Which type of sounds do children generally prefer to use in the holophrastic stage?

During the holophrastic stage of language development, which typically occurs around the age of 12 to 18 months, children tend to simplify language as they begin to express whole ideas with single words. At this stage, they favor certain types of sounds that are easier for them to produce.

Plosives, which are sounds made by obstructing airflow and releasing it suddenly (such as 'p', 'b', 't', 'd', 'k', and 'g'), are generally among the earliest sounds that children acquire. This preference is due to the relatively straightforward articulatory mechanism required to produce these sounds, making them more accessible as children experiment with vocalization.

The sounds that children prefer to use during this stage help them to effectively communicate their needs and desires, despite their vocabulary still being quite limited. This natural inclination towards plosives reflects the developmental trajectory of phonetic production in young children. Understanding this aspect of language acquisition illustrates the interplay between motor skills, cognitive development, and verbal expression in early childhood.