Speech that a child directs to himself or herself is called:

1. Private speech is speech spoken to oneself. 2. It serves communication with oneself, self-guidance and self-regulation. 3. Telegraphic and holophrastic speech are stages of speech to others. **Why not the others:** Phatic speech keeps contact with others, and telegraphic and holophrastic speech are early stages of speech to others. _Source: Wikipedia, "Private speech", section "introduction" (revision 1378894484)_