Language heard in womb defines baby’s cry

A BABY’S very first cry is audibly shaped by the language heard while in the womb, according to a new study.

Comparing the gurgles, coos and cries of French and German newborns, a team of scientists from both countries found that babytalk is not, as long thought, universal.

Earlier research had shown that by the third trimester human foetuses memorise sounds from the external world, and are especially keyed in to the melodic qualities of music and speech.