Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

What is the final stage of first language acquisition?

1. Babbling stage

2. Beginning oral fluency stage

3. Cooing stage

4. Telegraphic stage

The correct answer is: Beginning oral fluency stage

The final stage of first language acquisition is characterized by the development of more complex and fluent speech patterns, often referred to as the beginning oral fluency stage. In this stage, children begin to use language more effectively for communication, demonstrating an understanding of grammatical structures and an expanding vocabulary. They can form longer sentences, engage in conversations, and express their thoughts and feelings more clearly. Mastery of language skills progresses during this period, allowing for increased interaction with peers and adults, which further enhances their linguistic abilities. In contrast, the other stages mentioned, such as babbling, cooing, and the telegraphic stage, represent earlier phases in language development. Babbling involves repetitive consonant-vowel combinations, cooing includes softer sounds made by infants, and the telegraphic stage features short, simple sentences that often omit less critical words, resembling telegrams. Thus, these stages precede the beginning oral fluency stage, which showcases the culmination of first language acquisition.