motherese
/ˌmʌðəˈriːz/Chiefly Social Psychol. and Linguistics
noun
A simplified form of language used (especially by mothers) in speaking to babies and young children, characterized by repetition, simple sentence structure, limited vocabulary, onomatopoeia, and expressive intonation; child-directed speech; ‘baby talk’.
Origin
1970s; earliest use found in New Scientist. From mother + -ese.
- light-fingered
- light fitting
- light flyweight
- light-footed
- light-footedly
- light gun
- light-haired
- light-headed
- light-headedly
- light-headedness
- light-hearted
- light-heartedly
- light-heartedness
- light heavyweight
- lighthouse
- lighthouse keeper
- light industry
- lighting
- plate-marked
- plate matter
- plate metal
- plate mill
- platen
- plate nail
- platen knob