This is the reason why words like “mother” and “father” are similar in many completely different languages

Speakers of certain languages, such as Spanish, Italian or Catalan, may be able to understand one another when conversing in their native tongue due to their shared linguistic roots. However, even in completely different languages from opposite corners of the world, some words bear more than passing resemblance.

The words for “mother” and “father” are perhaps the two best examples, especially when we also take into consideration their numerous shortened forms, or informal alternatives.

Combination of sounds key

According to Lane Greene, language correspondent for The Economist, there’s a fascinating, but fairly logical, reason people across the globe use similar words to refer to their parents. And it’s all about how easily different sounds combine together.

“A few consonants, such as /b/, /m/, /t/ and /k/ show up frequently in nearly every spoken language in the world,” Greene explains. “Almost certainly, that’s because they’re easy to make.”

The influence of babies on words for “mother and ”father"

And because they are easy to make, they tend to be part of the first words uttered by babies, whose parents assume, rightly or wrongly, their offspring learn to say their names before any other words.

“A baby vocalizing will at first make a vowel-like sound, usually something like ‘aaaah,’ which requires very little in the way of control over the mouth,” Greene continues. “If the baby briefly closes their mouth and continues vocalizing, air will come out the nose, making the /m/ sound that’s used around the world in words for ‘mother.’”

It’s thought to be a similar story for words for “father.”

“To say ‘papa,’ babies can easily stop their breath when they close their lips rather than going on breathing through the nose, producing a /b/ or /p/ sound,” Greene elaborates. “And that explains ‘papa’ in English, ‘baba’ in Arabic, and ‘bà ba’ in Mandarin.

Babbling’s important role in language

So, then, it appears many of the words for “mother” and “father” in different languages may simply have come from babies babbling.

But, just like today, whether babies who helped ‘invent’ languages 100,000 years ago were actually referring to their parents when muttering “mama,” “papa” or other variations, is something we’ll never know.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.