Final answer:
Talking in an exaggerated, high-pitched sing-song voice, also known as 'baby talk,' does not hurt infants' language development. In fact, it has been found that babies actually prefer and respond positively to this type of speech. Baby talk can enhance infants' language development by increasing their vocabulary and promoting social interaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Talking in an exaggerated, high-pitched sing-song voice, also known as 'baby talk,' does not hurt infants' language development. In fact, it has been found that babies actually prefer and respond positively to this type of speech. This exaggerated style of talking, known as 'motherese' or 'parentese,' helps infants learn language by highlighting important linguistic features and capturing their attention. For example, the higher pitch, slower tempo, and exaggerated intonation patterns in baby talk can help infants distinguish between different sounds and facilitate language learning.
Research has shown that talking to infants using baby talk can enhance their language development by increasing their vocabulary, promoting social interaction, and improving their ability to process speech sounds. Baby talk also helps babies develop important social and emotional skills, as it fosters bonding and communication between caregivers and infants.
It's important to note that baby talk should be used in moderation and in conjunction with regular conversational speech. Babies still need exposure to full and proper language models to develop their language skills fully. Regular interactive conversations, reading, and exposure to a variety of words and experiences are crucial for infants' language development.