when they were little. They are all (almost) grown - up now, and can all say 'Thank You' when it matters, but between family and friends tend to say 'Ta'.

We live in the North now. I don't think I've noticed a difference in usage of 'Ta' from South to North.

What is wrong with using both ?

[yummystepford]

I do think it's perfectly acceptable to use with children. Lots of people talk differently to one another, and children need to know that, they are smart enough to know to say thank you if you do even if the nursery say ta.

However I do feel annoyed when I've gone out of my way to help a friend and they respond with ta. It is rude if they can't be bothered to form the words 'thank you' so I do think it's lazy. I don't think it counts in areas where it's the norm

[catkind]

I'm from the south east and say ta (pronounced "tar" but maybe a bit shorter on the "ar") and thanks quite interchangeably. I wouldn't say I'm posh but equally don't speak in local dialect and don't think anyone would describe my accent as common.
I don't particularly like using different words for children to what I'd use for adults though if that's what you mean. I also don't particularly like the habit of trying to teach manners to children by saying thanks when you give them something. Just confuses them as far as I can see, like when people speak in the third person to babies all the time then are surprised when they can't cope with you/me.