Final answer:
Telegraphic speech is characterized by short, precise words without grammatical markers, representing an early and functional stage of language development in young children, typically consisting of two-word phrases.
Step-by-step explanation:
Telegraphic speech is characterized by short, precise words without grammatical markers. This speech pattern is typically observed in young children during the early stages of language development, usually after they move on from the babbling stage and the one-word stage. At this point, children begin to form two-word phrases that convey essential information, such as "Mommy eat" or "more juice," which can express more complex ideas like requests or observations. While these utterances may lack grammatical elements like articles, prepositions, and inflections, they are highly functional and demonstrate the child's budding ability to use language to communicate effectively. Parents and caregivers often intuitively understand the underlying meaning of these two-word phrases, recognizing that each compact utterance represents more than the sum of its parts, much like in logographic systems where a single symbol can convey a more complex idea.