What is one of the key characteristics of the two-word stage?

The two-word stage is a crucial development phase in children's language acquisition, typically occurring around the age of 18 to 24 months. One of the defining features of this stage is indeed the formation of simple two-word combinations, which reflects a child's ability to begin creating basic grammatical structures. At this stage, children start to convey more complex ideas and relationships using only two words, such as "want cookie" or "mommy go." This marks a significant transition from one-word utterances to more organized sentences, illustrating their growing understanding of language and the ways in which words can work together to convey meaning.

While gestured communication may accompany early forms of language, and the use of single open-class words can be seen in earlier stages, the hallmark of the two-word stage is the ability to combine these words meaningfully. This development paves the way for more advanced language skills, laying a foundational understanding of syntax and communication. Complex syntax, on the other hand, appears at later stages of language development, following the mastery of simpler structures like those formed during the two-word stage.