Which aspect of language development is often observed first in toddlers?

The correct answer is C, phonology, which refers to the sound structure of language. In toddlers, the first aspect of language development typically observed is their ability to produce and differentiate sounds. As children are exposed to language, they begin to experiment with sounds, which is foundational for their later language skills. This stage includes babbling, imitating sounds, and eventually forming words, all of which encompass phonological awareness.

Phonological development is crucial because it lays the groundwork for other language skills. Once children establish their ability to recognize and form sounds, they can progress to more complex elements of language, such as semantics (the meaning of words), syntax (the rules that govern sentence structure), and pragmatics (the social use of language).

While other aspects of language development like semantics and pragmatics are important in their own right and emerge shortly thereafter, phonology is the first milestone toddlers achieve, marking the beginning of their verbal communication journey. Thus, the focus on phonology highlights the initial steps toddlers take in their overall language development.