Baby Linguist.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 232, 5 October 1904, Page 4

Baby Linguist.

CIHLD OF THREE WHO SPEAKS THREE LANGUAGES.

little Hejane Lea, who resides with her parents in York-road, Lambeth, is something of a "wonder-child." She speaks as many languages as she is years of age. Although not quite three, Rejane prattles fluently in French, Italian, and English. In addition, the baby linguist has invented a mixture of the three languages—a sort of "Esperanto"—which she addresses exclusively to her dolls. Rejane was bom in Cairo. Her mother is French and her father Italian. She converses with both parents in their native languages. A few months ago Rejane was brought to London and placed in the care of a nurse whoso linguistic attainments are inflexibly limited to English. Hejane is a dainty, sprightly little miss with ra\x'n-black tresses. She explained last evening that "it was so dull having no one to converse with. It got very lonely in time. Just fancy nurse not being able to speak either French or Italian, and she is years and years older than f am ! ' Well, I felt I must speak to some one or die,; so I set to work mid learned English." j English is now Rejane's favourite language.

Whan, in a few weeks, Rejane reaches her third year she is to begin learning German. Afterwards she will ibe taught Arabic.

Her father is an accomplished linguist, so Rejane's is evidently a case of hereditary talent.