The process of acquiring language is long, complex, and not completely understood even by scientists who have spent a lifetime studying it. A mix of pattern recognition, external influences, deliberate learning, and a range of environmental factors means that each person learns vocabulary in a slightly different way, though everyone follows the same general pattern. Parents of infants are happy when the first ma-ma-ma and pa-pa-pa syllables come out of their baby’s mouth, and encourage vocabulary development by talking to their babies, giving them simple sounds to repeat. Studies have shown that talking to young children is of crucial importance in helping them learn vocabulary and language skills, even when they’re very young and can’t yet talk themselves.

A new study seems to imply that this technique can even be used with babies before they’re born! Dr. Fabrice Wallois at the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) and other French researchers looked at the still-developing brains of babies who were born prematurely, in the third trimester of pregnancy, and discovered that the neurons in the areas of the brain related to language acquisition reacted differently to different sounds. This proves, the researchers say, that babies even that young are hearing and processing sounds in such a way that starts to build the foundation for active speaking and listening.

Since one of the ways children learn language even before they learn vocabulary is by listening to the sounds and patterns of speech, it seems that talking to babies before they’re even born might give them a head start on that process. Mothers can buy microphone and speaker sets designed to amplify their voice and transmit it into the womb, and their partners can simply put their heads next to the mother’s body and talk directly into the fast-growing ears inside. Of course, it’s important to keep this encouragement going after the baby is born. Talk to the baby, read to them, and encourage them to pick up books on their own, and you’ll be helping them take the first steps to a good vocabulary.

Read more about the French study here.