Question

Arrange the following language abilities in the order in which they emerge in the child?
A. Telegraphic speech
B. Crying
C. Babbling
D. Holophrases
E. Cooing
Choose the correct answer from the options given below

• A. E, C, B, A, D
• B. B, C, E, A, D
• C. B, C, A, D, E
• D. B, E, C, D, A

Hint:

To remember the early language milestones, associate them with their approximate ages:
- Birth: Crying
- 2 months: Cooing
- 6 months: Babbling
- 12 months: Holophrases (single words)
- 18+ months: Telegraphic speech (two words)

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Language acquisition in infants follows a highly predictable, universal sequence of developmental milestones.
This sequence progresses from simple, involuntary vocalizations to complex, multi-word speech.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us arrange the language milestones in their natural order of emergence:
Crying (B): The earliest form of vocal communication, present at birth. It is an involuntary reflex used to signal distress, hunger, or discomfort.
Cooing (E): Emerges around 6 to 8 weeks of age.
This sound consists of vowel-like noises (such as "oo" or "ah") produced when the infant is relaxed and content.
Babbling (C): Emerges around 6 months of age.
This stage involves repeating consonant-vowel combinations (such as "ba-ba" or "da-da"), which helps the infant practice vocal control.
Holophrases (D): Emerges around 12 months of age.
The child begins using single words to represent complete ideas or sentences (such as saying "juice" to mean "I want juice").
Telegraphic Speech (A): Emerges between 18 and 24 months of age.
The child combines two or three words to express a complete thought, omitting non-essential grammatical words (such as "more milk" or "doggy run").
This developmental sequence corresponds to the order: B, E, C, D, A.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct chronological order of language development is B, E, C, D, A.