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When your baby first utters the word “mama” your heart melts. You feel so proud and happy all at the same time. Yet, why do babies all over the world say the word for ‘mum’ or ‘dad’ as their first word?
Scientists now think they have the answer.

Repetitious words

Each culture has created easily pronounceable words for mother and father and the repeated nature of this words make them easy for children to pronounce.

According to a research published in the Journal PNAS. Researchers took brain scans of 22 newborn (2-3 days old). While they listened to a recording of words ending with repeating syllables such as ‘mubaba’ and ‘penana’ or had different ending such as ‘cubage’ or ‘penaku’. When the babies heard the words with repeating syllables their brain activity increased in the temporal and left frontal areas. The other words sparked no response whatsoever.

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The researchers say this suggest that ‘mama’ and ‘dada’ are words which are chosen over time to teach a baby to learn how to speak. It also points to humans’ ability to easily recognise repetitive sounds, and this is evident in languages worldwide.

Have always wondered too?

My baby 's first words were no no no no......

AyeeIdris:
My baby 's first words were no no no no......

lol... Perhaps you were cheating the angel of his/her choicest breast milk.... Sharp guy... No no no, mum... I won't take that....

Not always. Their first words are usually the ones they hear most.

Joavid:
Not always. Their first words are usually the ones they hear most.

u rite jare

Exactly ... Lol mama and dada

My baby screamed Baaba Once! Afterwards, it has been Taati I.e Daady.

I have never heard him say mama Abi mumy... he is a year plus o.

Though his first word was Kaa..... I.e. Kai. When we want him to stop doing something that is wrong, we shout Kai!

Not always true... my cousin's first words were 'UP NEPA'.. it wasn't coherent but we could understand what she was saying.. she was just jumping with her brother saying uuuppp neeppaaa