LANGUAGE:

Language is the term for how we put words together. It includes vocabulary, grammar and pragmatics. Pragmatics is how we use language to get needs met and for social purposes. Language is divided into two parts: receptive and expressive. Receptive language is how well language is understood, and expressive is how well language is used.

When assessing language we look at basic concept development, vocabulary, the ability to convey ideas, relate observations, sentence length, understanding and use of questions and the ability to stay with a task for an appropriate length of time. A good rule of thumb is a 2 year old should have a vocabulary of 300 words and use 2 word sentences. A 3 year old should have a vocabulary of about 1,000 words and use 3-4 word sentences.

Additional Links:

SpeechDelay.Com

Speech & Language Milestone Chart

ASHA: Pragmatic Language Tips