What aspect of language development involves the ability to hear normally and produce sounds?

The aspect of language development that involves the ability to hear normally and produce sounds is phonological perception. This refers to a child's ability to recognize and differentiate sounds within language, which is fundamental for both understanding and producing spoken language. Phonological perception is critical during early stages of language development, as it encompasses the auditory discrimination skills needed to process sounds accurately, including phonemes, syllables, and rhythm.

While phonological production, on the other hand, refers to the physical ability to articulate and produce sounds correctly, it is not primarily focused on auditory perception but rather on the motor skills necessary for speech. Syntactic development deals with the rules governing sentence structure and grammar, and semantic development relates to the understanding and use of meaning in language. Therefore, phonological perception is specifically tied to the auditory and cognitive processes that underpin the ability to hear sounds and comprehend their role in language.