6 to 8 months÷Babies are not just LALLING around, but are also using the JARGON of their language.
Actually, I like to talk about Lalling first, and then Jargon to clarify the difference between the two.
Lalling is a term favored in old-time language texts but not used so much now. I like the term, however, partly because I am an old-time professor, and partly because it underscores a particular oral growth feature--articulation control.
During the babbling period, the sound combinations that the baby made were reflexive or random. Now, the baby can make a sound voluntarily, at his discretion. It's a sure sign that vocal motor patterns are beginning to be developed and stored in the "Mixer."
Baby can say, "ba" when he wants to or "da" or "bada" and do it again, "bada bada bada bada bada bada bada,
" and again and again.
The range of consonants produced voluntarily, in terms of type and frequency, will at first be limited. Quickly new vowels and consonants will appear, and will increase in frequency.