Short Wave Why Babies Babble And What It Can Teach Adults About Language
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Jul 26, 2023 Join Dr. Megha Sundara, a UCLA linguistics professor, as she dives into the fascinating world of baby babble. Discover why infants make those adorable sounds and how these vocalizations evolve with exposure to different languages. Sundara shares insights on how babies in bilingual homes adapt their babbling based on their surroundings. She also reveals what adults can learn from this research, emphasizing the importance of social interaction and immersive experiences in language learning at any age.
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Train Babble
- Sydney Lupkin recounts observing a French toddler on a train having animated conversations.
- The child's mother clarified that the babbling wasn't meaningful yet, sparking Lupkin's interest in the topic.
Babbling as Exploration
- Babies babble as a form of exploration, experimenting with their vocal apparatus.
- This exploration involves sensory feedback and sound production, even in hearing-impaired babies.
Complexity of Sounds
- 'Ba' and 'da' sounds are easier for babies due to simpler articulatory movements.
- Sounds like 's' and 'sh' are harder, requiring more precise tongue and palate coordination.