1. Preparatory Stage (0-1 years): Characterized by babbling and rudimentary comprehension, also known as the "pre-linguistic phase." Vocal practice peaks around 8 months, with children varying volume and tone to mimic speech.
2. First Stage of Language Development (1-1.5 years): Characterized by single-word utterances and the use of gestures and facial expressions to supplement communication. Children may substitute animal sounds for names and mimic heard sounds. For example, when asked "How old are you?" they may parrot "How old?" like an echo—medically termed "echolalia."
3. Second Stage of Language Development (1.5–2 years): Also known as the "Naming Stage," children begin to understand that "everything has a name." They enjoy asking for names, and their vocabulary and sentences increase rapidly.
4. Third Stage of Language Development (2–2.5 years): Children can form short sentences, use pronouns like "you," "I," and "he," and begin to adopt the unique grammatical conventions of their native language. For example, they use exclamatory sentences to express emotion and interrogative sentences to ask questions.
5. Fourth Stage of Language Development (2.5–3 years): Children use complex sentences and ask numerous questions, earning this stage the name "Questioning Stage."
6. Completion Stage (3–6 years): Speech becomes fluent, encompassing all parts of speech. Children discern grammatical relationships in adult discourse, correct their own temporary grammatical errors, and gradually develop true language proficiency.