The document discusses "Baby Language" and describes 5 sounds - "Neh", "Owh", "Heh", "Eairh", and "Eh" - that infants use as vocal reflexes to communicate specific needs before fully developing language. "Neh" indicates hunger, "Owh" sleepiness, "Heh" discomfort, "Eairh" gas or an upset stomach, and "Eh" the need to be burped. These claims were developed by Priscilla Dunstan but have not been scientifically validated. The document concludes that between 0-3 months, infants can use these sound reflexes to communicate needs before crying, and they are replaced by babbling as infants mature past 3 months in
3. Neh (I’m hungry)
An infant uses the sound
reflex "Neh" to
communicate its hunger.
The sound is produced
when the sucking reflex is
triggered, and the tongue
is pushed up on the roof of
the mouth.
4. Owh (I’m sleepy)
An infant uses the
sound reflex "Owh" to
communicate that they
are tired. The sound is
produced much like an
audible yawn.
5. Heh (I’m experiencing discomfort)
An infant uses the sound reflex "Heh"
to communicate stress, discomfort,
or perhaps that it needs a fresh
diaper. The sound is produced by a
response to a skin reflex, such as
feeling sweat or itchiness in the
bum.
6. Eairh (I have lower gas)
An infant uses the sound reflex "Eairh" to
communicate they have flatulence or an upset
stomach. The sound is produced when trapped air
from a belch is unable to release and travels to the
stomach where the muscles of the intestines tighten
to force the air bubble out. Often, this sound will
indicate that a bowel movement is in progress, and
the infant will bend its knees, bringing the legs
toward the torso. This leg movement assists in the
ongoing process.
7. Eh (I need to be burped)
An infant uses the sound reflex "Eh" to
communicate that it needs to be
burped. The sound is produced when a
large bubble of trapped air is caught in
the chest, and the reflex is trying to
release this out of the mouth.
8. Conclusion
• Dunstan Baby Language is a claim about infantile vocal reflexes as signals, in humans. The
claim is that across cultures and linguistic groups there are five sounds, each with a
meaning, that are used by infants before the language acquisition period. The hypothesis
was developed by Australian former mezzo-soprano, Priscilla Dunstan, and has been featured
on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Dunstan's claims have not been scientifically validated.
• Between 0–3 months, infants make what Dunstan calls sound reflexes. According to Dunstan,
we all have reflexes, like sneezes, hiccups, and burps, that all have a recognizable pattern
when sound is added to the reflex. There are other reflexes that all babies experience, and
when sound is added to these, a distinct, preemptive "cry" will occur before the infant
breaks into what Dunstan calls the hysterical cry. Dunstan states that these preemptive cries
can indicate what the infant requires (e.g., food, comfort, sleep, etc.), and they escalate 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.
