Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Babbling refers to the stage of language development in which infants produce repetitive consonant-vowel combinations, often characterized by repetitive syllables like "bababa" or "dadada". It is considered a precursor to actual speech.
Phonemes are the smallest units of sound in language. They combine to form words and help infants develop their babbling skills.
Coos: Coos are vowel-like sounds that infants make during the pre-babbling stage. They are softer and more melodic than babbles.
Jargon: Jargon refers to long strings of unintelligible sounds that babies use during the advanced babbling stage. It mimics adult conversational patterns.