motherese
Britishnoun
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“It makes sense that dolphins would use their version of motherese almost solely for bonding,” she says, given their large, mobile societies, and the necessity of staying in touch over sometimes long distances.
From Science Magazine • Jun. 25, 2023
The work may also inspire others to look for motherese in other vocal-learning species, such as parrots and seals.
From Science Magazine • Jun. 25, 2023
It's the exaggerated pitch, tempo and intonation that parents use when talking to their little ones — what linguists call "motherese" or "parentese."
From Salon • Dec. 18, 2021
This infant-directed speech – also known as motherese – is a special form of social feedback for the vocalizing infant.
From Salon • Aug. 28, 2021
Aigner-Clark hired the women from a nearby language school and instructed them to speak in "motherese," the universal, high-pitched tone that many mothers use when talking to their children.
From Time Magazine Archive
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
