Rather than saying the kitten fell in the bathtub, young Sylvester says, "Kitty wet," which leaves Sylverster's mother to wonder about the nature of the liquid on or coming out of the cat. This linguistic limitation is known as
A) overextension.
B) fast mapping.
C) telegraphic speech.
D) referential style.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Telegraphic speech is a form of communication used by young children in which words not critical to the message are left out. In this case, Sylvester's omission of details about how the kitten got wet is an example of telegraphic speech, where only the essential words are used to convey the message.

Rather Than Saying the Kitten Fell in the Bathtub, Young