What is telegraphic speech characterized by?
|
1. concentrated or abbreviated speech wherein only the most central terms, postulating the greeted level of data, are stated. Nouns and verbs are commonly present, while adverbs, adjectives, connective parts of speech, and articles are left out. 2. the speech of kids roughly between the ages of eighteen and thirty months, that is generally in the shape of two-word expressions. This speech is
telegraphic because it utilizes just the most germane and significant aspects of language, passing over prepositions, articles, and other
ancillary terms 3. the speech of kids about twenty-four to thirty months of age which forms after the two-word statement and is marked by brief but multi-word expressions. TELEGRAPHIC SPEECH: "Telegraphic speech is often referenced as telegraphic stage." Telegraphic speech obtains its name from its concise and laconic nature. Much like a telegram, telegraphic speech mostly is limited to a noun and a verb and usually contains little to no grammar. It is characterized by using only the most essential words to get the point across, such as “dog running” instead of “the dog is running.” The Telegraphic Speech StageTelegraphic speech is a common stage for children in the process of acquiring language. Approximately between the ages of 18 to 24 months, the average child will start speaking in two- to three-word sentences, which can be recognized as telegraphic speech. Most children will stop using telegraphic speech by age 3. Parents' Use of Telegraphic SpeechSome parents use telegraphic speech when communicating with their children in the belief that speaking this way will help a child learn to speak faster because only the key words are used 2. Experts disagree, however. Telegraphic speech may hinder the child from learning proper grammar and word meaning, according to Marc Fey, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center. For example, when parents use grammatically correct sentences, a child can learn that words ending in "-ing" are usually verbs, which gives him the ability to make clear distinctions between verbs and nouns. Leaving the Telegraphic Speech StageTo encourage a child to leave the telegraphic speech stage, parents may want to repeat what their child says in a complete, grammatically correct sentence 2. The sentence does not need to be long and complicated. A short, simple phrase can help the child learn proper grammar. The Hanen Centre recommends this rule of thumb: Use only the sentences with your child that you would use with an adult. After the Telegraphic Speech StageA child’s vocabulary dramatically increases after the telegraphic stage. On average, after 24 months, children begin using grammatical constructions of various kinds, such as adding "-ing" to verbs and using defined articles such as "the." Although it may seem that a child’s vocabulary is regressing after she leaves this stage, it is actually the contrary. Children begin learning new rules for grammar, which they tend to overgeneralize, thus leading them to make linguistic mistakes, such as:
However, parents do not need to worry about these mistakes, as the children are going through a stage that generally passes after they learn and become more familiar with grammar rules. Repeating your child's sentence with a grammatically correct one will improve her linguistic abilities faster than if you do not correct her sentence. Telegraphic speech refers to the simple two-word
sentences your toddler says when they begin to communicate. It is an important stage of language development in children. Babies may babble for months before saying their first words. However, after uttering their first words, they need to complete many developmental milestones before they can speak a complete sentence correctly. Read on to know what telegraphic speech is, when it occurs, and how to encourage a toddler to speak. When toddlers are developing speech,
they tend to speak multi-word sentences with only the key content words. This is called telegraphic speech(1). Telegraphic messages are a simplified version of the language and break grammatical rules. This form of speech is a part of the normal language acquisition process(2). Telegraphic sentence formation is similar to the short messages consisting
of only keywords sent via telegraph in the olden times. Hence, this speech pattern of babies and toddlers is referred to as telegraphic speech. The telegraphic speech can comprise two-word and multiple-word sentences. Here are a few example sentences that a toddler or baby may speak as part of their telegraphic speech. Image: iStock
At What Age Does Telegraphic Speech Begin?Children generally start telegraphic speech between the ages of 24 and 30 months. This comes after the two-word stage that occurs at 18-24 months(3). The two-word stage is preceded by the holophrastic stage, where babies speak single words to express meanings similar to complete sentences. The stage occurs between –18 months. Children then move to the two-word stage, speaking short two-word sentences with semantic relations between the two words. From here, toddlers progress to the telegraphic stage, speaking sentences with two words and more. Features Of Telegraphic SpeechHere are a few notable features of a toddler’s telegraphic speech(4).
Why Is Telegraphic Speech Important For Development?Telegraphic speech is one of the milestones of language development. Here is how it helps toddlers.
Telegraphic Speech Activities For ToddlersA few activities can help children practice their telegraphic speech. 1. Coloring and conversations Image: iStock Buy a coloring book suitable for toddlers. It should have different elements for coloring purposes. Guide the toddler in the process of coloring by asking the right questions. This can encourage them to express themselves and experiment with telegraphic speech. For instance, if it is a nature scene with animals, trees, and sky, ask the child, “What is that?” by pointing toward a particular object in the book. If they give a one-word answer such as “tree,“ say the full sentence, “Yes, that is a tree.” You can ask a follow-up question before they start coloring, such as, “What should be the color of the tree leaves?” If the child gives a one-word answer “green,” speak the complete sentence by saying, “The color of the tree leaves is green.” In case they answer using telegraphic speech, show appreciation. 2. Telegraphic story questionsUse stories for language development. You can tell your own stories or read from a book. This helps create word associations in the toddler’s mind. Ask them questions in between to increase their interest and help them absorb more information about the language. For instance, if it is a story about a bird who sings, you can ask, “Who sings?” If they answer “bird” or state the bird’s name, offer praise. If they give one-word answers or do not answer at all, you can say, “The bird (or its name) sings.” Encourage discussion of the story once you are done reading it. 3. Whose-What? gameFun games can help toddlers pick new words faster and remember them better. In this game, collect pictures of everyone in the house. Gather personal items belonging to each of these individuals in a box. Keep the box and pictures pile in front of the child. Choose any one item from the box and ask the child, “Whose (item name) is it?” Ask the child to select the photograph of the person it belongs to and encourage them to say the person’s name out loud. 4. Follow the leaderIn this game, the follower has to copy whatever the leader does and speaks. Whenever you are out with your toddler, point out anything and explain it. For instance, point to a bike and say, “A bike.” The toddler has to point to the same object and repeat the sentence after you. Encourage your child to take the next turn and describe any object they see. In each of your following turns, continue to add more words while describing the objects to help the toddler learn new words. How To Encourage Telegraphic Speech?The following techniques can be used to encourage telegraphic speech in toddlers. 1. Model correct languageResearch hypothesizes that children can pick up certain structures of language such as pitch, loudness, tempo, and rhythm by listening(5). They can use these cues to figure out the linguistic units. So, it is important to model correct language(6). Parents can model correct language by speaking complete sentences even if the toddler relies on telegraphic speech(7).Use the correct grammar and pronunciation even if the child says something wrong(8). For instance, if the toddler says, “I pay” while picking the toy, say the correct sentence, “Yes, I understand you want to play.” 2. Respond to gestures Image: Shutterstock Babies in holophrastic and two-word stages of communication often use gestures in conjunction with talking. For instance, they may use a specific gesture when they want a specific toy or when hungry. Respond to the gestures by fulfilling their need or intent. For instance, if the toddler wants to play and uses a gesture or points at the toy, say, “Okay, let’s play” before bringing the toy. The age-appropriate use of gestures can help early language development, laying the foundation for telegraphic speech(9)(10). 3. Take the help of fun activitiesYou can use fun activities in the following way to improve a toddler’s telegraphic speech(11).
How Many Words Should A Toddler Say? Image: iStock A toddler is a child aged between one and three years(12). The words they understand and speak can change as per their age(13)(14).
What Is The Next Stage?The telegraphic speech stage ends at the age of 30 months, and toddlers gradually begin to speak complex, structured sentences. Their vocabulary increases quickly, and they pick up new words every day between 30-42 months. At 36 months, many children start using functional morphemes. They may use synchronized and embedded sentences such as “I like mummy because she is pretty.” Children begin to comprehend almost everything they hear. At about 42 months, they are capable of doing the following(15).
Telegraphic speech is an important step that leads to language development in children. Children often take at least five to six years to master their language. Meanwhile, telegraphic speech helps them to communicate and understand the formation of sentences. Some activities that can help children practice telegraphic speech are asking questions and playing games. Interacting with other children, teachers, and parents also gives them good exposure to the language. Therefore, speak as much as you can with your children and encourage them to express more. Key Pointers
References:MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy. Was this article helpful? The following two tabs change content below.
Shivali holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and a master’s in management from Chetana's R.K Institute of Management and
Research Mumbai. After working for nearly five years in the market research sector, she discovered her passion for writing and started freelancing. Her knowledge about medicines and biology, coupled with her experience in research, helps her write well-researched, informative, and evidence-based... Dr. Neema Shrestha is a pediatrician with a special interest in the field of neonatology. Currently working in
Kathmandu, Nepal, she completed her MBBS from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal in 2008, Diploma in Child Health from D.Y. Patil University in 2011, MD from Nepal Medical College in 2015 and Fellowship in Neonatology from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi in... What are the characteristics of telegraphic speech?Here are some important features of telegraphic speech: Words are in the correct order. Only the most important words are used (usually a noun and a verb or an adjective and a noun). Grammatical constructions are missing, such as prefixes, conjunctions, prepositions, pronouns, and question words.
What do telegraphic sentences contain?Telegraphic sentences are concise sentences that usually contain five words or less. They are commonly used by toddlers during the second year of their language acquisition by taking away grammar in making sentences and just leaving the content words. Telegraphic sentences contain nouns and verbs with direct meaning.
What is telegraphic speech?Telegraphic speech is simply two-word sentences, such as “kitty tired” or “I hungry”. Toddlers develop this level of speech between 18-24 months. Telegraphic speech is important because it means your little one is: Learning to communicate their thoughts and feelings.
What is telegraphic speech quizlet?telegraphic speech. early speech stage in which a child speaks like a telegram—"go car"—using mostly nouns and verbs and omitting auxiliary words. ( Myers Psychology 8e p. 413)
|
