Pitch properties of infant-directed speech specific to word-learning contexts: a cross-linguistic investigation of Mandarin Chinese and Dutch. Issue 1 (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: HAN, Mengru; DE JONG, Nivja H.; KAGER, René
• Editors: Blom, Elma; Soderstrom, Melanie
• Is Part Of: Journal of child language. Volume 47:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 85
• Page End: 111
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: infant-directed speech, -- word learning, -- cross-linguistic; Children -- Language -- Periodicals; 401.9305
• DOI: 10.1017/S0305000919000813
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-0009

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigates the pitch properties of infant-directed speech (IDS) specific to word-learning contexts in which mothers introduce unfamiliar words to children. Using a semi-spontaneous story-book telling task, we examined (1) whether mothers made distinctions between unfamiliar and familiar words with pitch in IDS compared to adult-directed speech (ADS); (2) whether pitch properties change when mothers address children from 18 to 24 months; and (3) how Mandarin Chinese and Dutch IDS differ in their pitch properties in word-learning contexts. Results show that the mean pitch of Mandarin Chinese IDS was already ADS-like when children were 24 months, but Dutch IDS remained exaggerated in pitch at the same age. Crucially, Mandarin Chinese mothers used a higher pitch and a larger pitch range in IDS when introducing unfamiliar words, while Dutch mothers used a higher pitch specifically for familiar words. These findings contribute to the language-specificity of prosodic input in early lexical development.