Here's a breakdown:
* Early Vocalizations: Babies start with cooing, gurgling, and vowel-like sounds (like "ah," "oo," "eh"). These aren't specific vowel sounds as much as basic explorations of their vocal apparatus.
* Later Development: As they develop, babies begin to make more distinct vowel sounds, but these are still generally short and unstressed. They're not yet producing the elongated, drawn-out sounds of long vowels.
Why This Matters:
* Speech Development: Babies need to master these basic sounds before they can move on to consonants and the complex vowel combinations that form words.
* Early Language: Even though their vocalizations aren't exactly like adult words, babies are communicating! Their coos and gurgles are their way of expressing emotions, engaging with their caregivers, and learning about the sounds of language.
So, while babies don't have "long vowel sounds," their early vocalizations are crucial for their language development and communication skills.