Final answer:
Children's speech and language development starts from birth and progresses through several stages, including the babbling stage, the one-word stage, and the vocabulary spurt. By age 5, children typically have a considerable vocabulary and can create complex sentences. The sequence of language development is largely consistent across different cultures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stages of Language Development in Children
The speech and language development process in children comprises several stages. Initially, babies recognize their mother's voice and display a preference for the language spoken by their mothers. From there, they progress to the babbling stage where simple syllables are repeated, and this evolves over time to include more variations in sound. This stage signifies the beginning of vocal experimentation rather than deliberate communication.
Following the babbling phase, children move into the one-word stage at about 12 to 18 months old; here, they express themselves with single words that can represent more complex ideas. During this period, a child's vocabulary consists largely of nouns that represent familiar objects and events. Development then continues with the vocabulary spurt, usually around 2 to 3 years of age, where children rapidly expand their vocabulary and begin to form simple sentences.
By the age of 5, a child's language skills include a vocabulary of at least 1,500 words and the ability to produce sentences with multiple words. Moreover, during these early years, children's gesture usage often predicts their subsequent language development, indicating the intricate relationship between nonverbal and verbal communication. Throughout these stages, despite cultural differences, the sequence in which children reach language milestones is remarkably consistent worldwide.