Newborns Cry in Their Native Language

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33656622/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/

Newborns are influenced by their parent's native language even while still in the womb. New research shows that the cries of newborn babies tend to mimic the melody patterns of their parents' language. French newborns tend to cry with rising melody patterns, slowly increasing in pitch from beginning to end, whereas German newborns prefer falling melody patterns. These differences are consistent with the differences between the two languages.

According to researcher Kathleen Wermke, "Newborns are probably highly motivated to imitate their mother's behavior in order to attract her and hence foster bonding".

These findings support the idea that spoken language is rooted in melody. "Music and language might have co-evolved for a certain time during evolution and share a primordial form of communication system" said Wermke.