Child Language Development

Question 1

What is the vegetative stage in language development?

Answer 1

Making random noises, typically occurring from birth to approximately 6 months.

This stage involves non-communicative sounds.

Question 2

What characterizes the cooing stage of language development?

Answer 2

Repetition of sounds like ‘oooh’, occurring from 6 months onward.

Cooing marks the beginning of more intentional vocalizations.

Question 3

What is babbling in language development?

Answer 3

Repeating patterns of sounds, such as ‘mama’ or ‘ma’, typically occurring up to 12 months.

Babbling is a critical stage where infants practice the sounds of their language.

Question 4

What are proto-words?

Answer 4

Word-like vocalizations, such as ‘mmm’, which carry a more complex meaning like ‘give me that’.

Proto-words indicate that the infant is beginning to understand the symbolic nature of language.