What does telegraphic speech in language development refer to?

Telegraphic speech refers specifically to a language development stage where children primarily use two-word phrases to convey their thoughts. This stage typically occurs around the ages of 18 to 24 months, when children begin to combine words to form simple sentences, effectively communicating more complex ideas without the use of grammatical markers. For example, a child might say "want cookie" instead of "I want a cookie." This method captures the essential meaning while excluding less critical words, much like telegrams did in the past by omitting unnecessary details to save space and convey urgent messages.

The other options describe different aspects of language development but do not represent telegraphic speech. Asking complex questions represents a more advanced stage of language use, gesturing instead of speaking is a precursor to verbal communication, and relying on single words shows an earlier stage before the emergence of two-word phrases. Each of these highlights the progression in communication skills, but telegraphic speech is distinct for its specific combination of two words.