You Are at a Daycare Centre and You Hear Three

Multiple Choice

You are at a daycare centre and you hear three 12-month-old babies babbling, each baby from a different racial/ethnic background (Asian, Hispanic, and Caucasian) . What should be true of the babbling of each of these infants?

A) It will sound very similar, because maturation is the major determinant of language acquisition during the first year.
B) It will consist mainly of two-word phrases (telegraphic speech) .
C) It will consist mainly of vowel sounds, because consonant sounds don't usually emerge until 14 months of age.
D) It will sound very different, with each child's babbles sounding quite similar to the parents' native language.