Categories
Interesting facts

Baby Talk

People caring for infants often instinctively use a specific type of speech, commonly known as ‘baby talk’ or, by researchers, as ‘child-directed speech’.  It is notably higher in pitch, with a slower rate of speech and a more melodic deliverance than that typically used by adults, with an emphasis given to the enunciation of vowels, and longer pauses than is typical in spoken language.

People using baby-talk might sound irritating to the unsentimental bystander, but they haven’t actually gone goo-goo/ga-ga. Research shows that babies are more responsive to child-directed speech,  that they focus more intently on and interact more with adults speaking this way, and even that it enhances their cognitive development, including speech acquisition!

Photo Source: https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2020/03/babies-love-baby-talk-world

Latest Post

Why is it so hard to translate Chinese menus?
Bad translations from Chinese menus into western languages are a mainstay of translator humour. It…
Read More
101translations
Talking To Your Dog
Dog-owners often talk to their dogs in a particular style that’s very similar to how…
Read More
101translations
Surnames of Foundlings in Italy
Surnames have all sorts of origins. Often they are associated with a particular place, or…
Read More
101translations