A study from the University of the Sunshine Coast has found that the exaggerated pitch and drawn-out speech sounds typical of infant-directed speech can support how very young babies process vowels, a key building block of language
Using “baby talk” when speaking to infants may do more than raise a smile, with new research suggesting it can help babies learn the basic sounds of language much earlier than previously thought.
A study from the University of the Sunshine Coast has found that the exaggerated pitch and drawn-out speech sounds typical of infant-directed speech can support how very young babies process vowels, a key building block of language.
The research was led by UniSC researcher Dr Varghese Peter, who examined whether this distinctive style of speaking, often dismissed as playful or unnecessary, has a measurable effect on how infants’ brains respond to speech.
“Infant-directed speech or ‘baby talk’ refers to the distinct voice and cadence parents use when speaking to babies–raising pitch, exaggerating speech sounds and shortening utterances,” Dr Peter said.
“Previous research has consistently shown that infants prefer to listen to IDS, but whether it has any significance beyond this is under debate.”
To explore that question, the research team measured brain responses in four-month-old babies, nine-month-old babies, and adults as they listened to vowel sounds. The sounds were spoken either in infant-directed speech or in the typical adult-to-adult speaking style.
UniSC researcher Dr Varghese Peter
Dr Varghese Peter examined whether this distinctive style of speaking, often dismissed as playful or unnecessary, has a measurable effect on how infants’ brains respond to speech
“In adults and in nine-month-old babies, the brain showed a well-known ‘change detection’ signal when it noticed the difference between vowels, regardless of how the speech was produced,” Dr Peter said.
“But the four-month-old babies’ brain responses were different depending on the type of speech.”
According to the findings, younger infants showed a less developed brain response when they heard vowels spoken in adult-directed speech. That changed when the same vowel sounds were presented using infant-directed speech.
“When they heard vowels spoken in adult speech, their brains showed a less advanced response. However, when they heard the same vowels spoken in infant-directed speech, their brains produced a more advanced response, similar to that seen in older infants and adults,” Dr Peter said.
“In other words, ‘baby talk’ isn’t silly at all; it may support early language learning from as young as four months of age.”
The results suggest that the exaggerated sounds and clearer contrasts in infant-directed speech may make it easier for babies to tell speech sounds apart. This ability to distinguish vowels is an early step in learning a language, occurring well before children begin to form words.
Dr Peter said the findings add weight to the idea that how adults speak to babies matters, even in the earliest months of life. Rather than being a distraction, baby talk may help infants tune in to the sounds that form the basis of their native language.
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New research suggests #babytalk helps #infants as young as 4 months process vowel sounds effectively. Exaggerated pitch & drawn-out sounds aid early language learning by making speech distinctions clearer for developing brains. #TheIndianSun@usceduau
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