As infants extract an increasing number of potential word forms from the speech stream they hear

As infants extract an increasing number of potential word forms from the speech stream they hear, they begin to associate these with concrete, perceptually available objects in their world. This is referred to as

A a tertiary circular reaction.

B infinite generativity. object permanence.

C statistical learning.

The correct answer and explanation is:

The correct answer is C. statistical learning.

Explanation:
Statistical learning refers to the process by which infants gradually acquire language by identifying patterns in the speech they hear. As infants listen to the language around them, they pick up on various statistical regularities, such as which sounds or syllables tend to occur together. Over time, they use these patterns to segment speech into meaningful units, like words. This process involves associating these units with concrete, perceptually available objects or actions in their environment, enabling infants to link language with meaning.

The idea behind statistical learning is that infants are sensitive to the frequency and distribution of linguistic elements in the speech they are exposed to. For example, when a specific sound sequence (like “cat”) is heard frequently in connection with a particular object (like a cat), the infant begins to associate that sound sequence with the object. As this learning process continues, infants are able to map more words onto corresponding objects and actions in their world.

This process is foundational in language acquisition because it helps infants break down the continuous stream of speech into individual words and associate those words with real-world referents. In essence, statistical learning allows infants to decode the structure of language without requiring explicit teaching, relying instead on the natural distribution and co-occurrence of sounds in their environment.

This ability to use statistical regularities to learn about the world and language represents a key aspect of cognitive development in infants. It highlights how infants are not passive receivers of information but active learners who are constantly making connections between language and their surroundings.