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WEKU
WEKU
Science
Susan Brink

Scholars confirm what itsy bitsy babies around the world already know

When most adults, even older children, see an infant, they shamelessly slip into baby talk: Whooose a prettee baabee? Such a cuutiee. Their speech gets smoother, slower, higher pitched and sing-songy.

Researchers call this altered form of speech "parentese," but almost everybody does it — an uncle, a neighbor or the nice lady at the grocery store.

Babies around the world evoke a special kind of language from grown-ups. Above: Photographer Sarah Waiswa, born in Uganda and now living in Kenya, made this photo of her daughter, Ria. (Sarah Waiswa/@EverydayAfrica)
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