Mothers' singing to infants and preschool children

Author(s): Trehub, S. E.

Journal/Book: Infant Behav Develop. 1999; 22: 100 Prospect St, PO Box 811, Stamford, CT 06904-0811, USA. Ablex Publ Corp. 51-64.

Abstract: Mothers were recorded singing two versions of the same song, one to their infants and the other to their preschool children. In Experiment 1, naive adult listeners accurately identified the infant-directed versions from each pair of mothers' songs. Pitch was higher for the infant-directed versions but tempo and intensity did not differ across contexts. In Experiment 2, naive listeners judged which version of each pair sounded more ''loving'' and which had dearer enunciation of lyrics. The versions sung to preschoolers were rated as more clearly enunciated than those sung to infants. Although there were no differences in ''loving'' tone of voice, ''loving'' ratings of infant-directed versions predicted identification accuracy.

Note: Article Trehub SE, Univ Toronto, Dept Psychol, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, CANADA

Keyword(s): singing; mothers; infants; preschool; age-differences; DIRECTED SPEECH; MATERNAL SPEECH; PROSODIC MODIFICATIONS; INTONATION CONTOURS; CROSS-LANGUAGE; VOCAL AFFECT; PERCEPTION; PREFERENCE; PATTERNS; RESPONSIVENESS

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