Many of us have heard of the concept of babies having their own language to communicate with each other and their parents. This language naturally seems foreign to adults. It’s safe to say that in a way babies do have a kind of language of their own, which needs a little more understanding on our part. So, we’re providing a step-by-step guide to help you get started on understanding baby babble and also get a better grasp on why they communicate the way they do.
Understanding baby babble
There are basically three stages in which your baby starts to communicate with you. The first is marginal babbling where your baby squeals for your attention. The second is known as canonical babbling where your six to nine month old baby will repeat the same syllable over and over again. One example would be: ‘Mamamamamama! Mama! Mamamamama!’ And finally the third, is called variegated babbling where you child starts saying things that almost sounds like real words. This is when they are training their muscles, and trying to enunciate what they hear.
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Babbling as language
Understanding baby babble, is to hear for the tone and words that the baby uses. This is because the intonation and ‘words’ the baby uses are important as they state intent and attitude, and thus, a key to understanding baby babble.
This is good news for bilingual or multilingual parents because intonation patterns differ from language to language. Since babies are basically sponges who learn and practice what they see and hear all around them, a baby from China whose parents speak French would communicate entirely differently from a baby in France whose parents speak French and Portuguese.
‘Babble’ is not only confined to hearing babies. Deaf babies, who are “spoken to” in sign language, will communicate through “sign babble” with gestures.
Which is your baby?
As you try understanding baby babble, you might notice that the babbling of your elder child might be entirely different from your youngest one. This is because in the babbling realm, babies also differ. The two categories are ‘word babies’ and ‘intonation babies’.
While your ‘word baby’ might focus on trying out words and make as many different specific words as they can, your ‘intonation baby’ will be more interested in playing with intonation and how the word sounds, only moving to a different word when they are satisfied with intoning the previous one. These babies tend to stick longer with variegated babbling. Yet despite the difference, preference for one does not necessarily affect development.
Is it communication?
Ultimately babbling is a form of communication and if we were to look closely at parents’ reactions to the sounds and noises that their infant makes, it is clear that your little one has gotten you to understand them much earlier than they could understand you.
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Share with us your thoughts on baby babble and whether you have mastered the art of understanding baby babble. Also check out this adorable video of a pair of twins communicating through their unique baby babble.