Infantdirected

Infantdirected speech, also known as parentese or motherese, is a distinctive mode of communication used by adults when speaking to infants. It is characterized by exaggerated pitch contours, slower tempo, and a higher vocal pitch compared to adult-directed speech. The intonation patterns are often drawn out, and the vocabulary used is typically simpler and more repetitive.

Research suggests that infantdirected speech plays a crucial role in early language acquisition. The heightened prosody and clear articulation can help infants distinguish individual words and learn the structure of their native language. The exaggerated emotional tone also serves to capture an infant's attention and foster social bonding, which are important components of early learning.

While the term "motherese" was historically common, the phenomenon is observed in caregivers of all genders and relationships to the infant, leading to the broader term "infantdirected speech." This communication style is not limited to humans; some studies have indicated similar patterns in primate vocalizations directed towards their young. The ability to adapt speech for infants appears to be a robust, cross-cultural human behavior.