lalling
nounUK /ˈlɔːlɪŋ/
US /ˈlɔːlɪŋ/
Lalling is when a baby makes soft sounds like la-la-la before learning real words.
The baby's happy lalling filled the room as she played with her toys.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The use of repeated syllables such as 'la' or 'lalala' in early child speech.
Researchers recorded the infant's lalling to study early language patterns.
3. A speech pattern in which the sound /l/ is pronounced excessively or in place of other sounds.
The speech therapist noted lalling in the child's pronunciation of 'rabbit' as 'labbit'.
4. The act of singing or humming softly with repeated 'la' syllables.
Her gentle lalling drifted from the kitchen as she washed the dishes.