Which term describes the stage where sentences are primarily composed of nouns and verbs with few function words, i.e., the 'telegraphic' stage?

Which term describes the stage where sentences are primarily composed of nouns and verbs with few function words, i.e., the 'telegraphic' stage?

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

Answer: (B)

Telegraphic speech describes the stage when a child's sentences are built mainly from content words like nouns and verbs, with only a few function words such as articles, prepositions, or auxiliary verbs. This pattern appears as young children begin to string together two- or three-word phrases that carry the main meaning, for example “mommy go,” “want cookie,” or “doggy run.” The focus is on the essential content words that convey the core message, while the grammatical glue is left out. This stage sits after earlier single-word utterances and holophrases, which express a whole idea with one word, and before more fully grammatical speech develops. So the term that best captures this stage is telegraphic speech.

Telegraphic speech describes the stage when a child's sentences are built mainly from content words like nouns and verbs, with only a few function words such as articles, prepositions, or auxiliary verbs. This pattern appears as young children begin to string together two- or three-word phrases that carry the main meaning, for example “mommy go,” “want cookie,” or “doggy run.” The focus is on the essential content words that convey the core message, while the grammatical glue is left out. This stage sits after earlier single-word utterances and holophrases, which express a whole idea with one word, and before more fully grammatical speech develops. So the term that best captures this stage is telegraphic speech.