Language Development — Previous Year Questions
📊 Overview
- Frequency: 16 questions | Papers: 13/27 | 🟡 Medium Priority
- Most common: Four components of language; language development in infancy
📝 Master Answer (250 words / 6 marks)
Q. Discuss language development during infancy. (6 marks)
Language development in infancy (0–2 years) is a remarkable process — moving from undifferentiated crying to the production of meaningful words and two-word utterances within 24 months.
Four Components of Language
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Phonology — the sound system of language. Infants begin with a broad ability to discriminate all speech sounds and progressively narrow to the sounds of their native language. Babbling (6 months) reflects this phonological development.
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Semantics — the meaning of words and sentences. First words appear around 12 months, typically naming familiar objects or people (mama, dada, cup). By 18 months, a "vocabulary spurt" (fast mapping) occurs — children learn new words rapidly.
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Syntax — the grammatical rules governing sentence structure. Two-word utterances emerge around 18–24 months ("more milk," "daddy go"). These "telegraphic" utterances show early grammatical understanding.
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Pragmatics — the social rules of language use. Infants learn to take turns in conversation, use eye contact to communicate, and adjust communication based on context.
Stages of Language Development in Infancy
| Age | Stage |
|---|---|
| 0–2 months | Crying and reflexive sounds |
| 2–4 months | Cooing (vowel sounds) |
| 6 months | Babbling (consonant-vowel combinations: "ba-ba-ba") |
| 12 months | First meaningful words |
| 18 months | Vocabulary spurt; 50+ words |
| 24 months | Two-word utterances; ~200–300 words |
Theories: Chomsky's nativist theory (Language Acquisition Device) emphasises innate predisposition; social-interactionist theories stress the role of caregivers in scaffolding language development.
Related Content: 📚 Cognitive & Linguistic Development in Infancy
📅 Key Previous Year Questions
- 2024-June: Discuss language development during infancy (Section B)
- 2022-December: Four components of language development
- 2020-June: Language development during infancy
- 2018-December: Discuss language development
- 2015-June: Define infancy. Elucidate four components of language development
💡 Exam Tips
- Always list and define all four components (phonology, semantics, syntax, pragmatics) — this is the most common variant
- Include the developmental timeline table — it is concise and informative
- Mention vocabulary spurt at 18 months — a well-known milestone