Pragmatics Development Milestones

0 – 3 Months 3 – 6 Months 6 – 9 Months 9 – 12 Months
0 – 3 Months
  • Briefly looks at people
  • Follows moving person with eyes
  • Quiets in response to sound (responds more readily to speech than non-speech sounds
  • Smiles/coos in responses to another smile/voice (1-4 months)
  • Excites when caregiver approaches (1-4 months)
  • Aware of strangers and unfamiliar situations (1-4 months)
  • Cries differently when tired, hungry, in pain (1-4 months)
  • Quiets when picked up
3 – 6 Months
  • Fixes gaze on face
  • Responds to name by looking for voice source (4-8 months)
  • Regularly localizes sound source/speaker
  • Occasionally vocalizes in response to speech
6 – 9 Months
  • Initiates vocalizing to another person
  • Enjoys being played with (4-8 months)
  • Different vocalizations for different states: anger, contentment, hunger (4-8 months)
  • Recognizes familiar people
  • Cries when parent leaves room (9 months)
  • Imitates familiar sound and actions
9 – 12 Months
  • Shouts or coughs to attract attention
  • Shakes head “no” and pushes undesired objects away
  • Waves “bye”
  • Affectionate to familiar people
  • Begins directing others’ behavior physically (pat, pulls, tugs on adult)
  • Extends arms to be picked up
  • Moves away from a stranger
  • Participates in “pat-a-cake”, “peek-a-boo”, “so-big”
  • Begins to vary behavior according to emotional reactions of others – repeats actions that are laughed at
  • Reaches to request an object
  • Imitates novel sounds/actions
1 – 1½ Years 1 ½ – 2 Years 2- 3 Years
1 – 1½ Years
  • Brings object to show an adult
  • Request objects by pointing and vocalizing or possibly using a word approximation
  • Solicits another’s attention vocally, physically, possibly with a word (Mommy)
  • Gesturally requests action/assistance (may give back wind-up toy to request activation)
  • Says “bye” and possibly a few other conversational ritual words such as “hi”, “thank you”, and “please”
  • Protests by saying “no” shaking head, moving away, frowning, or pushing object away
  • Comments on object/action by directing listeners’ attention to it with a point and vocalization or word approximation
  • Answers simple wh questions with vocal response (may be unintelligible)
  • Acknowledges speech of another by giving eye contact, vocally responding, or repeating a word said
  • Teases, scolds, warns using gesture plus a vocalization or word approximation
1 ½ – 2 Years
  • Uses single words or short phrases to express the intentions listed at 1-1 ½ year level
  • Names objects in front of others
  • Says “what’s that?” to elicit attention
  • Begins using single words and two word phrases to command (move), indicate possession (mine), express problems (owee)
  • Much verbal turn-taking
2- 3 Years
    • Engages in short dialogues
    • Verbally introduces and changes topic of discussion
    • Expresses emotion
    • Begins using language in imaginative ways
    • Begins providing descriptive details to facilitate comprehension
    • Uses attention getting words such as “hey”
    • Clarifies and request clarification
    • Prenarrative development begins with heaps and sequences:
      – heaps – collections of unrelated ideas

– sequences – story elements linked by perceptual bonds

3- 4 Years 4 – 5 Years 5 –6 Years 6 – 7 Years
3- 4 Years
  • Engages in longer dialogues
  • Assumes the role of another person in play
  • Uses more fillers to acknowledge partner’s message (un-huh, yeah, OK)
  • Begins code switching (using simpler language) when talking to very young children
  • Uses more elliptical responses
  • Requests permission
  • Begins using language for fantasies, jokes, teasing
  • Makes conversational repairs when listener has not understood
  • Correct others
  • Primitive narratives emerge: events follow from central core/use of inference in stories
4 – 5 Years
  • Uses indirect requests
  • Correctly uses deictic terms such as this, that, here, there
  • Uses twice as many effective utterances as 3 year old to discuss emotions and feelings
  • Narrative development characterized by unfocused chains – stories have sequence of events but no central character or theme
5 –6 Years
  • Narrative development characterized by focused chains – stories have central character with logical sequence of events, but ending is unclear
  • Gives threats and insults
  • Issues promises
  • May give praise
6 – 7 Years
  • True narratives – well developed plot and character with sequenced events

From: Speech and Language Development Chart (2nd Ed.) by Addy Gard, Leslea Gilman, and Jim Gorman (Pro-Ed).