In his book "The Mother Tongue: English and How it Got That Way," Bill Bryson addresses some intriguing elements of how children learn language. Notably, he observes that children typically learn to express negation, saying "no," before they can affirm with "yes." This pattern highlights a fascinating aspect of their cognitive development and understanding of communication.

Moreover, Bryson notes that children universally experience a phase where they are captivated by concepts of absence, such as "gone" and "all gone." This shared experience across cultures indicates a fundamental curiosity about language and existence, reflecting how children engage with their surroundings and grasp the idea of loss or disappearance as they develop their linguistic skills.