New research shows infants understand simple language before babbling

Many parents insist their precocious infants can understand what they’re saying even before they can speak. Well, it turns out they might just be right. New research on the language comprehension of 6 to 9 month olds at the University of Pennsylvania suggests infants can understand simple words even before making word-like sounds. WHYY’s Behavioral Health reporter Maiken Scott spoke with the study’s authors: Penn Associate Psychology Professor Dan Swingley, and fourth year PhD student Elika Bergelson.