The Science of Language – At some point in early childhood you started to connect the sounds and shapes of words with their meanings. Using words to initially express basic needs and wants — warm food or your favorite blanket — you eventually moved to advanced stages of relaying thoughts and feelings, slowly but surely developing a foundation of language. Odds are you rarely thought about the science of language until you actually studied English or attempted to learn a second language.
The reason why linguists and scientists believe that learning a native language comes easy is because we’re not overtly trying to learn it. It’s a natural process, rather than a studied one. This organic “class” starts early: in the womb. Researchers found that the melodies in the cries of 30 French and 30 German newborns matched the sounds of their native languages. The only way they could perform such a natural symphony was by hearing their mothers’ words before birth.
From there, language learning seems to start with baby talk.
A study of 2,329 babies in 16 countries showed that most of them responded best to infant-directed speech, as opposed to their caregivers speaking to them more like adults. “Often parents are discouraged from using baby talk by well-meaning friends or even health professionals. But the evidence suggests that it’s actually a great way to engage with your baby because babies just like it. It tells them, ‘This speech is meant for you,’” Michael Frank, a Stanford University psychologist and member of the organization that conducted the study, ManyBabies Consortium, told Stanford News.
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