What is the telegraphic stage in child language acquisition?

The telegraphic stage in child language acquisition refers to a phase where children typically use two to four-word combinations that consist of essential words to express their ideas and needs. During this stage, children focus on key nouns and verbs, omitting less critical words such as articles and prepositions. This form of communication resembles telegrams, which were concise and focused on essential content, hence the name "telegraphic."

By emphasizing essential words, children are able to convey meaning effectively even with limited vocabulary and simplified syntax. This stage usually occurs around the ages of 18 to 24 months and marks an important step in the development of language, as it demonstrates children's ability to construct meaningful phrases from their understanding of the world around them.

The other options do not accurately describe the telegraphic stage. Complete sentences, reading and writing skills, or complex grammatical structures represent more advanced stages of language development that follow the telegraphic stage.