Which best describes canonical babbling?

• A. Repetition of the same syllable (e.g., "ba-ba")
• B. Sequences of different syllables and consonants (e.g., "bagada")
• C. Reduplicated or nonreduplicated open syllables like "ba-ba" that emerge around 6–10 months.
• D. A word-like vocalization with consistent meaning but not a true word

Answer: (C)

Canonical babbling is the stage when infants start producing syllable-like sounds that have clear consonant–vowel structure and timing similar to speech. It includes both reduplicated sequences (like ba-ba) and sequences of different CV syllables (like ba-da-ga). The hallmark is true CV syllables with adult-like rhythm, and it typically emerges around 6 to 10 months. This description is the best because it captures both ways canonical babbling can present itself—repeated syllables and varied CV syllables—and places it in the common developmental window, all of which align with how this stage is defined. The other descriptions are limiting or refer to related but distinct phenomena: repeating a single syllable only focuses on one narrow pattern, sequences of different syllables without tying them to canonical CV structure and timing can describe broader babbling stages, and a word-like vocalization with a consistent meaning points to proto-words rather than the structured CV babbling stage.