研究表明，人们在与婴儿和宠物交谈时采用相似的高音调、富有表现力的说话方式，这种被称为"婴儿语言"的交流方式能够提高注意力并传达友好信号[1]。虽然这种温暖的语调在两种情况下都发挥作用，但其功能并非完全相同——对婴儿而言，它支持语言学习的发展；对宠物而言，则主要用于建立情感联系[1]。
2024年的研究比较了女性对婴儿和狗的语音温暖度差异，发现有婴儿的女性对婴儿的语音比对宠物的语音更温暖，但有宠物但无婴儿的女性对宠物的语音同样温暖[1]。2017年一项研究表明小狗更倾向于宠物语言而非普通成人语言的录音[1]。即使没有清晰的发音教学，宠物也对这种温暖的语调有积极反应[1]。
不同物种对这种说话方式的反应存在差异。研究发现人们对鹦鹉使用了比对狗更清晰的发音，但不如对婴儿的完整[1]。2021年研究表明马在被用这种温暖方式交谈时，能更好地注意处理者并跟随人类指向手势[1]。此外，超过四分之三的宠物主人记得兽医以友好方式与其宠物交谈[1]。
Research has established that people employ a similar communication strategy across different audiences: the use of high-pitched, expressive speech patterns commonly referred to as "baby voice" when addressing both infants and animals.[1] A 2024 study examining vocal warmth found that women with infants speak to babies with greater warmth than to their pets, yet women who own pets but have no children demonstrate equally warm vocal patterns when communicating with their animals.[1] This suggests that the adoption of this speaking style is context-dependent, varying based on an individual's caregiving responsibilities.
The benefits of this distinctive vocal approach extend across species in measurable ways. A 2017 study revealed that puppies show a greater preference for pet-directed speech compared to standard adult vocal recordings.[1] Research involving other animals has demonstrated broader applicability: horses demonstrate improved attention to handlers and better compliance with human pointing gestures when addressed in this warm manner.[1] People employ clearer articulation when speaking to parrots compared to dogs, though this speech remains less elaborate than the patterns used with infants, indicating that the degree of linguistic elaboration adjusts according to the recipient.[1] A 2026 survey found that more than three-quarters of pet owners recall veterinarians conversing with their animals in a friendly manner.[1]
