Child Directed Speech

Child Directed Speech

Phonology and Prosody

• Intonation exaggerated and words are stressed more strongly than are in adult conversation e.g. stress on good in "What a good girl you are, Annie". Pitch usually higher.
• Words/phrases repeated e.g. "get the ball, Annie, get the ball"
• pace often much slower, with longer pauses than in adult speech 

Lexis

• vocabulary often simplified e.g. instead of saying  bananas parent may say nana instead
• Caregivers use reduplication e.g. "choo-choo", "din-din" or "moo-moo"
• they use diminutives e.g. "birdie", "doggie" or "fishy" 
• high proportion…