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Milestones in children’s development of oral language (expressive and receptive)

Infants from 0 to 4 weeks old

STAGE 1 RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE EXPRESSIVE
PRE- LANGUAGE
LINGUISTIC
Infants ❖ For 4 days old infants can ❖ Babies express
distinguish the vowel sounds of needs and emotions
make
their environment from those of through crying
sounds foreign language (Karen, 2017). (Fellowes, 2019).
but no
❖ Sounds from their natural ❖ From 2 to 4 weeks
words at environment helps them feel old, infants make
save (Fellowes, 2019). unintentional noises
this stage
to describe feelings
such as gurgling and
❖ Babies need to hear and to be cooing (Kaywork,
spoken to frequently while 2019).
maintain eye contact with the
speaker in order to become
effective listeners (Fellowes,
2019).

Infants from 2 to 3 months old

STAGE 1 RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE EXPRESSIVE
PRE- LANGUAGE
LINGUISTIC
Speech-type ❖ Infants turn towards the sound ❖ Babies smile at
or voice source (Fellowes, familiar faces and
sound but no
2019). smile and gurgle
words at this when others
❖ Apparently enjoy listening to verbally interact
stage
caregiver’s voices and tent to with them
pay special attention to them (Fellowes, 2019).
and feel comforted (Fellowes,
2019).
❖ Infants make
pleasure sounds
vowel like, and
❖ Children get attracted by
repeat and practice
exaggerated, repetitive, and
sounds (Kaywork,
simple articulations (high-
2019).
pitched voice) (Fellowes,
2019).
❖ Crying has different
❖ Increase or decrease sucking purposes that can
in response to environmental be read by
sounds (Kaywork, 2019). caregivers -
❖ Startle at loud sounds hunger, discomfort,
(Kaywork, 2019). frustration,
pleasure (Kaywork,
2019).
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❖ Begin to respond differently to

the sounds they hear
(Kaywork, 2019).

Infants from 4 to 8 months old

STAGE 1 RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE EXPRESSIVE
PRE- LANGUAGE
LINGUISTIC
Speech-type sound ❖ Infants distinguish own language ❖ Infants are verbally
from others and changes in tone of responsive to others
but no words at this
voice (Kaywork, 2019). spoken language
stage (Fellowes, 2019).
❖ Infants responds to speaker’s facial
and voice expression (Fellowes,
❖ Sounds and gestures are
2019).
attempts to communicate
and they verbalize
❖ Infants respond to the word “No” excitement and
(Fellowes, 2019). displeasure (Kaywork,
2019).
❖ They are attentive to music: infants
❖ They giggle, chuckle, and
enjoy environmental sounds and
laugh (Kaywork, 2019).
toys that make noises or music (turn
eyes, head, and body towards the
sound) (Kaywork, 2019). ❖ Infants begin to mimic
speakers and experiment
with sounds that they can
make, beginning of
babbling (joining a
consonant and a vowel
like ma-ma) (Kaywork,
2019).

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Infants from 8 to 1 year old

STAGE 1 PRE- RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE EXPRESSIVE
LINGUISTIC LANGUAGE
Speech-type sound ❖ Infants respond when called by
name and are responsive when ❖ They use body language
but no words at this
spoken to (Fellowes, 2019). to communicate (to be
stage picked up, to eat) and
shout out to gain
❖ Recognize the name of common
attention.
objects (cup, bottle, ball) and can
respond to simple requests (give me
❖ Infants begin to take
your hand, where is dad?) they
turns for speaking and
respond by looking or pointing at it
listening (Fellowes,
(Fellowes, 2019).
2019).
❖ Babbling is now more
❖ Enjoy playing peek-a-boo and pat- complex as they add
a-cake with caregivers (Kaywork, more consonants and
2019). vowels beginning
conversation-like
sounds. (Kaywork, 2019).
❖ Infants intentionally
communicate to get
something they want
(Kaywork, 2019).
❖ Beginning of holophrastic
speech (children use one
word to express a whole
sentence) (Fellowes,
2019).

Infants from 1- to 2-year-old

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STAGE 2 RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE EXPRESSIVE

LINGUISTIC LANGUAGE
SPEECH
One-word ❖ Oral language understanding ❖ Naming words are
increases rapidly, they used extensively
utterances
respective vocabulary is made (DEEWR, 2009).
up of around 100 to 300
words. Toddlers learn ❖ They say their first
conventions as turn-taking name (DEEWR,
and looking at the person 2009).
speaking (Fellowes, 2019).
❖ Begin to use one to
❖ They understand words and two words
syntactic structures sentence (DEEWR,
❖ Points to body parts that are 2009).
asked. Points to pictures in
books that are names ❖ Reciprocal
(Kaywork, 2019). imitation of other
toddlers or adults
❖ Understands simple sounds and actions
questions (where is your (DEEWR, 2009).
spoon, are you hungry?) and
follow simple directions (time ❖ Uses different
to wash hands, kick the ball, consonant sound at
sleeves up) (Kaywork, 2019). the beginning of
words and uses
approximations for
❖ Toddlers enjoy listening to some words
rhymes and stories and enjoy (Kaywork, 2019).
its repetition (DEEWR, 2009).

Infants from 2 to 3-year-old

STAGE 3 RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE EXPRESSIVE
LINGUISTIC LANGUAGE
SPEECH
Making words into ❖ Follow more complex two-part ❖ Telegraphic speech,
instructions (finish your food and children use 2 or 3 words
phrases
pack away) (Speech Pathologist to represent a whole
Asutralia , 2016) sentence “the food gone”
(Speech Pathologist
Asutralia , 2016)
❖ Understand simple questions such
“what, where, who, why” (Kaywork,
2019).
❖ Children can say 4 or 5
words in a sentence
(nouns, pronouns, and
❖ Recognize basic colours (Speech
verbs) (Kaywork, 2019).
Pathologist Asutralia , 2016)
❖ Speech is understood the
majority of the time
(Kaywork, 2019).

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❖ Listens and attends long stories

(Kaywork, 2019). ❖ Ask questions
using “what, where,
❖ Understands differences in meaning who and why”
(up and down, big, and small) (Fellowes, 2019).
(Kaywork, 2019).
❖ Maintain conversations
but they may not stay on
topic (Speech
Pathologist Asutralia ,
2016)

❖ Talk about past

facts using -ed (he
“goed” there)
(Fellowes, 2019).

Infants from 3 to 4-year-old

STAGE 4 RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE EXPRESSIVE
LINGUISTIC LANGUAGE
SPEECH
Using ❖ Children can understand ❖ Theory of mind,
sentences with structures that children are aware
complete
start with “who, what where” that other children
sentences (Fellowes, 2019). and adults have
different feelings,
intentions, and
thoughts (Fellowes,
❖ Children’s hearing difficulties
2019).
can be evident at this stage
(Fellowes, 2019).
❖ Speech becomes
clear and fluent,
❖ Show awareness that some children are able to
words start and finish with the talk about less
same sound (Speech concrete and
Pathologist Asutralia , 2016) immediate things
❖ Understand some numbers (things they have
(Speech Pathologist Asutralia done, place they
, 2016) have been). They
make oral stories
and ask many
questions
(Fellowes, 2019).

❖ Use of past tense

and present tense
with increasing
awareness and

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control (Fellowes,
2019).

Infants from 4 to 5-year-old

STAGE 4 RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE EXPRESSIVE
LINGUISTIC LANGUAGE
SPEECH
Using ❖ Follow 3 parts instructions ❖ Expressive
(wear your hat, put sunscreen vocabulary of
complete
on, and go to play) (Speech around 2000 to
sentences Pathologist Asutralia , 2016). 2500 words
(Fellowes, 2019).
❖ Understand time related
words (before, after, later,
now) (Speech Pathologist ❖ Children can
Asutralia , 2016). construct detailed
and complex
❖ Understand instructions sentences using
without stopping to listen pronouns and past
(Speech Pathologist Asutralia tenses (Fellowes,
, 2016). 2019).

❖ Begin to recognize sounds, ❖ Most sounds are

letters, and numbers (Speech now pronounced
Pathologist Asutralia , 2016). correctly (Fellowes,
2019).

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