The use of gibberish words and sounds by parents to communicate with their child, also known as baby talk, can have a negative impact on a child's speech and language development.

 

According to language therapy studies, baby-talk associated with nonsense words and sounds which provides inaccurate models fo infants and a developing child is not to be encouraged. The research in the field of child development, speech and language acquisition instead recommends the use of 'parentese' as it has been shown to have positive benefits when used with developing infants.

Parents who wish to start using parentese with their child should:

* Speak in a sing-song voice. Change the intonation and melody with which you speak.
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* Use a higher pitch.

* Slow your speech. Use elongated vowels and consonants.
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* Speak with precise pronunciation and accurate grammar.
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* Exaggerate your facial expressions.

* Repeat, repeat, repeat

-Ratnakar