Function of infant-directed speech

Journal/Book: Hum Nature Int Biosoc Perspec. 1999; 10: 200 Saw Mill River, Hawthorne, NY 10532, USA. Aldine De Gruyter Division Walter De Gruyter Inc. 415-443.

Abstract: The relationship between a biological process and a behavioral trait indicates a proximate mechanism by which natural selection can act. In that context, examining an aspect of infant health is one method of investigating the adaptive significance of infant-directed speech (ID speech), and it could help to explain the widespread use of this communication style. The correlation between infant growth and infant-directed speech is positive and significant, and provides a vehicle for testing evolutionary history hypotheses.

Note: Article Monnot M, Univ Oklahoma, Hlth Sci Ctr, Dept Psychiat & Behav Sci, VAMC, 11AZ, 921 NE 13, Oklahoma City,OK 73104 USA

Keyword(s): adaptation; emotional prosody; human evolution; infant-directed speech; infant growth; motherese; mother-infant interaction; semantic category; universality; WEIGHT-GAIN; PROSODIC MODIFICATIONS; CROSS-LANGUAGE; MOTHERS SPEECH; HUMAN GROWTH; NEWBORNS; STRESS; MODEL; BORN; AGE

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