Structural variations, quantitative differences and similarities between maternal and paternal infant-directed speech

ABSTRACT

We compared systematically the structure, the focus, the thematic sequences, the complexity and the syntactic properties between maternal and paternal infant-directed speech in engagements of infants with their mothers and fathers. Eleven mother–infant and 11 father–infant dyads were video-recorded during their natural interactions at home from the second to the sixth month after birth. Micro-analysis of maternal and paternal infant-directed speech within well-defined units and subunits of analysis revealed: (a) structural variations that gave a higher index of more and shorter in duration units and subunits in father–infant, compared to mother–infant, interactions; (b) quantitative differences that favour mother–infant interactions in the content of focused infant-directed speech; and (c) quantitative similarity of maternal and paternal references to infant emotions and ‘sharing’. These results are discussed in the frame of the theory of innate intersubjectivity and of the company and care both parents give to developing infants.

KEYWORDS:

• Maternal infant-directed speech
• paternal infant-directed speech
• structure
• focus
• thematic sequences
• innate intersubjectivity

Acknowledgements

The video-recordings used in this study were made for the Ph.D. research of the author at the Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, under the supervision of Prof. Colwyn Trevarthen. Ethical approval for their use was granted by the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Trust (8/95). We are deeply indebted to the infants and their families for offering their time, cooperation and patience to participate in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributor

Theano Kokkinaki completed her Ph.D. at the Department of Psychology of the University of Edinburgh under the supervision of Prof. Colwyn Trevarthen. She is an Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology in the Department of Psychology, University of Crete (Greece). Her research interest is focused on the study of dynamic spontaneous naturalistic dyadic and triadic interactions of infants with Significant Others in cross-cultural frame and in different contexts (rural and urban areas). She has more than 50 publications in Greek, international peer-reviewed journals (British Journal of Developmental Psychology, Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, European Journal of Developmental Psychology, Infant and Child Development, Computers in Human Behavior, Early Child Development and Care, International Journal of Aging and Human Development, Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology) and chapters in books in the field of infant development, inter-generational relationships and intersubjective communication. She is also reviewer, member of Editorial/Advisory Board and member of Associate Editors in 16 international peer-reviewed journals.

Notes

1 Towards this direction, a search strategy was formulated and searches of major relevant databases were conducted in the period from November to December 2017. The databases used included Web of Science, Psychinfo and Academic Search Complete. Key search terms included: ‘maternal infant-directed speech’/‘paternal infant-directed speech’, ‘mothers’ speech’/‘fathers’ speech’ AND ‘infants’, ‘maternal talk’/‘paternal talk’ AND ‘infants’, ‘parental talk’ AND ‘infants’, ‘maternal language’/‘paternal language’ AND ‘infants’ and ‘parental language’ AND ‘infants’.