Question

Which finding, if true, would most directly support the researchers' hypothesis?

1) People tend to raise their pitch and slow their tempo when speaking to adult humans who are non-verbal.
2) People tend to speak to other verbal adults with a lower pitch and faster tempo.
3) Non-verbal adults tend to show less reactivity to baby talk than infants and children.
4) People tend to view their pet as juvenile regardless of the pet's actual age.

Answer 1

The finding that most directly supports the hypothesis is that people alter their speech patterns based on perceived communicative abilities, as shown by the way they speak to non-verbal adults, demonstrating the socialization aspect of communication.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most direct support for the researchers' hypothesis is option 1, which suggests that people raise their pitch and slow their tempo when speaking to adult humans who are non-verbal. This behavior parallels the way adults speak to infants, indicating that the modifications in speech patterns are not exclusive to interactions with children but may extend to non-verbal adults as well.

This would suggest that the communication changes are based on perceived communicative abilities rather than age alone, supporting the idea that socialization plays a significant role in determining speech patterns. It's important to note that this hypothesis aligns with research that emphasizes the cultural aspects of language development, where children are socialized into their gender roles and communication styles during adolescence, and other environment-driven aspects of language acquisition, such as those observed by Hart and Risley in their study on early language ability across income levels.