Music and Motherese (language of the mothers)
Music and motherese (language of the mothers)
Many people think that a child learns to be musical when attending for the first time kindergarten, school or maybe when taking his first piano lesson. Actually, our baby learns to be musical since the moment is born.
How does the baby learn to be musical? Interacting with his mother. Scientific studies have shown that we, mothers, when talking to our babies, we are not using the same language in the same way we speak with adults or older children. But no studies were needed about that, every mother already knows this.
Like I said, studies have been made, and this special language even has a name: motherese. And motherese differs from usual language, because it is richer in musical features. In fact, is something between speaking and singing.
”How so?”, maybe you would ask me.
Well, when we speaking to our babies we are using a higher pitched voice, closer to a singing tone. The musical contour of words is exaggerated, pitch variations of the sound are amplified. And the utterances are rhythmed, between us and our babies sounds are exchanged within an established tempo.
Let me illustrate. I remember how I used to speak to my daughter, Andra, when she was a little girl, and if I would’ve spoken as to an adult, would have sounded like this (in Romanian):
But it sounded like this (also in Romanian 😊 )
Why is it important to use such a language, more musical, with our babies? Do we want them to become some musical geniuses?
The same studies I have mentioned earlier had shown that motherese has a very important role in the mother-infant communication, fostering attachment. Our babies just love be spoken to like that, they are more aware to us, and have more positive reactions. Their answers to our communication are musical too, and this way they start their musical education. But, most important, by using a musical language we create a shared emotional space, a space where communication is shaped according to babies’ developmental needs.
Wellness Through Art (Sănătate Prin Arte) has as its main purpose to provide art therapy to children (see our projects and activities page). If you feel generous and want to support our endeavour, you ca sustain us in two ways: with a small donation or, just as important, with a share on social networks (see share buttons bellow). Thank you! 🙏
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