Contour variables in vocal communication between squirrel monkey mothers and infants.
This study investigates the occurrence and structure of the caregiver call, a form of communication in squirrel monkeys that is almost exclusively infant-directed. Caregiver calls exhibit variability in several acoustic features, most notably pitch range and contour, which are significantly associated with particular contexts of infant care; e.g., nursing or retrieval. The use of caregiver calls by squirrel monkeys is compared to the use of motherese (infant-directed speech) by humans. The possible functional and motivational basis for specific acoustic variables in the caregiver call is discussed.
Biben
M
M
Laboratory of Comparative Ethology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland.
Symmes
D
D
Bernhards
D
D
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D010898:Pitch Perception; D012453:Saimiri; D014828:Vocalization, Animal