LL-L "Phonology" 2009.11.14 (02) [EN]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 14 November 2009- Volume 02
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From: Jacqueline Bungenberg de Jong <Dutchmatters at comcast.net>
Subject: LL-L "Phonology" 2009.11.13 (03) [EN]

Hi Luc, as an answer to your question: Wonder what becomes of a baby hearing
mixed sounds: German mom in a French environment?
I also had read the article and send an e-mail to my daughter, who grew up
with an American father and a Dutch mother. Her answer was flippantly: “Mam,
ze huilt in het Nederlands met een Amerikaans accent”

The interesting thing is that she never had an American accent until she
went to live in the Netherlands. But that is socio-psychology !
Groetjes, Jacqueline.

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From: heatherrendall at tiscali.co.uk <heatherrendall at tiscali.co.uk>
 Subject: LL-L "Phonology" 2009.11.13 (03) [EN]

from Heather Rendall  heatherrendall at tiscali.co.uk

Luc wrote about babies experiencing language in the womb

When lecturing on the acquisition of language I often repeated the anecdote
about the 'latest' gadget for the expectant Dad (yes Dad!) namely A Baby
Tube - acting like a megaphone which one placed over Mum's tum and then
spoke gently down " Hallo! It's me.. your Dad here to have quality time with
you etc etc"  It always raised a laugh, which was immediately silenced when
I continued .." And when as soon as the babe is born, Dad calls out to it
"Hi there It's Dad." new borns have been seen to turn their head to locate
the familiar sound."

I had the same experience with my granddaughter 2½ years ago. As my husband
and I arrived for our first sight, she was lying on her Mum's tummy, head
comfortably tucked under my daughter's chin. As I crept up and said " Hallo
Hannah. Granny here" she responded with the most beatic smile I have ever
seen, which (camera in hand) I was able to save for ever. It gives me a
thrill every time I see it. So all my talking to 'Bump' seemed to have
worked as well.

I have a series of slides showing the state and then development of neural
pathways for the first 4 days of life. Amazing development even in such a
short time. What is clear on day 1 is that some axons are already present.
Even if they are yet connected to other neurons, their progress towards
connection is evident.

I am convinced that neural networks do develop and are developing during the
babe's experience in the womb. And that language and mood are the two most
influential. What happens in a bilingual situation  - I'm not sure but I
would imagine that as the mother's effect is closer and 24 hour, it will
predominate.

Some older research pointed out that new borns respond to soothing sounds in
any language up to c 6 months. Thereinafter they responded more to their
mother tongue.

I wonder if the new research is not contradicting this but restricting
itself to actual real language rather 'soothing sounds' which I can
understand might be more generic.

Heather

Worcester UK

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