What term describes children's self-directed speech used to guide behavior, which can later become inner speech?

What term describes children's self-directed speech used to guide behavior, which can later become inner speech?

• A. Private Speech
• B. Holophrase
• C. The Comma
• D. Telegraphic Speech

Answer: (A)

Private speech describes when a child talks to themselves to guide their actions. You’ll often see a child muttering instructions or reminders while working on a task; this self-directed talk helps with planning, focus, and self-regulation. As the child’s thinking skills develop, that external self-talk tends to become inner speech—the silent voice inside the head that guides thinking and behavior. That perfectly captures the idea of self-directed speech used to guide behavior that can later become inner speech. Holophrase is a single word that stands for a larger idea, not about self-guidance. Telegraphic speech refers to early two-word phrases that omit unnecessary words, not to self-directed guidance. The Comma isn’t a term used to describe this aspect of child language development.

Private speech describes when a child talks to themselves to guide their actions. You’ll often see a child muttering instructions or reminders while working on a task; this self-directed talk helps with planning, focus, and self-regulation. As the child’s thinking skills develop, that external self-talk tends to become inner speech—the silent voice inside the head that guides thinking and behavior. That perfectly captures the idea of self-directed speech used to guide behavior that can later become inner speech.

Holophrase is a single word that stands for a larger idea, not about self-guidance. Telegraphic speech refers to early two-word phrases that omit unnecessary words, not to self-directed guidance. The Comma isn’t a term used to describe this aspect of child language development.