1. Pre-linguistic Stage (Birth to 1 year):
* Cooing and gurgling (0-3 months): Babies make vowel-like sounds.
* Babbling (4-6 months): Babies start producing consonant-vowel combinations.
* Reduplicated babbling (6-12 months): Babies repeat consonant-vowel combinations (e.g., "mamama", "dadada").
* First words (10-12 months): Babies start to understand and say a few words.
2. One-word Stage (1-2 years):
* Holophrases: Using single words to convey complete thoughts (e.g., "milk" for "I want milk").
* Understanding simple instructions: Babies start to understand simple commands like "come here".
* Vocabulary expansion: Babies begin to learn and use more words.
3. Two-word Stage (2-3 years):
* Telegraphic speech: Using two-word phrases to convey meaning (e.g., "want juice", "more cookie").
* Basic grammar development: Children start to use simple sentence structures.
* Increased vocabulary: Children learn and use many more words.
4. Early Multi-word Stage (3-4 years):
* Longer and more complex sentences: Children start to use more complex sentence structures.
* Understanding and using prepositions: Children start to understand and use words like "on", "in", "under".
* Plural and past tense forms: Children start to use plural forms and past tense verbs.
5. Later Multi-word Stage (4-5 years):
* Fluency and complexity: Children's speech becomes more fluent and complex.
* Mastering complex grammar: Children begin to use more advanced grammatical structures.
* Increased vocabulary and language skills: Children's vocabulary continues to expand, and they improve their language skills.
6. Continued Language Development (5+ years):
* Sophisticated language use: Children continue to develop their language skills, including reading, writing, and formal language use.
* Expanding vocabulary and grammar: Children continue to learn new words and grammar rules throughout their lives.
Important Notes:
* This is a general guideline, and individual children may develop at different rates.
* The specific order and timing of language development can vary depending on factors such as genetics, environment, and social interaction.
* Some children may have delays in language development, and it's important to seek professional help if you have concerns.
It's also important to remember that language development is not just about producing sounds. It also involves understanding and using language for communication, social interaction, and learning.