Question

Which of the following best describes a benefit to the language development of infants resulting from baby talk or "infant-directed speech" as indicated by research of Dr. Laurel Trainor at McMaster University?

A) Slows down language development
B) Hinders the acquisition of vocabulary
C) Enhances phonological development
D) Decreases overall communication skills

Answer 1

Infant-directed speech, or baby talk, positively impacts infants by enhancing their phonological development, helping them to better discriminate sounds and potentially learn vocabulary faster.

Step-by-step explanation:

Research by Dr. Laurel Trainor at McMaster University and others in the field of language development suggests that infant-directed speech, commonly known as baby talk, has a positive impact on language development. Among the various benefits, it particularly enhances phonological development in infants. This form of communication often involves a high-pitched, sing-song voice that infants are thought to find more engaging and easier to attend to, which can lead to better phonetic discrimination and more rapid vocabulary acquisition.