Which term describes the early internal dialogue that starts as external self-talk and guides behavior?

Which term describes the early internal dialogue that starts as external self-talk and guides behavior?

• A. Telegraphic Speech
• B. The Comma
• C. Private Speech
• D. Holophrase

Answer: (C)

The concept here is private speech. In child development, private speech describes the self-talk children use to guide their own actions. It starts out loud as they talk themselves through tasks, offering steps like “First do this, then that,” and over time this speech becomes internal, turning into inner thoughts that help with planning and self-regulation. This process is central to how thinking and problem-solving develop in a social context, with language shaping cognition. Telegraphic speech refers to the early two-word stage where children omit function words, not to self-guiding dialogue. Holophrase is a single word that conveys a whole idea, not the self-regulatory process. The comma is just punctuation, unrelated to language development.

The concept here is private speech. In child development, private speech describes the self-talk children use to guide their own actions. It starts out loud as they talk themselves through tasks, offering steps like “First do this, then that,” and over time this speech becomes internal, turning into inner thoughts that help with planning and self-regulation. This process is central to how thinking and problem-solving develop in a social context, with language shaping cognition.

Telegraphic speech refers to the early two-word stage where children omit function words, not to self-guiding dialogue. Holophrase is a single word that conveys a whole idea, not the self-regulatory process. The comma is just punctuation, unrelated to language development.