Prenatal infant-directed speech: vowels and voice quality

Abstract

Speech addressed to young children is characterised by distinct acoustic properties. This study describes infant-directed speech (IDS) addressed to unborn infants.

Recordings of pregnant women speaking Czech show that prenatal IDS differs from adult-directed speech (ADS) in several vocalic properties.

Keywords

• prenatal infant directed speech
• early speech development
• input
• Czech
• vowels