Motherese

Motherese, also called infant-directed speech, refers to the special way adults speak to babies. It features a higher pitch, exaggerated intonation, slower rhythm, clear articulation, and repetitive phrases. This style attracts the infant’s attention, makes speech sounds more distinct, and helps babies learn language and emotional cues. Motherese isn’t limited to mothers; anyone talking to infants often adopts these speech patterns. It plays a key role in early language development and emotional bonding, providing a supportive environment for infants to understand and interpret speech more easily.