Which of the following describes the vocalization known as babbling?

• A. The production of repetitive consonant-vowel sounds by infants, such as 'ba-ba' or 'da-da', typically occurring around 4 to 6 months of age
• B. The use of single words to represent entire phrases or sentences, often seen in toddlers
• C. The imitation of adult speech patterns with correct syntax and vocabulary
• D. The ability to understand and follow complex grammatical rules in speech

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand that babbling is a stage in infant language development characterized by the production of repetitive consonant-vowel sounds.
2. Step 2: Recognize that these sounds often include combinations like 'ba-ba' or 'da-da', which are simple and repetitive.
3. Step 3: Note that babbling typically occurs around 4 to 6 months of age, marking an important milestone before meaningful speech.
4. Step 4: Differentiate babbling from other language stages such as single-word use (holophrastic stage), imitation of adult speech, and understanding complex grammar, which occur later.
5. Step 5: Conclude that babbling specifically refers to the repetitive consonant-vowel sound production by infants, not the use of words or complex speech patterns.