Sometimes, we adults find it amusing to talk to a newborn, but very few of us realize that we can help the children we cherish learn to speak sooner by talking to them as if they were another child.
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(Image: georgetown) |
This has been confirmed by a recent study by Professor Erik Thiessen from Carnegie Mellon University published in the journal Childhood.
Most adults tend to talk to newborns in a manner commonly referred to as “infant-directed speech,” which involves using short, simple sentences combined with a higher pitch and exaggerated intonation. Numerous studies have long shown that this method of communication captures children’s attention. However, the benefits of this “communication” style extend beyond that.
Professor Thiessen’s research also discovered that compared to regular adult speech, this special way of talking can help children learn words more quickly. In a series of experiments, the professor and his colleagues had 8-month-old infants listen to fluent speech delivered with normal pitch and intonation. After 2 minutes, those children could learn words, but at a slower pace than those who heard similar speech presented in a higher pitch and with exaggerated intonation suitable for infants.
This new finding from Professor Thiessen explains why many adults struggle to learn a foreign language, even if they are highly proficient in their native language. It can be concluded that children learn to speak from the mixed phrases they hear, and many scientists believe they have the ability to learn languages faster than adults.
Professor Thiessen stated: “Learning a language is essential for every child because communication is an extremely important activity in their lives later on. Interestingly, we adults can help them learn to speak faster through the special way we communicate with children that we often apply.”
