The following are among the 1,200 statements in the repertoire of “Yumel,” a talking doll for sale in Japan. The doll is marketed as a “healing partner” for nighttime use by the lonely elderly. According to Tomy, the doll’s manufacturer, over 8,000 have been sold to date.
Translated from the Japanese by W. David Marx.
Originally from Harper's Magazine,
September 2005.
I love you!
Won’t you sleep with me? Promise!
Did you brush your teeth?
Ask me a lot about my dreams.
I had a dream where Mr. Squirrel ate a huge cake.
I had a dream where a chicken was washing dishes.
I had a dream about a beach . . . Never mind, it’s a secret!
Even though I slept a lot, I’m still sleepy.
Are you waking up in the middle of the night?
I want to help out around the house.
I’d be very happy if you played with me.
It feels good when you sing in a loud voice.
Let’s do it together!
Something smells good!
Did you warm yourself up in the bath?
I like soft ears.
I like soft voices.
I give you my treasure.
I want to have a secret that’s just between us two.
I want to go to the inside of a whale’s mouth.
Someday I want to go over the rainbow.
Right now, I want socks.
Listen, listen! I had a dream. I ate a potato. And I was studying at school.
Washing clothes is hard, isn’t it?
Is going out shopping hard?
I want cheese.
Are you eating vegetables?
I want to know about a lot of things.
Why are bunnies’ eyes red?
I wonder what kinds of dreams elephants have.
It’s strange that fish can live in the ocean.
Where does the wind come from and where does it go?
I wonder why the stars don’t fall to the ground.
The sky is so good and big.
Why do you say moshi moshi when you answer the phone? It’s funny!
It’s strange that sometimes you cry when you are laughing.
http://harpers.org/GrandmasLittleHelper.html
