45. A seven-month-old baby begins vocalizing consonant-vowel sequences such as 'ma-ma-ma' and 'da-da-da.' Which form of intentional vocalization does this illustrate?
Answer: C
Babbling illustrates the form of intentional vocalization demonstrated by a seven-month-old baby.
Babbling is characterized by the production of consonant-vowel sequences, such as 'ma-ma-ma' and 'da-da-da,' which is exactly what the baby is doing at this age.
A) Gesturing
Gesturing refers to the use of movements to convey messages or intentions, often seen in older infants and toddlers. Since the question specifically focuses on vocalization, gesturing is not relevant to the context of the baby's vocalization patterns.
B) Cooing
Cooing is an earlier stage of vocal development that typically involves the production of vowel-like sounds and occurs in infants around two to three months of age. Since the baby in the question is seven months old and producing consonant-vowel sequences, cooing does not accurately describe this stage of vocalization.
C) Babbling
Babbling is the correct term for the vocalization that involves the repetition of consonant-vowel combinations, which is observed in the seven-month-old baby. This developmental milestone is crucial as it lays the foundation for later speech development.
D) Holophrasis
Holophrasis is the use of single words to express whole ideas, typically seen in toddlers around one year of age. As the baby is still in the babbling stage, this option does not apply to the vocalization patterns being described.
Conclusion
Babbling is the developmental stage where infants produce repetitive consonant-vowel sounds, marking a significant progression in their communication abilities. Other options like gesturing, cooing, and holophrasis do not align with the specific vocal patterns exhibited by a seven-month-old, making babbling the definitive correct answer.