Three Stages of Speech Development
1st stage- Social speech (or external
speech)
"In no way is this speech related to
intellect or thinking."(Luria, 1992) In this
stage a child uses speech to control the
behavior ofothers. A child uses speech to
express simple thoughts and emotions
such ascrying, laughter and shouting.
An example of speech in this stage is
"Twant milk."
2nd stage- Egocentric Speech
This is typically the type of speech found in
a three to seven year old. "Itserves as a
bridge between the primitive and highly
public social speech of thefirst stage and
the more sophisticated and highly private
inner speech of thethird stage."
(Lefrancois, 1994) In this stage, children
often talk tothemselves, regardless of
someone listening to them. They things out
loud in anattempt to guide their own
behavior. They may speak about what they
are doingas they do it. They reason that
language must be spoken if it is to
directtheir behavior.
Ex. A child in school who counts out loud
one block at a time saying each number as
he/she goes along to get five.
3rd stage- Inner Speech2nd stage- Egocentric Speech
This is typically the type of speech found in
a three to seven year old. "Itserves as a
bridge between the primitive and highly
public social speech of thefirst stage and
the more sophisticated and highly private
inner speech of thethird stage.”
(Lefrancois, 1994) In this stage, children
often talk tothemselves, regardless of
someone listening to them. They things out
loud in anattempt to guide their own
behavior. They may speak about what they
are doingas they do it. They reason that
language must be spoken if it is to
directtheir behavior.
Ex. A child in school who counts out loud
one block at a time saying each number as
he/she goes along to get five.
3rd stage- Inner Speech
This is the final stage of speech
development. It is inner, soundlessspeech.
This is the type of speech used by older
children and adults. Thistype of speech
allows us to direct our thinking and
behavior. Once one hasreached this final
stage they are able to engage in all forms
of higher mentalfunctions. In this stage
one is able to "count in one's head, use
logicalmemory- inherent relationships,
and inner signs." (Hanfmann, 1962) .