Infant Communication Development: Morphology, Pragmatics, Phonology, Semantics, and Caregiver Interaction

What is 'motherese' or infant-directed speech?

A form of 'baby talk' characterized by rising intonation, high pitch voice, clear articulation, simple words, and repetition, aimed at grabbing a child's attention.

What is the purpose of using motherese?

To capture the child's attention, allowing them to process spoken language more effectively.

What is joint attention in infancy?

A situation where two or more people focus on the same object or activity simultaneously, such as reading a book together.

Why is caregiver response important in infancy?

It teaches babies that their reactions and communication can elicit responses from others, fostering early communication skills.

What is an example of caregiver response?

A baby crying when hungry and receiving food as a response, illustrating the connection between their behavior and outcomes.

What are some key aspects of pragmatics in infancy?

Requesting, reaching, grabbing, and rejecting are all pragmatic skills observed in infants.

What phonological sounds are common in infancy?

Cooing, vegetative sounds, and reflexive responses such as crying, grunting, and screaming.

What does semantics involve in the context of infant language development?

The correct repeated use of the same word across multiple situations, with a clear purpose and recognition, such as saying 'baba' for a baby bottle.

What is the significance of the reflexive response in infants?

It includes sounds like crying, grunting, and screaming that are instinctive and serve as early forms of communication.

What is the role of morphology in infancy?

There are no specific morphological skills noted in infancy as per the provided information.

What is the role of syntax in infancy?

There are no specific syntactical skills noted in infancy as per the provided information.