The Structure and Function of Nootkan Baby Talk

Abstract

This paper deals with the structure and function of baby talk in two Nootkan languages, Ahousaht and Nitinaht. Although the baby talk registers in both of these languages appear to be simplified, it is likely that the primary function of baby talk in Nootkan is an affective one. Comparison is made between both the suppletive and non-suppletive forms in the baby talk register and the normal adult forms. Attention is called to the borrowing of baby talk terms across Northwest Coast languages, as well as to the fact that the baby talk register may be an indicator of the vitality of declining languages such as Ahousaht and Nitinaht.