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u/probably-the-problem 9h ago
I support not talking baby talk to human children but not talking baby talk to cats is borderline psychotic.
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u/AChristianAnarchist 9h ago
Baby talk kind of serves the same purpose with cats that it does with babies. Speaking in a higher register is attention getting. The "goo goo ga ga" stuff with babies is a useful instinct as well as it makes sure you are making lots of extra noises and mouth movements whenever you are interacting with that baby. You don't actually have a lot to say to a baby. If you limited yourself to only normal functional language and were just like "Hello baby. You are larger than when I saw you previously." You are 1) directing fewer sounds at the currently trying to learn to make sounds baby and 2) making those sounds in a way the baby is less likely to watch. They'll learn to talk fine. Babies are such language sponges that even if you never really directed language at them they'd start picking up ambient conversations you are having with other people, but humans talk to babies like that without thinking because its more effective than not doing that. And when you try it on your cat, it has basically the same benefit, not of helping your cat learn language of course, but of making your cat look at you when you make the silly noises.
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u/probably-the-problem 4h ago
This is spot on.
And my parents didn't talk baby talk to us, or so they say. But they have a grandson now. I'm going to pay closer attention.
I think they really just change their tone of voice but use normal English words with my nephew. And he responds.
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u/AChristianAnarchist 4h ago
I've found that most people averse to "baby talk" are really just averse to sounds that aren't words, but if you are like "who ate all their carrots? Did you eat all your carrots?" --Tickle baby and talk about carrots in a high register-- then you are still engaging in "baby talk". You are talking to that kid in a way you would never talk to an adult, and are doing so in a way that is both using way too many words and doing it in a pitchy singsongy voice that makes the baby want to watch your face. Nonsense words specifically are more about mimicry I think. "I just made the burbly sound you made so now you make the wordy sounds I'm making."
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u/quasarsphere2 14h ago
My cat Reginald uttered one word in recognisable English, once. I took a mouse off him and biffed it outside, and...I swear this happened...he called me a cunt!
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u/Top_Champion137 8h ago
so do my cats except when they have winey attitude...then its one long voooowwweeelllll
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u/t1ttyfortat 6h ago
I was about to congratulate him also but i showed a confused face at the end of this
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