Language Development and Acquisition

Question 1

Language

Answer 1

Communication system based on native rules and symbols that carry meaning to a child. LANGUAGE IS NOT SPEECH!

Question 2

Infants (0-12 months)

Answer 2

Make eye contact and gestures with spontaneous sounds of cooing and crying.

Question 3

12-18 months

Answer 3

First monosyllabic words of familiar objects or people such as “momma” or “bye-bye.”

Question 4

Age 2

Answer 4

The child speaks first two-word sentences and can intuitively understand grammatical relationships.

Question 5

Ages 3-4

Answer 5

Children learn about 8-9 words a day. Private speech starts. The child can use plural and possessive forms of nouns and can add “ing-“ to verbs.

Question 6

Ages 5-7

Answer 6

Children may ask “why” questions. They understand metaphor and can use 4- to 5- word declarative sentences. (I am not sleepy!)

Question 7

Age 6

Answer 7

The child has a near-adult ability to speak. They can form complete and meaningful sentences and are aware that one word can have multiple meanings.