F2F Class Notes (Lily)[R]

Baby Talk

A study said mothers across the world speak to babies in the same way. Researchers from Princeton University said “motherese” is a world language. The cute noises and coochy-coos mothers say to babies are very complex. They are a special form of communication. Motherese helps babies develop their language. A researcher said baby talk is more important than we thought. She said: “It is not something to be embarrassed about at all.”

The researchers recorded 24 different mothers. They spoke 10 different languages. Their babies were between seven months and one year. The researchers said they recorded mothers playing with and reading to their babies, just like they do at home. Mothers change the quality of their voices when they speak to their babies, in any language. The study didn’t look at fathers’ talk, but fathers probably speak to their babies in a similar way across the world.

Pronunciation

ugly= aug ly

square= s guare

pervert= per- vurt

garage= ge- rah- ge

fantastic= fan tas dic

period- pee ree yed

world= wor rou d

embarrased= yim bae ra sed

Vocabulary

signal= xin hao

There’s no signal/ no reception here, I can’t hear you.

period= what you have once a month with blood

ex: I have my period today, i’m not feeling well.

comma= ,,,,,,,,

period= .

complex= very difficult to understand

ex: Math is a very complex subject for me.

embarrassed= to cause shame to (gan ga)

ex: I was embarrassed when he rejected me.