Why Your “Silly Voice” is Serious Science: Reassurance for Bilingual Parents

We’ve all done it. That high-pitched, sing-song, one-sided but overly-cheery chatter you have whilst trying to wrestle a wriggling baby.

You know: “Who’s a clever sausage? Yes, you are! Are we putting this arm in here? Oh, yes, we are! What a lovely arm!”

That, right there, is not silly. It might sound a bit ridiculous, but it’s actually pretty advanced stuff: You’re providing high-level linguistic training.

You’re (Literally) Hard-Wired for This

Have you ever asked yourselfr why we all seem to instinctively do this kind of “baby talk”? The answer is: It’s not just us. It’s evolution.

Babies are born with an incredible ability: they’re brains are open to perceiving the sounds, melodies and rhythms of all the world’s languages. It’s wide open at first, but then during their first year, they begin tuning in to the languages they hear most often. (That’s why birth is the ideal time to start with bilingualism!)

And here’s where we come in. Without even thinking about it, we instinctively offer them exactly what they need: slow, clear, melodic speech, lots of repetition, exaggerated tone. The sort of talking you might feel slightly ridiculous doing, but can’t help yourself!

Researchers view it something like an “evolutionary generation contract”. We’re biologically set up to give babies language in the way they need to hear it. And they’re built to absorb it.

So if you’ve ever worried you’re getting it wrong by spealing in a silly way, let this be your reminder: you’re not. You’re doing exactly what humans have always done. You’re not performing. You’re passing it on.

The Power of the Nappy Change Chat

At the beginning, babies weep and cry to get their basic needs met. Hunger, discomfort, the usual chaos. But fairly soon, something starts to shift. They realise they can make sounds not just to get something they need, but to connect.

They start to vocalise for the sake of interaction. And this is where the duet begins (despite what you might hear in those common myths about bilingual parenting.)

You offer the rhythm, sing-song tone, facial expressions, over-the-top enthusiasm. And they respond with glances, sounds, and those brilliant little moments of turn-taking in your noise-making that feel like a mini conversation.

This isn’t just random noise. It’s the foundation of dialogue.

And as toddlers, they continue to pick up on your cues and try them out. They nternalise the patterns, structure, rhythm and cadence of your language, and the shape of verbal exchange. — And all of that from your slightly ridiculous, completely brilliant “baby talk” voice!
In fact, studies suggest that using this style consistently in young childhood can support stronger language outcomes later on. (SOURCE)

From “Sing-Song” to Sentences

All this interaction is the rich, fertile soil that language grows in. Because they’ve had you as their interaction partner, they’re able to start building.

• From about 6 months, many babies begin to express themselves with their own word-like creations. Research shows that infants start making increasingly complex vocalisations and linking sounds to communicative intent at this stage.
• By about 20 to 24 months, most toddlers have internalised key patterns of the language around them and begin combining sounds and words with real purpose.
• By about age three, children are forming sentences, and beginning to grapple with how their language works. (SOURCE)

And how do they internalise all this? By being around people who talk to them with varied, natural expressions. That includes the exaggerated, musical way we speak to young children, as well as the more natural tone we shift into as they get older.

Once they’re no longer babies, but toddlers and children able to understand more and more, it’s natural to adjust your tone and range of words. But clear pronunciation, repetition, gestures, and facial expressions are still really helpful tools for language development. Because it’s only through listening, processing, and trying things out in real interaction that language really begins to take root.

So, What Does This Mean for You?

If you’ve ever found yourself chatting away to a baby who can’t talk back, wondering if any of it matters…

If you’ve ever questioned whether your voice, in your language, really counts in the middle of all the nursery rhymes and daily routines…

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the talking and getting nothing in return…

Remember this:
Your voice is giving your child what they need. That “language-rich environment” everyone talks about isn’t built from books or apps or carefully curated activities. It’s built from you: Your face. Your voice. Your interaction.

Every time you speak, sing, repeat the same phrase for the twelfth time with different intonation, you are doing something profound! You are their interaction partner. You are laying down the foundations of their language – sounds, structure, and meaning – long before the first recognisable word arrives.

If you question yourself, consider what would happen if you didn’t speak your language with your child!

You are, quite literally, building their brain. Keep talking!

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