Viral babbling baby video: is it real conversation?

E-mail | Print | Comments () Posted by Deborah Kotz March 31, 2011 04:39 PM

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I can completely understand how this babbling baby video went viral. There's really no way to watch it without smiling in wonder at whether they're having a meaningful conversation and contemplating how language develops even before words are learned.

Children's Hospital Boston did a fabulous analysis of the science of babbling babies on its health blog. In the post, Hope Dickinson, coordinator of the Speech-Language Pathology Services at Children’s Hospital, says the babies -- who are twins -- are engaging in conversational babbling and even displaying turn tallking where one "speaks," pauses and lets the other respond. (I love how they find each other humorous.)

The babies even use various intonations. "There is a fantastic rise and fall to their pitch and tones," says Dickinson in the blog post. Sentences end with emphasis, and sometimes end with an upward inflection as if asking a question. The babies also gesture with their hands, which grownups -- myself included -- do all the time. And they look like they're understanding each other.

Dickinson says this sort of babbling is normal for babies who will eventually replace all the da-da-da-ing with words. These babies seem to already have a few. One says "mama," and the other repeatedly says "up" when lifting a foot.

Parents should expect to hear their babies babble by around 8 to 10 months or so and should begin to hear a few words by 12 to 14 months, according to Dickinson. If these milestones aren't being reached, they should speak to their child's pediatrician.

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about the blog

Daily Dose gives you the latest consumer health news and advice from Boston-area experts. Deborah Kotz is a former reporter for US News and World Report. Write her at dailydose@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at @debkotz2.

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