Child Language Acquisition - Key Dates

At what age does the Cooing stage occur?

Describe the first phonemes that a child typically learns first. Tick all that apply.

The first stage of grammatical construction is [blank_start]Holophrastic[blank_end] and the words used are enforced by [blank_start]Non-Verbal Communications[blank_end]. The second stage is the [blank_start]Two-Word[blank_end] stage when very basic, syntactical structures start to appear. These are still enforced in the same way. The third stage uses increasingly complex and accurate structures. This is the [blank_start]Telegraphic[blank_end] stage. The final stage, [blank_start]Post-Telegraphic[blank_end], demonstrates an increasing awareness of the rules of grammar and irregularities.

Intonation patterns emerge typically at 4 months of age.

Tick all the examples of Cluster Reduction. Key: actual word = how the child pronounces it

The first stage of sound development is called the [blank_start]Vegetative[blank_end] stage. All the sounds heard are either reflexive or sounds of discomfort. During the second stage, [blank_start]Cooing[blank_end], typically beginning at [blank_start]4[blank_end] months old and ending at [blank_start]7[blank_end] months old, comforting sounds and vocal play can be heard as the child starts experimenting with the sounds that they can make. [blank_start]Babbling[blank_end] occurs between [blank_start]6[blank_end] and 12 months of age. Extended sounds with varied intonation resembling sentences and repeated patterns can be observed. The final pre-vocal stage, [blank_start]Proto[blank_end] [blank_start]Words[blank_end], which generally happens between [blank_start]9[blank_end] and 12 months, is when sounds start to have meaning. The child is on the cusp of learning to speak words. Sounds are emphasised by NVCs.