This literature review holds deep significance for me as a survivor of anorexia nervosa. By the time I received my diagnosis in 2016, I was already entrenched in a relentless cycle of restriction, self-judgment, and unattainable goals. I believed that losing weight would bring a sense of control and fulfillment, yet any intake of food felt like a failure. While anorexia nervosa perpetuated my dissatisfaction and distorted my self-worth, its impact ultimately shaped my path toward recovery and resilience. 

I joined Language Learning Lab at the Center for Mind and Brain and worked with Dr. Katharine Graf Estes as a research assistant from Spring 2023 to Spring 2024. Through this experience, I learned how to recruit participants for studies, study empirical papers critically, and build a solid foundation to understand the various projects that the Language Learning Lab is currently undertaking. I was recommended to apply for the Provost’s Undergraduate Fellowship and pursue a capstone project for my final year of undergrad.

What is babytalk and why do we do it? Do all caregivers use babytalk? Is it harmful or does it help at all? Questions surrounding children’s language development were not simply raised by parents—developmental researchers have devoted their studies for decades to find answers to these questions. In acquiring a more holistic understanding of babytalk, we must dive into how adults truly speak to infants, what the kind of speech babies prefer to hear, and what it all means for their development.

Author's Note
Krcmar, 2011; DeLoache et al., 2010; Dynia et al., 2021; Neuman et al., 2014 assessed the effectiveness of teaching technology and media on teaching infants language and reading skills.

I wrote this short literature review for my Cognitive Development class. This paper was part of a quarter-long term project that involved summarizing cognitive development research for an academic audience and then translating those findings for a lay audience. Because of the requirements of the term project, this paper, even though it’s mostly academic, makes practical recommendations for parents.