Natural Language Development
The natural development of language is a complex process dependent on various factors. One important differentiation to note is that language development is not the same as speech development, as language consists of socially shared rules for communicating, while speech is the verbal means of doing so. While speech is usually a part of natural language development, children generally reach several important milestones at approximately the same ages.
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Rules of Language
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People must follow and learn certain rules of language in order to develop that language and properly communicate. These "language rules" include establishing word definitions, establishing how to make new words (thrift vs thrifty, for example), how to put words together in meaningful combinations (sentences and phrases) and how to appropriately choose word combinations to convey meaning. For instance, "Would you please move that?" implies something quite different than "Move that!"
Cooing vs. Babbling
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Cooing is the first stage of language development and can occur as early as 6 weeks of age. Babies make spontaneous, extended, experimental vowel sounds at this stage, such as "oooh," and "aaah." This requires babies to manipulate their tongues, mouths and breathing patterns, but are without meaning. Vowel sounds develop before consonants because they are easier to produce.
Babbling usually starts between four and six months of age and its sound are more varied and complex than coos. At eight to 10 months old, babies develop even more complex babbles, which employ differentiated intonation and rhythms to mimic the speech patterns of adults. This more advanced babbling is call echolalic babbling.
One-Word and Telegraphic Stages
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Single words or word-like units develop around one year. A significant part of this one-word stage is the use of idiomorphs, or stable words (or word-like units) that consistently refer to a specific object.
The telegraphic stage of natural language development typically occurs in toddlers between the ages of one and three and demonstrates the arrangement of words to convey more complex messages than previously attempted. Toddlers will string several content words together and construct simple sentence-like statements free of conjunctions, articles, prepositions or word endings. "Go bye-bye" is an example of telegraphic speech.
Oral Fluency
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Between three and four years of age, children typically develop oral fluency in the language used in their homes. They can properly construct sentences and will use language for a variety of purposes, including asking and responding to questions, expressing thoughts and describing events.
Language and Speech Disorders
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Language and speech does not always develop on the predicted schedule. When delays or difficulties in receptive language (understanding others) or expressive language (sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings) occurs, this constitutes a language disorder. When delays, difficulties or inabilities to produce speech sounds correctly or fluently occurs, this constitutes a speech disorder. Many of these disorders can be improved or remedied with therapeutic techniques.
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