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Question 1
1.1. List then define the pre-linguistic and the adult-like language stages in language
development.
Pre-linguistic Stage
The pre-linguistic stage in language development involves the early sounds and actions infants use to
communicate before they develop the ability to use words. Key components include:
Crying: The first sound infants make to express needs and discomfort.
Gurgling and Cooing: Occurs around 6 months, these sounds show early vocal
experimentation.
Babbling: Happens around 6-10 months, where infants make repetitive consonant-vowel
sounds like "ba-ba" or "da-da".
Holophrases (One-word Stage): From around 10 months, children begin using single words
to convey whole sentences' worth of meaning, such as "milk" to mean "I want milk".
Two-word Sentences: By about 18 months, children start combining two words to
communicate simple sentences, like "me water".
Multiple-word Sentences: Between 2 to 2.5 years, children form longer sentences with basic
grammatical structures.
Adult-like Language Stage
The adult-like language stage typically emerges between the ages of 5 and 6 years, marked by the
use of more complex and grammatically correct sentences. Characteristics include:
Complex Sentences: Children can form sentences that include multiple clauses and a variety
of grammatical constructions.
Use of Adjectives and Adverbs: Incorporating descriptive words such as "fast" and "red" to
add detail to their speech.
Fluent and Clear Communication: Speech becomes more fluid and resembles that of adults,
including the proper use of tenses and prepositions.
Literacy Engagement: Children at this stage benefit from being read to and engaging in
literacy activities with adults, which further develops their language skills .
(Study Guide - Page 79)