Which term describes speech that centers on the speaker's perspective and does not consider the listener's needs?

• A. Telegraphic speech
• B. Holophrase
• C. Syncretic speech
• D. Motherese

Answer: (C)

Egocentric speech describes talking from the speaker’s own viewpoint without considering the listener’s needs. It’s common in early childhood, when children haven’t yet developed the ability to tailor language to what others know or need to know. They speak as if everyone shares their experiences and desires, focusing on their own perspective rather than adjusting for the listener.

Telegraphic speech, by contrast, uses short, content-heavy utterances that omit function words. Holophrase refers to a single word that conveys a larger idea. Motherese is the child-directed, exaggerated speech adults use to engage infants. None of these capture the idea of speaking primarily from one’s own perspective without attending to the listener, which is the hallmark of egocentric speech.