By: Corrine Hung
A study published on June 26, 2023, found that female bottlenose dolphins change their tone when addressing their calves. Meanwhile, researchers in Florida recorded mother dolphins’ signature whistle when accompanied by their young offspring, swimming alone or with other adults.
Every dolphin has its signature whistle. It’s not just important as the tool dolphins use to collaborate and keep track of each other. It’s also like their own name.
According to the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, when dolphin mothers talk to their young, they change their whistle pitch higher, similar to human baby talk.
While people are impressed with dolphins using baby talk, there is also a list of animals changing their calls when addressing young—for instance, zebra finches, rhesus macaques, and squirrel monkeys.
The particular reason for these animals using baby talk isn’t apparent. Still, research from the University of Florida scientists suggests that baby talk is used to help young learn pronunciation, helping babies learn to produce their speech.
Linda Polka, Ph.D., a coauthor of McGill University said, “We’re trying to engage with the infant to show them something about speech production,” and “We’re priming them to process their own voice.”
Another possible reason for using specific pitches is to catch the youths’ attention.
Janet Mann, a marine biologist at Georgetown University, also said, “It’s really important for a calf to know ‘Oh, Mom is talking to me now’ versus just announcing her presence to someone else.” This may help calves to identify who’s talking.
Resource: National Geography https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2300262120 Wionhttps://www.wionews.com/science/dolphins-pamper-their-little-ones-with-baby-talk-a-study-tells-how-609366
language magazines https://www.languagemagazine.com/2022/01/31/baby-talk-may-help-word-formation/
Los Angles time https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2023-06-26/dolphin-moms-use-baby-talk-to-call-to-their-young-recordings-show