Native Tongue Begins in the Womb

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Babies may begin learning their first language before they're born. Cry patterns recognized among infants born in different cultures suggest babies begin learning elements of their first language while still in the womb.

In a study of 60 healthy newborns, half were born into French speaking homes and half to German families. At three to five days old, researchers found clear and consistent differences in the melodies of the babies' cries and that the cries corresponded with the mother's language. French babies cried with a rising melody contour, while German babies cried with a falling melody.

 “The dramatic findings of this study is that not only are human  neonates capable of producing different cry melodies, but they prefer to produce those melody patterns that are typical for the ambient language they have heard during the fetal life, within the last trimester of gestation,” Kathlene Wermke, of the University of Wurzburg in Germany, was quoted as saying.

Earlier studies have shown infants begin memorizing sounds by their last trimester, paying special attention to music and language. Researchers say infants prefer their mother’s voice over others, and they use melody to distinguish between languages. Babies respond positively to motherly tones because of the melodies their moms use, researchers say. 

Experts say this study represents the early impact of native language. Babies are physically unable to imitate vowel sounds until 12 weeks, but have an early ability to imitate melody. “Newborns are probably highly motivated to imitate their mother’s behavior in order to attract her and hence to foster bonding,” researchers wrote.

SOURCE: Current Biology, November 5, 2009

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