How does a baby learn language???

[Meandmyjoe]

I'm not sure if this is a daft question but I'm a first time mummy so I am allowed to ask silly questions!

OK, I talk to ds (8months) all day and sing to him, (not particularly well but he seems to like it!)

My main worry is that often ds is sometimes fully engaged on my face an looks directly at me. However, often he is far too engrossed in his toys or food (or the TV ) However I wonder if he is still learning if he is not able to see me as surely he will learn by copying my mouth movements.

I read a lot to him but have noticed that he doesn't look up too much and mainly focuses on the book or pictures, is he still learning language?

I guess he must be as he babbles and is rarely quiet!

Ok stupid questions over with (for now!)

It's not all about mouth movements - it's about sounds to start with. They hear sounds, they repeat them, they start to make sense of what the sounds mean.

It's only later that they start to make the mouth movements to get the sounds right.

I'm sure someone will be along in a bit with a more technical explanation ... but he's doing fine, don't worry!

talking to them as mush as poss seems to be the best thing. And don't stress if it's the TV doing the talking. A babbler at 8 months means an early talker IME. Believe me in 3 years time you'll be praying for some peace and quiet

Ahh that reassures me, i was a bit concerned that he wasn't looking at me enough and could be a sign of problems or delayed speach. I worry far too much!

i found a book called 'the language instinct' by steven pinker to give a rather full explanation.

you have to love very intellectual books to get inot it tho.

think his looking at the book is a good sign. it means he is engaged in what he is hearing and trying to make sense of what you are saying in relation to the pictures.

interesting, i studied linguistics (a long time ago, don't come at me with any technical questions now!) and had never really thought about copying mouth movements as an important strategy before.

i disagree with squeaver though, I don't think tv for a child of that age is a particularly good thing, i really don't think they get anything from it.

Moondog will know all about this but my v unscientific and untechnical explanation is that they just seem to absorb it.

And I did lol at your ds ignoring you - that's just one to get used to, I'm afraid. You will see more of it when you are telling him not to do something.