In typical development, receptive language clarity precedes expressive language clarity.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not applicable
• D. Cannot determine

Answer: (A)

In typical development, understanding language comes before being able to express it clearly. Infants and toddlers first build a receptive vocabulary by listening, recognizing words, and following simple commands, often using gestures or nonverbal cues. They can understand more than they can say, even when their speech is still limited or unclear. For example, a child might understand phrases like “come here” or “give me the ball” long before they can produce those words clearly themselves. As exposure and brain development continue, expressive skills—pronouncing sounds correctly, forming words, and using proper syntax—gradually catch up, narrowing the gap between what they understand and what they can articulate. So the statement reflects the usual developmental pattern.