Does your baby seem to recognise certain words even though they can’t say them yet? That's because, when it comes to language, your baby is a whole lot cleverer than you.When you hear an unfamiliar language, it probably sounds like a long stream of sounds with no clear words, pauses or end. But not to your baby they're a clever little pattern detector.
By measuring changes in baby's brain activity, scientists show that babies can tune into frequently used words, pauses and even a voices rise and fall to work or where would start and finish. Pretty amazing, right.Well, it gets better. Scientists can also measure which specific words babies can recognise and respond to, they show six month olds pictures of things they'll have heard the word for, then they play the audio of one of the words. By recording where the baby looks scientists have proven that your little one can recognise and respond to the words they hear most often.
It will be a while before they form words themselves, but even at six months, babies are instinctively learning about language, finding patterns and responding to the words, they hear most often. You can help your baby make those connections between objects, activities and words just by talking to them. Even when they can't talk back in words your baby is a little language sponge, learning from every single thing they hear.
Does your baby seem to recognise certain words they can’t say yet?
Find out how your baby listens out for patterns in speech to understand how language works.
Image caption, Your baby is amazing! They can recognise words even when they can't speak yet.
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