3.5(communication and language)

phonemes

smallest units of sound in a language that can change the meaning of a word.

morphemes

• smallest units of meaning in a language.

semantics

studies the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences.

grammar

rules that govern how words are combined to form sentences in a language.

cooing

• early stage of babies’ vocal development, usually starting around 6 to 8 weeks old.

• It involves making soft, vowel-like sounds such as “oo,” “ah,” or “ee.”

babbling

• typically starts around 4 to 6 months of age.

• It involves producing repeated consonant-vowel sounds, like “ba-ba,” “da-da,” or “ma-ma.”

one-word speech

• occurs around 12 months of age.

• Babies start to use single words to express entire ideas or requests.

telegraphic speech

• 18 to 24 months of age.

• Kids start combining two or more words into simple sentences but leave out smaller, less important words—like a telegram.

overgeneralization of language rules

• It happens when children apply grammar rules too broadly, even to exceptions or irregular forms.

  • “goed” instead of “went”

  • “mouses” instead of “mice”

  • “runned” instead of “ran”