Title
Signature tunes in mothers’ speech to infants
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
January 2007
Publication Title
Infant Behavior and Development
First Page
648
Last Page
654
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2007.03.003
Abstract
The purpose of the present investigation was to determine whether mothers use discernible tunes (i.e., specific interval sequences) in their speech to infants and whether such tunes are individually distinctive. Mothers were recorded speaking with their infants on two occasions separated by 1 week or more. Examination of the tunes of each mother revealed discernible tunes and frequent repetitions of tunes within and across sessions. Comparisons of utterances with the most common pitch contour (i.e., rising), both within and across mothers, revealed interval patterns that were individually distinctive, or unique. The findings confirm the prominence of tunes and the presence of signature tunes in maternal speech to infants.
Recommended Citation
Bergeson, T. R., & Trehub, S. E. (2007). Signature tunes in mothers' speech to infants. Infant Behavior and Development, 30, 648-654.
Notes
The version of record can be found through Elsevier.