What is the third stage of first-language acquisition also known as?

The third stage of first-language acquisition is commonly referred to as the two-word stage. This stage typically occurs between the ages of 18 to 24 months, and it marks a significant development in children's language use. During this stage, children begin to combine two words to form simple sentences, which allows them to express a wider range of meanings and ideas.

For example, a child may pair words like "want cookie" or "mommy go," demonstrating an understanding of syntax and the ability to convey more complex thoughts than just single words. This combination indicates not just an increase in vocabulary but also a growing comprehension of how language functions.

The other stages, such as the one-word and holophrastic stages, involve the use of single words or simple sounds to communicate broader ideas but do not yet reflect the same level of syntactical development as seen in the two-word stage. The babbling stage precedes this and consists mainly of repetitive consonant-vowel combinations without meaningful content. Hence, recognizing the two-word stage is crucial as it signifies an essential milestone in a child's journey toward fluency and language development.