Operating principles in repetitive babbling: A cognitive continuity approach

A case study of the period of repetitive babbling in one child (Dutch) is reported. A cognitive continuity theory is presented, which views repetitive babbling as a systematic, continuous and largely self-directed process of exploration, during which the child uses certain operating principles in the construction of his own ‘springboard’ to speech.Two operating principles identified are: a combination principle, consisting of the combining of articulatory acts which previously have been exercised separately, and a variation principle, consisting of the trying out of the same type of articulatory act in different articulatory contexts.Four stages are distinguished in the development of repetitive babbling. In the first stage no combinations occur, in the second stage combination mainly takes the form of repetition and in the third stage it takes the form of concatenating different babbling types as well. In the fourth stage the concatenations grow more varied and less repetitive in character. The subsequent stages of jargon babbling and first words are discussed shortly and their continuity with repetitive babbling is pointed out.