Babytalk as a communication of intimate attachment: An initial study in adult romances and friendships

Author(s): Littig, L. W.

Journal/Book: Personal Relationships. 1996; 3: 40 West 20TH Street, New York, NY 10011-4211. Cambridge Univ Press. 137-158.

Abstract: Babytalk is a speech register that has been studied most extensively as it is spoken by mothers to infants, but without attention to its possible role in emotional bonding. We suggest that babytalk plays such a role-that it expresses and facilitates intimate psychological connection, and in a variety of relationships. We first overview relevant literature to show that an association between babytalk and intimate attachment makes sense. Then we report a questionnaire study, which is the first to explore this association as well as the first empirical documentation that babytalk occurs in adult romances and friendships. Self-reported features and examples of the speech register (as spoken in a particular romance) verified it as babytalk. Individuals who had babytalked to friends or romantic partners tended to be more secure and less avoidant with regard to attachments in general. Within a particular romantic relationship, indicators of intimacy and attachment accounted for about 22% of the variance in babytalk frequency. Partner's babytalking was the strongest predictor, accounting for about 42% of the variance. Communication intentions accompanying babytalk paralleled the hallmarks of attachment, especially affection and play. These and other results suggest that babytalk functions in the process of intimate personal connection.

Note: Article ML Bombar, 4 Coleman Ave, Elmira, NY 14905 USA

Keyword(s): DIRECTED SPEECH; VOCAL ATTRACTIVENESS; INFANT PREFERENCE; MATERNAL SPEECH; MOTHERS SPEECH; YOUNG-ADULTS; TALK; INTONATION; CHILDREN; STYLES

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