Praxis SLP Licensure Exam

At which stage of language development is telegraphic speech most commonly observed?

1. Late toddlerhood

2. Preschool

3. Early infancy

4. School age

The correct answer is: Late toddlerhood

Telegraphic speech is most commonly observed during late toddlerhood, typically around 18 to 24 months of age. At this stage, children begin to combine two or more words to express their thoughts, but they tend to omit less critical words, similar to the way that telegrams were sent, focusing on the most important words to convey meaning. For instance, a child might say "want cookie" instead of "I want a cookie." This stage marks a significant milestone in language development as it reflects an emerging understanding of syntax and the ability to communicate more complex ideas than single words. By the time children reach preschool age, their language skills have typically expanded beyond telegraphic speech to include more complex sentences, grammatical structures, and a much larger vocabulary. Early infancy, on the other hand, focuses more on cooing and babbling rather than the formation of words. During the school age, children refine and expand their language skills significantly, moving toward more sophisticated language use in social, academic, and other contexts. This understanding positions late toddlerhood as the key period for the emergence of telegraphic speech.