Speech vs. Language: What’s the Difference?

If your toddler is having trouble communicating, you may hear the words speech and language used to describe what’s going on.

But did you know that speech and language are actually two different things?

Your toddler might understand everything you say but use very few words. Or maybe they have lots to say, but you have a hard time understanding them. These can point to different areas of communication.

Understanding the difference between speech and language can help you better understand your toddler’s communication development and know what to watch for.

What Is Speech?

Speech is how we produce sounds to communicate words.

It includes things like:

• How clearly your child says sounds

• How they pronounce words

• Whether certain sounds are easier or harder for them

• How understandable their speech is to other people

For example, imagine your 2-year-old says, “I want my baba,” but you hear, “I wan my wawa.”

Your toddler may have the language skills to know what they want to say, but their speech sounds may make it difficult for others to understand them.

Speech is about how your child says something.

What Is Language?

Language is what we use to understand and communicate ideas, thoughts, wants, and needs.

Language includes much more than spoken words.

It can include:

• Understanding what others say

• Using words to communicate

• Combining words into phrases and sentences

• Following directions

• Answering questions

• Using gestures

• Communicating wants and needs

• Learning and understanding new words

For example, your toddler might point to the refrigerator and say, “milk,” or bring you their shoes when you say, “Let's go outside.”

These are examples of language and communication.

Language is about what your child understands and communicates.

So, What's the Difference?

Here's an easy way to think about it:

Speech = How your child says it.

Language = What your child understands and communicates.

Let's say your toddler says:

“More juice!”

If they understand what “more” means, know what juice is, and put those words together to communicate what they want, that's language.

How clearly they pronounce “more juice” is related to speech.

A child can have difficulty with one area, the other, or both.

What Might a Language Concern Look Like?

Language concerns can look different from child to child.

You might notice that your toddler:

• Uses fewer words than you expected

• Has difficulty learning new words

• Doesn't combine words into phrases

• Has difficulty following simple directions

• Doesn't seem to understand familiar words or questions

• Relies heavily on pointing or gestures to communicate

• Has difficulty expressing wants, needs, or ideas

It's also important to remember that communication isn't only about spoken words.

Gestures, eye gaze, facial expressions, sounds, pointing, and other ways of communicating all count.

What Might a Speech Concern Look Like?

Speech concerns can also look different depending on your child's age and development.

You might notice that:

• Your toddler says words, but they're difficult to understand

• Certain sounds are consistently left out or changed

• Your child becomes frustrated when others don't understand them

• You understand your child much more easily than unfamiliar listeners do

• Your toddler seems to know what they want to say but has difficulty producing certain sounds

Some speech sound differences are completely expected as young children develop. The important thing is looking at the whole picture, including your child's age, communication skills, and overall development.

Can a Toddler Have Both Speech and Language Difficulties?

Yes.

A toddler may have difficulty learning and using language and have difficulty producing certain speech sounds.

For example, a child might use only a small number of words and also be difficult to understand when they do talk.

This is one reason it can be helpful to look beyond simply asking, “How many words does my toddler say?”

Communication development involves many different skills.

What If My Toddler Understands Everything but Isn't Talking?

This is a question many parents have.

A toddler who understands language well but isn't using many spoken words may have stronger receptive language skills than expressive language skills.

Receptive language refers to what your child understands.

Expressive language refers to how your child communicates their thoughts, wants, needs, and ideas.

Your toddler might understand directions, recognize familiar people and objects, and know what you're talking about, while still having difficulty expressing themselves with words.

That difference can be important when thinking about your child's communication development.

What Can You Do at Home?

No matter where your toddler is in their communication development, everyday interactions provide countless opportunities to support speech and language.

Try:

Follow their lead.
Join your child in what they're already interested in instead of constantly directing the interaction.

Talk about what they're doing.
If your toddler is pushing a car, you might say, “Car! Go car! The car is fast!”

Expand what they say.
If they say, “Dog,” you can respond with, “Big dog!” or “The dog is running!”

Pause.
Give your toddler time to respond before jumping in or answering for them.

Use repetition.
Hearing the same useful words again and again helps children learn them.

Use gestures.
Pointing, waving, showing, and other gestures give your toddler additional ways to communicate.

Most importantly, remember that communication is more than the number of words your child says.

When Should You Seek Support?

If you're concerned about your toddler's communication, you don't have to wait until you're certain something is wrong.

An SLP can help you understand your child's communication skills, answer your questions, and provide education about ways to support communication development.

Every child develops at their own pace, but your concerns are worth paying attention to.

You know your child best.

At COTO, We Help Parents Understand Toddler Communication

If you're wondering whether your toddler's speech and language development is on track, COTO offers virtual parent consultations designed to give you clear, practical information about your child's communication development.

You don't need to have all the answers before reaching out. Sometimes, having someone explain what you're seeing and what you can do at home is exactly what you need.

Because understanding your toddler's communication shouldn't feel overwhelming.