Emphasis is Important

One of the phrases I use frequently, when thanking someone for doing something for me, is dear heart.

My tenacious one has picked up on the phrase and it is so cute to listen to her try to call someone a dear heart.

It usually is followed by smiles and chuckles because she puts the emphasis on the wrong word so it actually sounds like she is calling the person a deer heart.

She doesn't seem to hear the difference or maybe she just doesn't care.  So even though we've pointed it out to her she is either unable or, more likely, unwilling to change it.

She knows the message she is trying to convey and is content. It may also be that she loves that little extra attention it brings her when she says it incorrectly.