Summary
Baby talk, also called child- or infant-directed speech, is the special, higher-pitched way adults talk to babies. It grabs infants’ attention and helps them learn words and bond with caregivers. When caregivers do not use it, babies may show slower language development, and not all cultures use baby talk.
Highlights
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There is evidence that the exaggerated pitch modifications are similar to the affectionate speech style employed when people speak to their pets (pet-directed speech).[9] However, the hyperarticulation of vowels appears to be related to the propensity for the infant to learn language, as it is not exaggerated in speech to infants with hearing loss or to pets.
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Studies have shown that from birth, infants prefer to listen to CDS, which is more effective than regular speech in getting and holding an infant’s attention.[22] Some researchers[23] believe that CDS is an important part of the emotional bonding process between the parents and their child, and helps the infants learn the language. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Wisconsin found that using basic “baby talk” may support babies in picking up words faster.[24] Infants pay more attention when parents use CDS, which has a slower and more repetitive tone than used in regular conversation.