Do babies develop accents even before they can speak conventionally?
The short answer is yes… and these linguistic markers begin even sooner than you might think.
So many of you tagged me in this video yesterday featuring an infant that babbles with the same Scouse accent as his mother.
Other than “no” he doesn’t speak a single conventional word, but listen to how the rhythm and intonation of his vocalizations mirror those to which he is exposed daily.
As hearing becomes functional during the third trimester, infants are exposed to the distinct patterns of their mothers’ native language - with studies suggesting newborns can already distinguish (and prefer) what will become their native tongue only hours after birth.
Incredibly this learning doesn’t wait until the babbling stage to evidence itself.
Research suggests that even the cries of newborns reflect this preference.
That’s right: babies cry with an accent.
One major study on the topic showed that French babies cry with a rising intonation, while German infants favor a falling melody - both reflecting the patterns of their native languages.
We’re only just beginning to understand the deep learning that begins in utero. It’s just more evidence that the period from prenatal to three is the most critical window in all of human development.
This little Liverpudlian was shared to TT by iamcustardpot.
His son wanted to be a doctor, but was killed on his London council estate. So Richard Taylor set up the Damilola Taylor Trust, which provided financial support + access to medicine for POC/working class students from London. A tireless advocate of social justice and reform. RIP
Y’all!!
Afro-Indigenous Brazilian photographer Rafael Pavarotti did a story for British Vogue March 2024 with Anok Yai & Zaya Guarani paying homage to Brazil’s African & Indigenous spirituality
Every image has a backstory.
This thread will address a couple of them 🇧🇷🧵
Ewá 🐍
i am in tears i was scrolling through instagram and it loaded a random video... who do i see but my cousin Saeed playing guitar and singing with these beautiful palestinian babies 😭 couple of my cousins in the back too... i have no words i did not expect to see them like this 😭
That feeling when the people you love really believe in you, it's indescribable man... it just feels good 😊
Ps. Here's a cute moment that felt gooood 😊
More people forced to flee Sudan to Chad as fighting intensifies across Darfur
Since the war in Sudan started in April over six months ago, millions of people have been forced to flee, leaving behind their homes and livelihoods.
https://t.co/FlyelU2kyZ