Imitation

I have always found imitation fascinating.  I wanted to do my Honours thesis on imitation, but didn't get the supervisor I needed, so ended up doing something different (though equally interesting). 

Imitation is a really important part of learning, and something that humans do in a different way to other animals.  There is a growing body of research looking at the differences between how humans and primates imitate (or more accurately, emulate).

Bear is a fantastic imitator.  Apart from the obvious learning of nursery rhymes (Dingle Dangle Scarecrow is a current favourity), it is a great way to highlight to yourself any habits you have but may not realise. 

My favourite example at the moment is when he blows on my food.  This came about because regardless of how much of his own dinner he has eaten, he will always want to eat some of mine.  Like a lot of adults, I like to eat my food hot.  If I am fortunate enough to get the opportunity.  But this means that when Bear comes hunting wanting to try something off my plate, I invariably blow on it before offering it to him.

Now when he wants what I am eating, he just comes over to me, starts blowing on my food and then opens his mouth.  As if to say, "There, I blew on it, now I get to eat it, please."  It is even funnier when he does it to other people.  Today I was standing outside a chemist, putting away my latest cache of painkillers, when an older gentleman stopped to say hello.   Well, actually, he stopped because Bear was yelling, "Hel-la, Sal-ly" excitedly and waving furiously at the dog that he was walking.  He brought the dog over so that Bear could have a closer look and a pat, and that was when Bear noticed that the man had a paper bag full of hot chips in his other hand.  Bear started to blow, and the man said, "Oh look, he is trying to whistle to call the dog."  I just said, "It certainly looks like that, doesn't it?" rather than the far more accurate, "Actually, he is trying to nab your chips." 

The other imitation I find amusing is that he throws off at my gammy leg.  He will run along fine, turn back and look at me, then do an exaggerated limp as he runs, as if to say, "Chase me, you cripple!"

Bear is at a really great age at the moment, where you can really see him learning every day.  His understanding of language is growing expoentially.  Even though his actual speech is still very rudimentary, you can tell his understanding of conversation is improving.  For example, if I ask him if he wants a bath, he races towards the bathroom, or if I ask him if he is ready for dinner, he heads for the dining table.  His use of gestures is also increasing at a great rate.  I didn't realise how much I instinctly sign at him (after years of having a non-talking sibling, I think it is just habit).  The other day, when he finished his lunch, he signed "more" at me!  I didn't even realise that I had been signing it at him, but when I asked Mr, he said, "Yeah, at the end of every meal, you ask him if he wants "more"(signed) or is "finished"(signed)."  I was completely oblivious.