AAC Language Lab Home » Stages of Language Development
Language Stage 1
This person is an emergent communicator. The use of symbolic language for communication is just beginning. Most utterances consist of one word. An utterance may be a one-word comment, or the single word may represent an entire sentence. For example, the one-word utterance, “More,” may represent “I want more now!”
Not all individuals are ready to use single words, but activities that establish cause and effect, and learning to label can be useful activities. Learn more about using labeling and cause and effect. Additional information can also be found in this article Strategies for Incorporating Formal AAC into Children’s Earliest Communication Interactions by Cynthia J. Cress.
| Approx. Vocab. Size | Utterance Length in Morphemes* | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| up to 85 words | single words | go, that, help, more, stop |
*a morpheme is the smallest unit of meaning in a language
Need more help? Check out our glossary or frequently asked questions.