babble word

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See also: babble-word

English

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Alternative forms

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Noun

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babble word (plural babble words)

  1. A phonemically basic word, one which is easy for small children to pronounce and which therefore tends to be produced by them early on (for example, mama).
    Synonym: Lallwort
    Holonyms: babble, child language, childspeak; baby talk (child-directed speech)
    • 1974, Philip Barker, The residential psychiatric treatment of children, page 209:
      The first primitive bi-syllabic babble words of the 'mama', 'dada', 'baba' variety are the product of a near approximation of simple words in the language environment, and are reinforced by delighted parental response.
    • 1986, Sandra Marie Schneiders, Women and the Word: The Gender of God in the New Testament, →ISBN:
      Jesus called God "Abba," a word that originated as a "babble word" originally used by little children but later adopted as an affectionate and respectful way by which adult children also spoke to their fathers.
    • 2010, When You Pray: Daily Practices for Prayerful Living, →ISBN:
      As such a babble word, it really translates into English as "papa" or "dada" or some other equivalent. Every language has these little words that children use before they can really speak, []
    • 2011, Samantha Ettus, The Experts' Guide to the Baby Years, →ISBN:
      Label the bear “Teddy” aloud to confirm his babble word. Smile and express your pride as you bring over Teddy.

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