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".

[AmandinePoulain]

I think it's really cute when dd2 says "Ta" when she wants something or wants me to take something. She'll learn to say thank you in her own time, the same way that I'm assuming she won't call dogs "dohs" forever

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

How do you know it's that they can't be bothered?

Honestly - have you ever thought to yourself 'ooh, this sentence is sixteen syllables ... this one is eighteen ... or I could shave one off here and make seventeen' before you open your mouth?

Frankly, I think you're being elastic with the truth if you claim to believe that!

[Frigintinsella]

YABU my horrible witch of an old boss at a nursery banned that word (along with other ridiculous demands) I just see it as a stepping stone type word and when the children's language skills had developed we could move on to saying thank you!
IMO I'd prefer to get some kind of verbal acknowledgement of thanks rather than a blank stare because they couldnt say the words.

[RevoltingPeasant]

My mum is an educated woman with a degree in linguistics who has lived abroad most of her life and speaks three languages fluently.

She says 'ta' because she is from Lancs where it is quite normal.

I'm sorry, but the only objectionable thing in this thread is not the ta-ing, it's the parochial snobbery of people who can't understand that other people who live in different places use language differently. This doesn't make them narsty common people your child should avoid, it just means they speak differently to you. This all reminds me of a hilarious thread in Chat a while back where a poster from the SE seriously couldn't grasp that people who pronounced Frances with a short A just spoke in a different accent to her, rather than being wrong.

Also, who seriously uses the word common as a derogatory term?

[HavantGuard]

I was raised in Lancs. None of my family use it.

[hoobypickypicky]

YANBU. I'd tell the nursery I want them to use "thank you" and tough if they thought I was a loon. As long as they didn't tell me, the paying customer, that I was, I couldn't care less.

[MrsOakenshield]

I don't mind ta (and I'm as southern and MC as they come - I say taaar) but I would be annoyed if they were using 'ta' purely because they think it's easier for children. Can't stand that sort of dumbing down (like the TV series of Harry and the Dinosaurs shortening all the dinosaurs' names, unlike in the book where Triceratops is Triceratops, not bloody Trike!)

[MidniteScribbler]

I used ta with DS and now at two he's moving to thank you, usually "ta fan too" right now. It's a transition between baby and adult language. As a teacher, as long as you teach your child some sort of manners, I can live with either, although I will promote thank you in my classroom.

[DameDeepRedBetty]

I was thinking about this subject today, while wandering along walking the dogs, and realised that I now sound EXACTLY like my mother. Basically don't worry OP, your child will eventually pick up her style of speech from you. All the nursery staff, teachers, TAs, friends, colleagues, TV programmes, have had no long term effect. I now sound exactly like every other middle class rural family in Southern England !

[MrsOakenshield]

but why do children need 'baby' language, midnite?

[Grennie]

Because it helps their speech development.

[charitymum]

Thanks DawnDonnaAgain - guess spelling not my strong suit either!!

[TheBuskersDog]

I grew up in the north and use ta all the time, have just used it to my 16 year old when he did something for me. However when he was little I hated people doing that "say ta" thing that some people do to small children, I also would not have taught him to say moo-moo instead of cow as I hate baby talk.
As some others have said when adults use it it is not baby talk, yes it is slang and would be inappropriate to use in some situations, e.g when receiving an honour from the queen, but is fine when a work colleague is handing you a cup of coffee.

[Kubrickian]

the word ta is generally rage worthy and offensive

Well I can understand it being annoying or "rage worthy", but how in the hell is it "offensive"?

Seriously I cannot understand how this word is offensive.

And if I had a partner who cringed at the words I decided to use and was using in the right context then I wouldn't want to be with someone who felt so superior to me.

[topknob]

I can't stand ta either, just thank you will do..they will pick it up eventually, why try and make them say a word which doesn't exist?

[MollyWhuppie]

I don't use the word myself, but I think it is good to teach babies and toddlers to express appreciation when someone gives them something.

Ta is the easiest thing for them to start saying at say, 10 months, and then is easily swapped for thank you later on. I think it is more about learning to say something in acknowledgement when someone does something for them - the building blocks of good manners. Who cares what that word is to start with?

Mine started with 'ta', instigated by nursery, and are now always complimented on their good manners now they are older. They say 'thank you' now. Really, it's not a problem.

[MidniteScribbler]

MrsOakenshield, I'm not on my main PC to send the links, but if you look at some of Thiessen's work on infant directed speech you'll find quite a bit of research about the topic.

[TheBuskersDog]

topknob

the word ta does exist and is in the dictionary.

[Dawndonnaagain]

So sorry Charity, was trying to be amusing and didn't think about it misfiring. Genuine mistake. Apologies.

[FunLovinBunster]

Hate hate hate 'ta'. It's really lazy and ignorant.
Teach them once, teach them right.
It's thank you not ta.
It's cat not pussy.
It's dog not doggy.
Can't stand baby speak.

[BackOnlyBriefly]

I say it and so do many people where I live. It's ok not to like it, but people who find it actually offensive must be sickened to meet non-english speakers who use different words for things.

[FloozeyLoozey]

Loads of adults say ta round here (central Lancashire). Very common and not at all baby talk.

[charitymum]

Hi sorry Dawn I was joking too!!!!! Clearly we both need to work on our humour!!!

[CumberCookie]

I think that the fact that they are teaching your dd to give an appropriate response ie thankfullness is more important that what the actual word they say is IYSWIM

[Dawndonnaagain]

FunLovin As the granddaughter of Lords on both sides, trust me, I am neither lazy nor ignorant. I have been in the presence of royalty and they too have used 'ta'.