The word "lallation" refers to baby talk or the repetition of sounds that are not yet fully-formed words. Its spelling can be a bit tricky to decipher, but it is pronounced as /ləˈleɪʃən/ with emphasis on the second syllable. The initial "l" is followed by two instances of the letter "a" representing the "ah" sound, then a "t" sound represented by the letter "t". The final three syllables are pronounced as "ay-shun". This word is not commonly used in everyday conversation, but it is a useful term in linguistic and child development research.
Lallation is a noun that refers to the imperfect or babyish speech of young children, typically characterized by inaccuracy and difficulty in pronunciation. It specifically describes the stage of language development when a child is learning to speak and producing sounds that are not yet fully formed or articulated correctly.
Derived from the Latin word "lallus," meaning babble or prattle, lallation involves the babbling sounds and syllables that children make as they experiment with their vocal abilities and attempt to communicate. During this period, children may repeat sounds or syllables, make repetitive sequences of nonsensical sounds, or mispronounce words. This stage is considered crucial for a child's language acquisition and serves as a foundation for future speech and language skills.
Lallation typically occurs between the ages of six months and two years when children are developing their oral muscles and learning to control their vocal cords. As children progress through this stage, their lallation gradually evolves into coherent and intelligible speech, guided by the influence of their environment, such as exposure to language, imitation, and interaction with others.
Overall, lallation is a normal and necessary phase in a child's linguistic development, representing their initial attempts to communicate and acquire language skills.
1. Lambdacism, a form of stammering in which r is pronounced as 1. 2. Lalling.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "lallation" originated from the Latin term "lallatio", which is derived from the verb "lallare", meaning "to babble" or "to prattle". In Latin, "lallatio" referred to the act of babbling or speaking in an indistinct or childish manner. Over time, this term was borrowed into English, and "lallation" came to describe the speech or vocal patterns of infants or young children when they first start to learn how to talk.