My daughters do this with Chinese movies they watch with their mom. They can actually follow a lot of what's going on even though they understand very little of the language.

I remember once I went to a Chinese carryout with some friends. The chef started loudly griping when the people in front of us started acting like boneheads. My companions were embarrassed and glancing at members of our own party. Suddenly I burst out laughing. In the middle of the chef's harangue I had made out the words "meigwo sagua" (stupid americans). I was practically in tears.

I think the things we really absorb are what we pick up without trying.


k