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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Saying "ta" instead of "thank you"

192 replies

saffstel · 29/01/2014 17:59

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".

OP posts:
HoratiaDrelincourt · 29/01/2014 20:49

tl;dr

Round here people use ta with small children but it's taaaaaaaa with really exaggerated inflection and I hate it.

Mine signed "thank you" before their first birthdays [smug] so I could wait for a spoken "thank you" instead of "ta".

I don't mind ta in general, just as a stupid alternative to a perfectly normal word.

::goes to rtft::

FunLovinBunster · 29/01/2014 20:50

That's lovely, Donna.
It does not change my opinion on this issue.

FootieOnTheTelly · 29/01/2014 20:51

FunLovinBunster. Really? You actually think its ignorant to say 'ta'. That is very judgey pants of you. Sad

newyearhere · 29/01/2014 20:52

It's a friendly and informal part of northern dialect. It doesn't stop people saying thank you in more formal settings.

charitymum · 29/01/2014 20:52

DawnDonnaAgain I am in POW most weeks and here ta and ya(h) everywhere! And a few choice other words too.

FunLovinBunster · 29/01/2014 20:53

It's very judgey pants of you to take umbrage at my opinion purely because it doesn't agree with what you think.

charitymum · 29/01/2014 20:53

Hear. Hear. FFS PhD and I can't spell!

HoratiaDrelincourt · 29/01/2014 20:54

re baby talk...

Using baby language such as exaggerated inflection, repetition, unusually high pitch and consonant reinforcement (doggy for dog, etc) aids language development.

Using bullshit made up words ("going bobos" for "sleeping") doesn't.

HTH

SpecialAgentFreyPie · 29/01/2014 20:54

This is an issue? ConfusedHmm

Can't be arsed, wanders off thread

Grennie · 29/01/2014 20:55

Be as snobby as you want, but baby talk helps speech development. Staff at a good nursery would know this.

www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Articles/Fact-or-Fiction--The-Top-10-Assumptions-about-Earl.aspx

Dawndonnaagain · 29/01/2014 20:57

Charity haven't been up for years, thank the heavens! The language can be a little ripe, yah! Grin

breatheslowly · 29/01/2014 21:01

I think the nursery that DD went to at that age had a policy of not saying "ta". Probably because the owner was rather posh. They used baby signs for please and thank you which worked really well.

I'd rather that my child wasn't taught "ta" or "pardon" but those are probably the only words I can think of that I have a preference for. Though she particularly enjoys saying "poo" at the moment, so perhaps my focus should be on that.

melika · 29/01/2014 21:01

We say 'Ta' in the midlands and I am not the slightest upset by it, it shows manners, that is the point. YABU.

PrimalLass · 29/01/2014 21:04

WTF is wrong with 'pardon'? In what context?

newyearhere · 29/01/2014 21:06

It's not "baby speak". In certain places where it's the dialect, adults will use "ta" at any informal time. It's warm and friendly. Obviously they wouldn't say "ta" at a job interview, or if the Queen paid them a compliment, they'd say "thank you"!

notso · 29/01/2014 21:07

It didn't occur to me to use it with DC but I don't say it so it wouldn't. They all managed a form of thank you pretty quickly.
I don't see the need to use words you don't normally use when speaking to a baby.
I don't like the way the accent of my area says the letter a it is a horrible hard nasal sound one of the only accents I have heard that made the name Grace sound awful.

msmoss · 29/01/2014 21:48

Primallass some people think the use of the word pardon is common Hmm

I can understand pedantry when it comes to spelling and grammar, particularly in a formal written context, but I'm just totally baffled by the application of class consciousness to words, particularly words that are being used to be polite. Communication is about more than the actual words that are used Ta and pardon are used by people with good manners, if you can't accept the sentiment behind these words and would rather just write off the person speaking as common then you clearly have no manners.

CassCade · 29/01/2014 22:01

I hate "ta"!! I think, if you feel like you do, then stick with 'thank you' at home but don't mention it to the nursery. And I don't agree that "thank you" is so hard to say that you shouldnt bother trying to teach it - a child's name is sometimes hard for the child to say but you're not going to simplify that into an easy one-syllable sound, are you?? All words are hard to say when a child is learning language - otherwise they'd sound like perfect mimics from day one! Anyway, I'm sure your child will be more likely to copy you, who she speaks to all the time than a nursery worker. :)

rainraingoAWAYNEVERCOMEBACK · 29/01/2014 22:04

I wouldn't complain but I am so with you op, I do not understand it, you do not usually shorten other words why shorten thank you....

Its horrid.

rainraingoAWAYNEVERCOMEBACK · 29/01/2014 22:05

I dont care if its common or what the Queen herself uses, I just dont like the sound of it!

DownstairsMixUp · 29/01/2014 22:07

Are you the woman at my nursery who complains EVERY single day to our manager about one of the keyworkers? Hmm

Gatorade · 29/01/2014 22:15

I don't know what I would do in this situation but I completely understand. Last year I decided not to employ a nanny who was perfectly acceptable and lovely but for the fact she kept saying 'ta' to my DD everytime she was handed something.

scantilymad · 29/01/2014 22:19

I don't particularly like 'ta' but isn't it good your daughter is being taught the concept of responding politely when someone hands her something? I wouldn't make it an issue as you may just alienate the staff. Then just work on it at home?

YummyDollie · 29/01/2014 22:25

Everyone round here says ta is it a yorkshire thing... i always say it to DD (9 months) but then i say it to adults to i.e hands me a drink "or ta for that" don't see the problem with it personally