Infant vocal development during the first 6 months: speech quality and melodic complexity

TLDR

The study examined how infants develop non‑distress vocalizations in the first six months. Researchers observed 13 infants weekly from 4 to 24 weeks, coding their vocalizations for speech quality and melodic complexity to classify them into four types. Complex syllabic sounds lasted longer and complex vocalic sounds were rarer; simple vocalic rates and complex syllabic durations followed curvilinear patterns, with vocalic sounds linked to simple melodies before four months and syllabic sounds to complex melodies thereafter, supporting a dynamic systems view of early vocal development. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract

The early development of infant non-distress vocalizations was investigated in this study. Thirteen infants, from 4 to 24 weeks of age, and their mothers were observed weekly in a face-to-face interaction situation. The speech quality (syllabic versus vocalic) and melodic complexity (simple versus complex) of infant vocalizations were coded independently. Based on speech quality and melodic complexity, four types of infant non-distress vocalizations were categorized: simple and complex syllabic (speech-like) vocalizations as well as simple and complex vocalic (non-speech-like) vocalizations. Results showed that complex syllabic sounds were of longer duration and complex vocalic sounds were less frequent than the other types of vocalizations. Curvilinear developmental trends were found in the rate of simple vocalic sounds and in the mean duration of complex syllabic sounds. Furthermore, before 4 months of age, vocalic sounds were more likely to be associated with simple melodic contours, after which syllabic sounds were more likely to be associated with complex melodic contours. A dynamic systems perspective on the early development of infant vocalization is discussed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.