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An eighteen-month-old, or one-and-a-half-year-old, can readily say five or six words in a way people around them can understand. They may say perhaps as many more in a way their mother understands. At first only mothers understand some of their babies' words; over time correct pronunciation develops so everyone can understand.
The child may begin forming two-word sentences and make requests such as “Dad, come” or “give water.” They can also understand two-word phrases spoken to them and follow instructions such as “bring the ball” or “open the door.”
The most important factor we can change for verbal development, clearer and faster speech, and language development generally is the environmental and social setting. We should talk to the child often, address them like an adult, respect their personality and explain everything. The more adults around them who talk with them, the faster their speech will develop.
At this stage children can learn more than one language as native languages in the natural course of daily life. If mother and father naturally speak different languages, the child can learn both as native languages without confusing them. We should therefore not avoid speaking different languages around the child.
