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Verbally responds
At three months, a child will begin responding verbally to others. Even though the utterances are not proper sentences, this shows that the baby is learning how human communication works. -
Moves eyes toward sounds
This is a critical sign to look for because this shows that the baby can hear and properly respond to sound. -
Speaks first word
Although the baby has been learning to express himself vocally, this first word shows that he now realizes that different utterances have different meanings and will create different responses in others. -
Combining and organizing words
This is a major milestone because it shows a budding subconscious understanding of the language's rules of syntax. -
Average utterance length is between 1.6 and 2.2 morphemes
This is the time of development when the child begins utilizing bound morphemes. This shows a superb command of his first language. -
Understands most of what is said
By this age, the child should understand what is said at home, school, church, etc. This is crucial because if the child is struggling in school, it may not be that he isn't trying or understanding the material itself, but that there is an underlying communication disorder. -
Learns 90% of language form
By age five, the child has had enough time to listen to others, to practice, and to build his first language linguistic framework almost to completion. -
Learns to read and write
This is where communication orders that are more visual in nature, such as dyslexia, may begin to become evident. -
Converse with ease and appropriately
By adolescence, the child should be able to carry on conversations with ease and according to basic societal expectations. -
Understand complex/abstract language
By adulthood (but likely before), the child should be able to understand abstract and complex language. This is important because not everything in conversation and in writing is meant to be taken literally.