This article describes a growing method of "baby sign language", where parents teach their babies signs for simple phrases. It also includes the quoted advice, "Engage in conversations with your baby. Even though your baby can't speak, you communicate as if your baby is able to do that and you interpret her looks and her gestures". I think this relates to our discussion of how being accommodating to the baby is a critical part of "Baby Talk" / "Motherese".

This article talks about a study done on "baby talk." I thought it was relevant to the research on Motherese (Ochs, Elinor. 1993. Indexing Gender) in that it pointed to research on various countries and their corresponding "baby talk." The article talks about how the speech of parents supposedly elicits different "babbling" from their babies. [Published on 12-07-2017]

Based upon research, “Mothers responded 88% to 94% of the time to the babies vocalizations, while dads responded only 27% to 33% of the time” (Park, 2014). Therefore, babies respond more to their mothers than their fathers. Additionally, a mother responds more to a daughter and less to a son. Whereas, a father responds more to a son than a daughter. Verbal interaction impacts language performance and academic success. [Published on 11-03-2014]

This is an article that talks about how “baby talk” is the best way for infants to acquire language skills. It discusses the argument that talking to infants like that may be condescending; however, studies have shown that it is an excellent way for them to learn their language. It also discusses how babies are ready to learn language in the last trimester when their ears are fully developed. They are already listening to their mother and the sounds around them. The use of repetition and slower speech is helpful with infants in learning language patterns. [Published on 12-06-2016]