Discuss stages of language development in relation to Paris, Hector and Cassandra. You must refer to the context in your answer. (8)

Question 1

At 12 months old children are pre-linguistic and babble, making noises that sound like words.

Answer 1

Paris is babbling ‘Mamamama, and Hector thinks he is saying ‘Mama’.

Question 2

At three years old children can speak in two or three word sentences.

Answer 2

Hector can speak in two word sentences as he says ‘Not Mama’.

Question 3

A child that is three years old can understand and carry out two commands said in one sentence.

Answer 3

Hector can understand two commands in one sentence as he can point to the dog and the cat when his aunt asks him where they are.

Question 4

A five-year-old child will be able to understand other people’s conversations and will ask the meanings of words they do not understand.

Answer 4

Cassandra asks Cleo the meaning of words she does not understand in the bedtime story, and can follow Cleo’s explanation.