Speech and language lessons start in the uterus, where your
unborn baby hears and responds to familiar voices. Indeed, soon
after birth, your baby prefers and responds more to the mother's
voice than to any other. Also, your newborn can recognize
whether sounds are part of his or her native language. Your
newborn continues to learn language by listening to the basic
and distinct sounds (phonemes), such as the "tr" and "cl" sounds
in the English language. Your baby remembers sounds and
continually learns more nuances of language, which are later
expressed when he or she begins to talk. Babies learn language
skills through frequent interaction, such as reading and being
talked to. Newborns respond to "baby talk," which is a higher-
pitched, slower speech with emphasis placed on alternating
words. Most parents instinctively speak this way to their
newborn, gradually incorporating normal speech patterns and
pitch. You provide comforting contact when you read to your
baby. Establishing a reading routine early helps