And with all the new babies about the blogosphere, you might find this interesting:
An interview on Oprah with Priscilla Dunstan – an Australian mother who claims to have unlocked the secret language of babies.
Reading the article, it’s all a bit … hmm, maybe. Watch the video clip on the second page though and you can REALLY hear the five different “words” – it’s fascinating!
15 responses so far ↓
1 ian // 20th Nov 2006 at 9:13 pm
I too speak the secret language of babies
Wah : Milk, please
Waah : Entertain me
Waaah: I am wet. Change me
Waaaah : what on earth is that smell that is following me
Waaaaah : I am tired.
2 Pewari // 20th Nov 2006 at 9:25 pm
*laugh*
3 Miss L // 20th Nov 2006 at 10:24 pm
I wish I had known baby lingo when mine were little, there were an awful lot of waaaaaahs going on in my house!
4 BabiesEverywhere // 21st Nov 2006 at 8:47 am
Interesting theory.
My daughter, Babychair has a ‘Aaaargghh’ sound which seems to mean feed me now not ‘Neh’
Debating about waking Babychair up so I can test this theory on baby words (yeah right, let sleeping babies lie)
5 Tami // 21st Nov 2006 at 12:48 pm
My family watched this interview. It was very interesting and I believe in what she said.
6 zip // 21st Nov 2006 at 1:54 pm
I wish I could have somehow watched this video in a ‘test’ way. I’d be curious to discover if I would have instinctively known what the babies were saying – I have a feeling I would have known. In fact I reckon if parents were put to the test they would actually know – it’s just that we never realised we knew, we just acted on instinct amidst the sleepless chaos.
7 Pewari // 21st Nov 2006 at 6:34 pm
For goodness sake, BE … DON’T WAKE THAT BABY! *grin*.
zip – you’re probably right, although I distinctly remember reading the Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg and not being able to distinguish between the different cries she mentioned in my two boys when they were babies – although the five ‘words’ this woman describes sounds a clearer description to me.
Tami: :)
8 valb // 22nd Nov 2006 at 12:12 am
Watched the video with great interest, but my children are possibly now at the stage where they seem to have difficulty understanding me instead – words like what? and eh? are used a lot when I ask them to do something, for example ;-)
I did find it fascinating though, and almost wish I still had a little baby to test the theories out! (but my scientific curiousity doesn’t stretch to having another one…)
9 Alley Katt // 22nd Nov 2006 at 10:21 am
I remember when mine were babies. Never again! I like babies when they reach 18 months. I know this sounds cruel, but I find it difficult to cope with babies, or anything else that will not communicate properly.
Saying that though, I would never change them for the world.
By the way, well done – 36699 words!
10 Paula // 22nd Nov 2006 at 10:13 pm
Which channel is Oprah on now? I used to watch her while doing the housework, interesting diversion but ITV swapped the show for Montel. Means I have to concentrate on what I am doing, pah!
Totally get this. I never thought there would be as many as 5 but I remember “neh” though it was more like “nneeeehhhHHHHH!” and I certainly remember the noise before something disgusting this way came. Oh yes, no forgetting that one!
11 Pewari // 27th Nov 2006 at 7:11 pm
valb: my children have just started the “No Way!” “Yes way!” stage… totally bizarre out of the mouths of a 2 and 5 year old. I know that’s not really relevant to the What? and Eh? but the pattern of the words reminded me of it :)
Alley Katt: No I’m with you there. I found life eminently easier and more interesting both times around once they reached 2 years old.
Paula: I’m not sure – I don’t think it’s on UK tv at the moment – I just get the Oprah newsletter so see the programme summaries. I used to like her book club thing, but haven’t read any for ages…
12 Jane // 29th Nov 2006 at 2:57 pm
L’s main sound is “hckhhh”, which means “It’s not fair. I’m only 2 weeks old and already got a cold”
Or alternatively “C’mon Mum, what’s with the breast milk in the nose? Gimme some real nose drops!”
Sounds fascinating, though, and I’m going listen for those sounds as soon as she wakes up.
13 Pewari // 30th Nov 2006 at 6:39 pm
You’ll have to tell us how you get on, Jane :) I remember that ‘hckhhh’ sound very well :/
14 Ayrt // 1st Dec 2006 at 2:26 am
So have you guys heard the ‘heh’ etc. then or is it all hogwash? There was a program last night over here in Oz with Priscilla on it and they gave her DVD to a few families and came back to them after a week. They all claimed it made a difference.
I’m with one of the husbands though in that it all sounds too easy. Surely someone, somewhere would have picked up on this before?
15 Pewari // 2nd Dec 2006 at 7:05 pm
I haven’t heard the ‘heh’s but then mine are way past that and more at the “PLEEEEEEASE can I have more chocolate, Mummy?” stage.
Similar things have picked up on it before. The Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg attempted to describe the different cries but not quite as clearly as seeing it on that clip (and I couldn’t distinguish them when mine were small from The Baby Whisperer descriptions). I, too, would be interested to know how the commenters with newborns are getting on :)
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