parentese

Parentese, also known as infant-directed speech or motherese, is a register of spoken language used by caregivers when addressing infants and very young children. It is a form of child-directed speech characterized by acoustic and linguistic adjustments designed to attract attention, aid processing, and support early language learning.

Acoustic features commonly associated with parentese include a higher pitch, wider pitch range, slower tempo, exaggerated intonation, and clearer articulation. Vowels are stretched and pauses lengthened. Linguistic adjustments involve simpler syntax and vocabulary, shorter sentences, more repetition and labeling, and frequent questions that invite response. Nonverbal cues and facial expressions also help engage the child.

Function and evidence: Studies show that parentese helps infants attend to speech, segment words from fluent language, and map words onto referents. These features support early vocabulary growth, phonetic discrimination, and turn-taking skills. Effects are observed across many languages, though patterns vary with culture and language.

Variations and caveats: Some cultures favor less exaggerated or differently inflected caregiver speech, and not all children respond to parentese in the same way. The term is used differently across studies, with some researchers reserving it for caregiver-initiated speech and others including broader social interaction. While linked to positive outcomes, parentese operates with other factors such as exposure and responsiveness.