• many consonants and vowels start to emerge (m, b, g, E)
• natural vocalizations
• increased vocal play and babbling
• searches for the source of a sound
• starts mouthing objects
• responds vocally to pleasure
• uses babbling to get attention
• repeats syllables
• imitates sounds

6-10 months

• more vowels emerge (I)
• babbling peaks
• more imitation of sounds
• jargon (string of vocalizations) begins

10-12 months

• first true words may appear
• consonants begin to develop faster than vowels
• simplification of adult-form of words begins

16-24 months

• child's overall speech is hard to understand (25% is understandable)

(2 years)

• child may omit unstressed part of words
• combination of words emerge
• better production of some sounds

24-30 months

• 90% of all vowels are learned

(2 - 2 1/2 years)

• sentences usually contain 3 words
• articulation is improving (60% is now understandable)
• front consonant sounds are beginning to be learned (m, w, b, p)

30-36 months

• all vowels are acquired

(2 1/2 - 3 years)

• consonant sounds are learned (m, p, b, w)
• articulation improves (75% is now understandable)
• sentences contain up to 5 words

36-54 months

• more consonant sounds are learned (n, -ing, y, d, t, k, g)

(3 - 4 1/2 years)

• sentences may have 6 or more words

54-66 months

• the consonant sounds of /f, v, th, l/ are acquired

(4 1/2 - 5 1/2 years)

66-78 months

• /r, s, z, ch, j, sh/ are learned

(5 1/2 - 6 1/2 years)

84 months

• all consonant blends are learned, articulation is completely normal

(7 years)

• language continues to develop through the school-age years