The stage that may last through early toddlerhood is:

• A. Babbling stage
• B. Holophrastic stage
• C. Telegraphic stage
• D. Two-word stage

Answer: (D)

Language development moves from simple sounds to conveying more meaning through word combinations. The stage that may last through early toddlerhood is the two-word stage, where children begin putting two content words together to express simple ideas, like “mommy go” or “more juice.” It usually appears around 18 to 24 months and can extend into the early toddler years as their vocabulary grows while they still rely on two-word phrases. This stage shows the start of combining words with a basic sense of syntax, even though the sentences are short and grammatically simple. Earlier stages—babbling involves non-meaningful vocal play and fades before the end of the first year, and holophrastic speech uses single words to convey whole thoughts around the 12 to 18-month period. Telegraphic speech, which follows, typically uses short, content-word phrases (often three or more words) and omits function words, marking the next step in sentence development.