Language Development

Language development is not just the use of words to convey a meaning to another human. That is, when looking at a child's language development there is more to look at than how many understandable words he or she has in their vocabulary. There are two basic components of language: expressive and receptive.

Expressive language is the ability  to express one's thoughts (i.e. needs and wants) to another person. Obviously this ability is different at different ages. Here are some basic milestones of expressive language:

1 to 4 Months Old:

• vocalizes, other than crying, this consists of squealing, gurgling and making vowel sounds like "ahhh" (cooing)
• has differentiated cries (i.e. a "tired cry" or a "hungry cry")  
• laughs

4 to 6 Months Old: 

• vocalizes displeasure in a way other than crying 
• has variation in pitch and rhythm of cry 

6 to 9 Months Old: 

• changes in pitch when vocalizing through cooing or babbling (this is constant-vowel alternates, such as "mamamama")
• babbles 
• vocalizes a variation of vowel sounds

9 to 12 Months Old: 

• says "mamma" and/or "dadda" specifically for adult figure 
• uses expressive jargon (i.e. says "gggga" for go or "mmma" for more; these are sounds that are not words but you know what the child is expressing as they always use the same sound for the same "thing")

12 to 18 Months Old: 

• has vocabulary of at least 10 understandable words 
• indicates wants and needs by pointing, gesturing and vocalizing (yes this includes whining!)

18 to 24 Months Old:

• has vocabulary of at least 20 understandable words 
• begins to use two words strung together to produce simple sentences and phrases
• names three familiar objects from pictures 
• uses pronouns 

2 to 3 Years Old:

• verbalizes wants and needs 
• uses short sentences to convey simple ideas
• word pronunciation becomes much clearer 
• sentences of 3-5 words are used 

Receptive language is just the opposite of expressive - it is what is understood or received from the language of others. Here are some basic milestones of receptive language:

1 to 4 Months Old: 

• responds to voices - response could be a physical response such as kicking of the legs 
• imitates cooing sound 
• searches for sound with eyes
• shows positive 
• vocalizes in response to cooing 

4 to 6 Months Old:

• finds and focuses on sounds when in line of vision
• vocalizing in response to babbling 

6 to 9 Months Old:

• finds and focuses on sounds outside line of vision

9 to 12 Months Old: 

• vocalizes in response to familiar words (may respond to similar sound) 
• imitates a simple rhythmic pattern 

12 to 18 Months Old: 

• follows simple one step directions involving familiar objects 
• imitates babbling sounds and/or familiar words 

18 to 24 Months Old: 

• follows simple two step directions involving familiar objects 

2 to 3 Years Old: 

•  follows more complex directions with more steps