I'm not talking about when they speak their first words, or even their first sentences, but the age where they can carry on a decent conversation with (say) kids of the same age. What age does this happen?
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1What do you mean by conversation ? When do you estimate it to be decent ? I've seen very young kids interact and "speak" together although their speech was impossible to understand from an adult perspective. When it becomes understandable, it is usually far from interesting from the same adult perspective. There are also no strict rules, was it for speech or anything else, so that would be more in some rather large timespan than a specific age...– Laurent S.Sep 9, 2015 at 8:20
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5Define decent conversation... I know some adults with whom I can't have what I would call a decent conversation...– DariuszSep 9, 2015 at 10:59
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1You may need to refine this question. Does the conversation need to be disconnected from play (e.g. the only topic is essentially abstract, unrelated to the toys in front of them)? How long a conversation are we talking about, a couple sentences or many minutes?– AcireSep 9, 2015 at 11:28
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Also - you have two very different things here. Being able to hold a conversation with an adult != being able to do so with a child - largely because the second requires social skills which typically develop after that of speech.– JoeSep 11, 2015 at 19:20
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1 Answer
Well, it's a gradual process.
What are the milestones for speech and language development?
The first signs of communication occur when an infant learns that a cry will bring food, comfort, and companionship. Newborns also begin to recognize important sounds in their environment, such as the voice of their mother or primary caretaker. As they grow, babies begin to sort out the speech sounds that compose the words of their language. By 6 months of age, most babies recognize the basic sounds of their native language.
Children vary in their development of speech and language skills. However, they follow a natural progression or timetable for mastering the skills of language. ...
Here's some of the milestones which relate directly to speaking:
1 to 2 Years
Uses some one- or two-word questions (“Where kitty?” or “Go bye-bye?”)
Puts two words together (“More cookie”)
Uses many different consonant sounds at the beginning of words2 to 3 Years
Has a word for almost everything
Uses two- or three-word phrases to talk about and ask for things
Uses k, g, f, t, d, and n sounds
Speaks in a way that is understood by family members and friends
Names objects to ask for them or to direct attention to them3 to 4 Years
Talks about activities at daycare, preschool, or friends’ homes
Uses sentences with four or more words
Speaks easily without having to repeat syllables or words4 to 5 Years
Uses sentences that give many details
Tells stories that stay on topic
Communicates easily with other children and adults
Says most sounds correctly except for a few (l, s, r, v, z, ch, sh, and th)
Uses rhyming words
Names some letters and numbers
Uses adult grammar
Selected items from Speech and Language Developmental Milestones, NICD (USA), Updated September 2010, based upon How Does Your Child Hear and Talk?, courtesy of the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association.
So essentially the answer to your question - when can they carry on a decent-ish conversation - is "somewhere between age 3 and age 5".
