New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

At what stage do infants start producing repeated consonant-vowel sounds?

1. Telegraphic stage

2. One word stage

3. Cooing stage

4. Babbling stage

The correct answer is: Babbling stage

Infants begin producing repeated consonant-vowel sounds during the babbling stage. This phase typically occurs between six to eight months of age and is characterized by the production of extended strings of sounds, often consisting of syllable-like units such as "ba-ba," "da-da," or "ma-ma." This stage is crucial for language development as it represents a transition from earlier cooing, which primarily features vowel sounds. Babbling allows infants to experiment with the sounds of their language and starts to develop their articulatory capabilities. It also serves as a form of early communication and lays the groundwork for more complex speech sounds and the eventual formation of words. Understanding this developmental milestone emphasizes the importance of phonetic play in language acquisition, helping caregivers and educators recognize and support infants in their journey toward verbal communication.