"Maternal Communication: Female Bottlenose Dolphins' Use of 'Baby Talk' with Calves"

A new study has found that female bottlenose dolphins alter their signature whistle when communicating with their calves, similar to how humans use "baby talk." Researchers at Florida's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program analyzed audio recordings of 19 female dolphins and found that mothers used a wider range of pitches around their calves, possibly to enhance the bond between mother and calf. The purpose of using "motherese" may be different in humans and dolphins, but the study could help scientists understand the evolution of language in vocal species.