Tum vs Aap

There's no down side to learning a language. There are so many cultural nuances that are lost in translation.

I've been trying for little miss Haana to learn Hindi for quite some time. I've tried a phone app that helps with learning the language (which did work initially, but then the excitement waned); and I have tried to threaten to send her to weekend classes (she likes her weekends to be full of playdates, some screen time, her own projects, friends and play time. Would it not be a tragedy to lose some of the weekend for a class!). Lately I have started speaking to her more often in hindi than not. And it has been paying off. Her hindi vocab is steadily increasing even though I can hardly ever hear her hindi accent with a straight face! :-D

Recently on our walk little miss Haana said something to me like "tum idhar ao" (you come here)and I thought it was an opportune time fot embarking on this Hindi lesson -

Unlike English, which has just one word for referring to the other person - you, regardless of who that second person is. Hindi, is a more respectful language, and has different words depending on whether who you're referring to is equal to you, or is older or more respected. In case of referring to a person that's your equal, like a friend, or referring to someone younger, you refer to them as "tum" or "tu". When you refer to someone that's elder or referring respectfully, you say "aap". So "aap idhar aaeeye" (come here <respectfully, politely>) instead of "tum idhar ao" (come here) or " tu idhar aa" (come here <even less respectful>). 

"So, you should be saying 'aap idhar aaeeye' instead of ' tum idhar ao' to me", I told her, driving home the lesson. 

She listened without interrupting and then immediately responded, "But you're not just my mom you're my friend. So i don't want to say 'aap' to you".

I don't think she got my message, I thought. But wait, she said I'm her friend!!! "Awww!! I'm your friend!!" I said,as I melted all over! As is usual, she hopped along to avoid me clutching her into a forced hug!

Well played!