Dunstan Baby Language is a study regarding infantile speech patterns and language acquisition in humans. The study elaborates possible universal words and sounds that are used by infants during the beginning of the language acquisition period. The theory was developed by former Australian mezzo-soprano, Priscilla Dunstan, and is extensively researched by the Brown University Infant Research Center. The study was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
The Theory
Between 1-3 months infants make what are called by the study: "sound reflexes." These sound reflexes are believed to be the pre-emptive cry before the infant breaks into the hysterical cry. These pre-emptive cries can indicate what the infant requires (ex. such as food, comfort, sleep, etc.) and elevate to the hysterical cry if they are not answered. As the infant matures past 3 months in vocalization, the sound reflexes become replaced with more elaborate babbling.
Words (Sound Reflexes)
According to the study the five universal words or sound reflexes used by infants are:
Neh
"I'm hungry"
An infant uses the sound reflex "Neh" to communicate their hunger or need for food soon. The sound is produced when the tongue is pushed up on the roof of the mouth and the sucking reflex is triggered.
Owh
"I'm sleepy"
An infant uses the sound reflex "Owh" to communicate when tired or need of sleep soon. The sound is produced much like an audible yawn.
Heh
"I'm experiencing discomfort"
An infant uses the sound reflex "Heh" to communicate stress, discomfort, or the need of a fresh diaper change. The sound is produced by a response to a skin reflex, such as feeling sweet or itchiness in the rear.
Eairh
"I have lower gas"
An infant uses the sound reflex "Eairh" to communicate lower gas or an upset stomach. The sound is produced when trapped air from a burp is unable to release and travels to the stomach where the muscles of the intestine tighten to force the air bubble out.
Eh
"I need to burp"
An infant uses the sound reflex "Eh" to communicate upper gas. The sound is produced when a large bubble of trapped air is caught in the chest and is trying to release out of the mouth.
Criticism
Language acquisition in general is a debated theory. The study so far has the backing of the Brown University researchers and was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
This is Amazing. For millions of mothers this could be life changing.
DVD
A DVD is set to release on November 27, 2006 called The Dunstan Baby Language, that will cover the methods of learning how to recognize the vocalizations and sounds of the Dunstan Baby Language words.
About Priscilla Dunstan
Priscilla Dunstan grew up with the self-proclaimed ability to have a photographic memory for sound. According to Dunstan she could “hear a piece by Mozart once, then play it back note for note.” As a young adult Dunstan toured Europe and Australia as a concert violinist and later developed her talent as a mezzo-soprano. Dunstan believes her years in the opera and her experience as a mother allowed her to recognize certain sounds in the human voice. As her own son, Tomas Dunstan, began to vocalize, Dunstan took record of familiar sounds in a journal. After several years of individual observations she submitted her data to the Brown University in Providence and created the official Dunstan Baby Language.