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Language
Development
In Children
This page presents information
on the development of language in children. The chart below
presents typical language development. There is a wide
range of normal development. Most children will not follow
the chart to the letter. It is presented so you will know
what to expect for your child. If your child seems
significantly behind in language development, you should
talk with your child's physician regarding your questions
and concerns.
Language
Development Chart
|
Age of
Child |
Typical Language
Development |
6
Months |
Vocalization with intonation
Responds to his name
Responds to human voices without
visual cues by turning his head and
eyes
Responds appropriately to friendly
and angry tones |
12
Months |
Uses one
or more words with meaning (this may
be a fragment of a word)
Understands simple instructions,
especially if vocal or physical
cues are given
Practices inflection
Is aware of the social value of
speech |
18
Months |
Has
vocabulary of approximately 5-20
words
Vocabulary made up chiefly of nouns
Some echolalia (repeating a word or
phrase over and over)
Much jargon with emotional content
Is able to follow simple commands |
24
Months |
Can name
a number of objects common to his
surroundings
Is able to use at least two
prepositions, usually chosen from
the following: in, on, under
Combines words into a short
sentence-largely noun-verb
combinations (mean) length of
sentences is given as 1.2 words
Approximately 2/3 of what child says
should be intelligible
Vocabulary of approximately 150-300
words
Rhythm and fluency often poor
Volume and pitch of voice not yet
well-controlled
Can use two pronouns correctly: I,
me, you, although me and I are often
confused
My and mine are beginning to emerge
Responds to such commands as "show
me your eyes (nose, mouth, hair)" |
36
Months |
Use
pronouns I, you, me correctly
Is using some plurals and past
tenses
Knows at least three prepositions,
usually in, on, under
Knows chief parts of body and should
be able to indicate these if not
name
Handles three word sentences easily
Has in the neighborhood of 900-1000
words
About 90% of what child says should
be intelligible
Verbs begin to predominate
Understands most simple questions
dealing with his environment and
activities
Relates his experiences so that they
can be followed with reason
Able to reason out such questions as
"what must you do when you are
sleepy, hungry, cool, or thirsty?"
Should be able to give his sex,
name, age
Should not be expected to answer all
questions even though he understands
what is expected |
48
Months |
Knows
names of familiar animals
Can use at least four prepositions
or can demonstrate his understanding
of their meaning when given
commands
Names common objects in picture
books or magazines
Knows one or more colors
Can repeat 4 digits when they are
given slowly
Can usually repeat words of four
syllables
Demonstrates understanding of over
and under
Has most vowels and diphthongs and
the consonants p, b, m, w, n well
established
Often indulges in make-believe
Extensive verbalization as he
carries out activities
Understands such concepts as longer,
larger, when a contrast is presented
Readily follows simple commands even
thought the stimulus objects are not
in sight
Much repetition of words, phrases,
syllables, and even sounds |
60
Months |
Can use
many descriptive words
spontaneously-both adjectives and
adverbs
Knows common opposites: big-little,
hard-soft, heave-light, etc
Has number concepts of 4 or more
Can count to ten
Speech should be completely
intelligible, in spite of
articulation problems
Should have all vowels and the
consonants, m,p,b,h,w,k,g,t,d,n,ng,y
(yellow)
Should be able to repeat sentences
as long as nine words
Should be able to define common
objects in terms of use (hat, shoe,
chair)
Should be able to follow three
commands given without interruptions
Should know his age
Should have simple time concepts:
morning, afternoon, night, day,
later, after, while
Tomorrow, yesterday, today
Should be using fairly long
sentences and should use some
compound and some complex
sentences
Speech on the whole should be
grammatically correct |
6
Years |
In
addition to the above consonants
these should be mastered: f, v, sh,
zh, th,1
He should have concepts of 7
Speech should be completely
intelligible and socially useful
Should be able to tell one a rather
connected story about a picture,
seeing relationships
Between objects and happenings |
7
Years |
Should
have mastered the consonants s-z, r,
voiceless th, ch, wh, and the soft g
as in George
Should handle opposite analogies
easily: girl-boy, man-woman,
flies-swims, blunt-sharp short-long,
sweet-sour, etc
Understands such terms as: alike,
different, beginning, end, etc
Should be able to tell time to
quarter hour
Should be able to do simple reading
and to write or print many words |
8
Years |
Can
relate rather involved accounts of
events, many of which occurred at
some time in the past
Complex and compound sentences
should be used easily
Should be few lapses in grammatical
constrictions-tense, pronouns,
plurals
All speech sounds, including
consonant blends should be
established
Should be reading with considerable
ease and now writing simple
compositions
Social amenities should be present
in his speech in appropriate
situations
Control of rate, pitch, and volume
are generally well and appropriately
established
Can carry on conversation at rather
adult level
Follows fairly complex directions
with little repetition
Has well developed time and number
concepts |
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