Re: Twin speak

Sally Caves wrote:

>"SMITH,MARCUS ANTHONY" wrote:
>
>> I've only met a couple conlangers in
>> person: Matt, my younger brother (also Matt), Vicky, and Tim. Oh, and a
>> pair of twins that my mother used to teach -- I'm not sure if you can
>> count that as a conlang, because it is something that they just
>> spontaneously did while learning to talk. (They're only six or seven
right
>> now.)
>
>This is called "idioglossia," and has been referred to in popular
>parlance as "twin speak."  It's very interesting that your
>mother ran across such twins.  How developed was their language?
>
>I've been off-list since January, so of course you seem new to
>me!>
I wonder how common this is??  I recall that my twin nephews had a private
language when they were 6 or 7 (just starting school back in early 60s).  I
once asked them what they were saying, but they clammed up.  I do recall one
word-- _dadiwa_ -- they were learning sort-of baby-Spanish in 1st grade and
I thought that might be (or was influenced by)  Sp. dádiva 'gift', but it
seemed a rather recherché item for that level.