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telegraphic speech

1. condensed or abbreviated speech in which only the most central words, carrying the highest level of information, are spoken. Nouns and verbs are typically featured, whereas adjectives, adverbs, articles, and connective parts of speech are omitted.

2. the speech of children roughly between the ages of 18 and 30 months. This is usually in the form of two-word expressions up to the age of about 24 months (see two-word stage) and thereafter is characterized by short but multiword expressions (e.g., dog eat bone). Also called telegraphic stage.

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Psychology term of the day

December 26th 2024

institutionalized racism

institutionalized racism

differential treatment of individuals on the basis of their racial group by religious organizations, governments, businesses, the media, educational institutions, and other large social entities. Examples include discrimination in hiring, promotion, and advancement at work; restrictive housing regulations that promote segregation; unfair portrayal of minority members in newspapers and magazines; and legal statutes that restrict the civil liberties of the members of specific racial categories. A parallel phenomenon exists for sexism. Also called institutional racism.