Final answer:
Both receptive and productive language develop rapidly in infants, though at slightly different rates. Infants acquire language naturally by being surrounded by talk and go through stages of language learning. Factors such as environment and exposure to language can influence the rate of language development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Both receptive and productive language develop rapidly in infants, but they may develop at slightly different rates. Receptive language refers to the ability to understand or comprehend language, while productive language refers to the ability to use or produce language. Infants typically start developing receptive language skills even before they are born, showing preference for their mother's voice and being able to discriminate between different languages.
As babies are exposed to language, they go through stages of language learning and acquire language naturally by being surrounded by talk. From around the ages of nine months to three years, they undergo a rapid process of language learning. During this time, they develop both receptive and productive language skills, although productive language skills may take a bit longer to develop.
It is important to note that each infant may have their own individual timeline for language development, and factors such as environment and exposure to language can influence the rate at which they develop receptive and productive language skills.