Language development. Which statement is accurate?

Language development. Which statement is accurate?

• A. Receptive language develops before expressive language
• B. Expressive language develops before receptive language
• C. Language development is unrelated to cognitive development
• D. Language development occurs only after literacy

Answer: (A)

Receptive language develops before expressive language. Infants first learn to understand what is being said before they can reliably produce words and sentences themselves. You can see this in how babies respond to sounds and voices, recognize familiar names, and follow simple instructions long before they start speaking. As children grow, receptive skills solidify and expressive language begins to emerge—starting with babbling, then single words, then two-word phrases, and eventually more complex sentences. This sequence helps teachers scaffold communication: talking with children often, labeling objects, reading aloud, and giving them time to respond so they can practice both understanding and using language. The other statements don’t fit typical development. Expressive language does not usually precede receptive language in the early years. Language development is connected to cognitive development, with thinking skills supporting and being supported by language, so saying they’re unrelated isn’t accurate. Literacy does not come before language; reading and writing build on the foundations of spoken language established long before children become literate.

Receptive language develops before expressive language. Infants first learn to understand what is being said before they can reliably produce words and sentences themselves. You can see this in how babies respond to sounds and voices, recognize familiar names, and follow simple instructions long before they start speaking. As children grow, receptive skills solidify and expressive language begins to emerge—starting with babbling, then single words, then two-word phrases, and eventually more complex sentences. This sequence helps teachers scaffold communication: talking with children often, labeling objects, reading aloud, and giving them time to respond so they can practice both understanding and using language.

The other statements don’t fit typical development. Expressive language does not usually precede receptive language in the early years. Language development is connected to cognitive development, with thinking skills supporting and being supported by language, so saying they’re unrelated isn’t accurate. Literacy does not come before language; reading and writing build on the foundations of spoken language established long before children become literate.