The attached charts detail information regarding typical developmental language milestones for children between 18 and 36 months of age. Areas included are:
- Phonology: "The sounds used within a language"
- Semantics: "The knowledge of vocabulary"
- Syntax: "The system of rules used to build phrases and sentences"
- Morphology: "The system of rules used to combine the smallest parts of language (sounds) into words"
- Pragmatics: "Using language for the purpose of functional communication"
- Pre-Literacy: "Skills developed before true literacy skills are present"
The charts are meant to be guidelines, not hard-and-fast rules for what a child "should" be doing. The charts can be read by age ranges, but can also be read as developmental steps. This means that as the child progresses in their language development they will progress through the 18-24 targets before they reach the 24-30 targets, and will reach the 24-30 month targets before they reach the 30-36 month targets. Children may be older or younger than suggested ages.