What significant change occurs in a child's vocabulary during the later linguistic stage?

During the later linguistic stage, children experience a significant increase in vocabulary. This stage typically occurs from about age 2 to age 7, and it is characterized by rapid language development. As children engage in more complex interactions and are exposed to diverse language inputs from various sources, such as conversations with adults and peers, storytelling, and reading, their vocabulary expands substantially.

In this stage, children also begin to understand and use words in more nuanced ways, including the acquisition of synonyms, antonyms, and more sophisticated terminology related to their experiences. This lexical growth is essential for effective communication and plays a foundational role in their academic success as they enter school and encounter a broader range of topics and concepts.

The increase in vocabulary is not just about the sheer number of words learned, but also about the development of meaning, which contributes to overall language proficiency. This marks a key developmental achievement during this stage, setting the groundwork for further language development and literacy skills.