What language developmental milestones are expected in a 9-month-old infant?

At 9 months old, infants start to show an understanding that certain sounds or words can have specific meanings, which is significant in their language development. This milestone indicates that they are beginning to make connections between the sounds they hear and their meanings, such as recognizing their name or words like "mama" or "dada," especially when associated with their parents. This understanding of the significance behind language is a pivotal step in their communication skills.

Other milestones typically seen around this age include babbling, which may involve single consonants or the combination of consonants and vowels, but these do not imply a true understanding of language. Smiling and cooing are common earlier in infancy, but by 9 months, the focus shifts more towards meaningful vocalizations, illustrating the growth of cognitive processing related to language comprehension.