All over the world, people tend to have a special way of talking to very young kids. Whether you like this cute way of talking to kids, or you find it rather annoying, it is an intriguing scientific phenomenon.

This "infant-directed speech" (IDS) or more often referred to as "baby talk" is known for characteristics such as prolonged vowels, fewer words per utterance, more repetition, decreased structure complexity, higher pitch, and more melodic, emotionally-charged tone.