Toward a Developmental Line for the Acquisition of Language

I have described five early stages of language development in the context of the early mother-child relationship, stressing the importance of prelinguistic communication for the later establishment of language. In stage 1, the infant's inborn means of attracting his mother's attention elicit her responses. These reinforce the baby's noises and gestures, which, in stage 2, develop into a range of noises and gestures linked with specific inner experiences and external perceptions as structural developmental proceeds and the beginnings of an inner representational world is built up. In stage 3, the child becomes aware of the value of vocalizing in influencing the behavior of people in the external world, and begins to use vocalization, gesture, and expression with intent to indicate wishes and obtain their gratification as well as to communicate inner experiences and interests in the external world. At first his understanding of language far outstrips his use of it, so that in stage 4 mother's

words can serve as explanation and reassurance to the child, and can convey instructions. In stage 5, he can use words learned from the object to comfort and reassure himself as well to help himself comply with parental demands.