Different Stages of Child Language Development

Discuss the different stages of child language development.

Language development is a gradual process through which children learn to understand and communicate. It begins at birth and continues as they grow older. During this process, children slowly understand basic language patterns and expand their vocabulary before achieving fluency. 

Pre-linguistic Stage: The first stage of language development is the pre-linguistic stage. It often occurs between zero and six months. During this phase, children do not have developed language skills. They communicate through sounds. Babies cry, make cooing sounds, and utter nasal murmurs as their vocal tracts develop. Infants also recognise voices and sounds. They respond to facial expressions and voice tones.

Babbling Stage: The babbling stage happens between the ages of six and nine months. During this time, children begin to babble. They make noises and syllables that are not yet words. For example, they might say “ba-ba” or “da-da.” This stage is essential for developing the mouth muscles and teeth needed for more advanced talking. Parents can encourage babbling by responding to their baby’s sounds and engaging in “conversations.”

Holophrastic Stage: The third phase of language development is known as the holophrastic stage. It usually occurs between the ages of nine and eighteen months. Children’s language skills increase enough to say single words during this time. These words often describe objects or identify their basic needs. For example, a child might say “dada” to get their dad’s attention. Children usually use one word to represent a whole sentence, like saying “milk” to mean “I want milk.”

Two-word Stage: The fourth stage is the two-word stage. It typically happens between eighteen and twenty-four months. During this stage, children can speak two-word sentences that usually have some meaning. They group words that they learned during the holophrastic stage together. Some examples may include:

– Saying “more food” at the table.

– Saying “doggy small” to describe a dog.

– Saying “thank mom!” to show appreciation.

Parents can support this stage by expanding on their child’s two-word sentences, turning “more juice” into “You want more juice?”

Telegraphic Stage: The telegraphic stage occurs between the ages of twenty-four and thirty months. Children can speak phrases that are longer and have more than two elements. For instance, a child might say, “The cat stand on the table.” Correct grammar is not yet present, but the sentence conveys that the cat is standing up and on the table. The child also develops the ability to understand basic instructions, including two-part orders like “go to your table and get your books.” This stage is called “telegraphic” because children’s speech resembles telegrams.

Multi-word Stage: Beyond thirty months, children enter the multi-word stage. They build increasingly complex sentences that allow them to communicate their ideas better. For instance, they know to use the word “dogs” instead of “dog” when referring to more than one dog. During this stage, children’s vocabulary overgrows, and they begin to understand and use grammar rules more consistently. 

In conclusion, understanding the different stages of child language development is crucial. It empowers parents, caregivers, and educators to better support and encourage language growth at each stage. From the pre-linguistic stage to the multi-word stage, children gradually acquire and refine their ability to understand and use language. This development is influenced by various factors in their environment and development.