so, example #1- he wanted to avoid embarrassment vs. punishment?
Not sure even though I did not punish him earlier since he got hurt
#2 he's crafty-

I've got one of those - fun isn't it?
It was cute when he was doing it at 2. It got me worried what kind of lies will he be telling at 10? 20?
#3 well,...he's observant of linguistic differences? My then 3 yo son was talking with a newly married into our family Aunt who is bilingual and when she spoke Spanish to him, he asked her if she could speak Penguin too. LOL.
Like passthepotatoes wrote above, I think he was trying to be polite.
Oh my. Nick is really wily and crafty and can out-talk and out reason many adults. He argues a good point sometimes.
Glad that I am not alone