Humans uniquely use 'baby talk' with infants, unlike great apes, study shows

Talking to babies in a high-pitched voice and using exaggerated pronunciation is common among parents. This form of communication, known as 'baby talk,' is believed to aid language learning in young children. However, a recent study published in Science Advances suggests that great apes do not engage in 'baby talk' with their young, highlighting it as a distinct human behavior.

Researchers from the University of Zurich, University of Neuchâtel, and other institutions studied five species of great apes to observe their communication with offspring. They discovered that humans significantly stand out for their use of 'baby talk,' unlike bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans.

While 'baby talk' has been linked to promoting language skills in children, its evolutionary origins have been unclear. The study suggests that great apes may rely more on indirect listening for communication development, similar to how human infants learn by listening to conversations around them.

Although the study focused on vocal communication, researchers acknowledge that great apes also use gestures to communicate with their young. This unique feature of 'baby talk' in humans may contribute to our advanced language abilities compared to other species.

Studying the communication patterns of great apes provides insights into the evolution of language and highlights the distinctive nature of 'baby talk' in humans.

According to the source: Malay Mail.