LL-L "Language development" 2010.08.23 (02) [EN]

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*L O W L A N D S - L - 23 August 2010 - Volume 02
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From: heatherrendall at tiscali.co.uk <heatherrendall at tiscali.co.uk>

Subject: LL-L "Evolution" 2010.08.19 (02) [EN]



from Heather Rendall  heatherrendall at tiscali.co.uk



re reaction from babies



What I relate here is entirely anecdotal, however in our family it is known
as 'Mum's party piece' whenever babies are around ( aged from 2 months
onwards)



I do not know what the reasons behind it are; all I can say is that it works
100% of the time with every baby I have ever met. My children delight it
getting me to do it to babies just met and watch the reaction with never
failing delight!



Very simply: I began ages ago when my babes were small to talk back to them
in the same way, as soon as they began to gurgle / burble / squeak / coo.
It's rather difficult to describe but it is basically very high pitched and
comprises sound rather than words, with a great deal of intonation i.e.
question tone or excitement or soothing etc.



The reaction is universal. The baby will do a double take and fix their eyes
on me. Then, when I 'talk' some more, they will a) break into smiles and b)
even start answering back in kind.



I have on accasions been able to hold several interchanges with babies, much
to the amusement of all who watch.



At the moment with 2 new granddaughtets who visit every week, I am 'talking'
to them like crazy and even Tilly who was feeling under the weather this
week with a slight temperature, forgot her woes and crinkled her eyes,
smiled and 'spoke' back.



I know it's not language; but it is some kind of communication and the
initial look on their faces seems to say " Hey! How come you can say
something I can understand."



I am sure this will now convince some of you that I must be 'off my trolley'
( if you weren't convinced before!) but, as I said at the beginning - it is
merely an anecdote - but one that works each and every time I try it.



Have a go yourselves and see what happens. Keep the pitch very high and
imitate as close as you can any sounds they have been making. Keep it as
close to a nonsense language as you can i.e. pauses and breaks and emphases.
And see what happens!

best of luck



Heather

Worcester UK



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