Language development in early childhood is a captivating process. Babies don't need direct lessons to learn to speak—they pick up language by immersing themselves in their surroundings, learning through repetition, context, body language, and facial expressions.
Learning to communicate isn't just about forming words; it’s about understanding social structures, starting with family and community. Even two people who speak the same language may communicate differently depending on their environment, using varying slang, gestures, and accents influenced by where they live and who they interact with.
This phenomenon is beautifully demonstrated in a viral video of a mother from Liverpool having a “conversation” with her baby.
In the clip, the mother, lying on a bed, tries to explain to her baby why it’s time for sleep, after a bottle and a diaper change. The baby responds mostly in gibberish, but with a striking Scouse accent—the distinct Liverpool accent.
Here’s the video, shared by @iamcustardpot on TikTok:
@iamcustardpot
Cutie patoooootie!! #scousetiktok #fyp #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp
The video has delighted viewers, who were charmed by how the baby’s babbling clearly reflected the local accent:
- “A baby scouse accent is killing me😭😭”
- “Gibberish in a Scouse accent is my new favourite 🥰😂”
- “Bro mastered the Scouse accent but no words 👏😂”
- “This is the most adorable Scouse accent ever 😭😂”
- “The Scouse accent is more important than words.😂”
- “For anyone wondering about why she’s got a Scouse accent, babies mimic intonation and sounds before they learn words 😁”
The last comment highlights an important point about early language development. Child development expert Dan Wuori shared insights on X about how babies begin to pick up accents long before they can speak coherent words.
Wuori explained that babies develop accents much earlier than we realize, even before they can babble or form full sentences. “Babies develop accents even before they can speak conventionally,” he wrote. “Babies hear distinct vocal patterns from their mothers, and research shows newborns can already recognize and prefer their native tongue shortly after birth.”
Wuori also pointed out that babies' cries reflect the rhythm and melody of their native language, with French babies crying with a rising intonation and German babies with a falling one. This is just one example of the deep learning that begins in utero and continues through the early stages of life.
The baby in the video is named Orla, and the woman in the clip, Layka, is not Orla’s mother but cares for her from time to time. After the video gained viral attention, Orla launched her own TikTok account where fans can follow her language development and enjoy her growing Scouse babbling. You can find more of Orla’s adorable moments with Aunty Layka on TikTok at @orlasmama72736:
@orlasmama72736
Sick of aunty Layka trying to tell me what to do #scousetiktok #scousebaby #fyp #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp