He is very young. My son started speaking late too. just woke up one morning and decided that he had a story to tell! If you are still concerned about it, take him to his pediatrician. But if he can interact with you and understand directives, then he just isn't ready yet. Word of advice...enjoy the quiet (lol).

My girlfriend was really worried about her daughter not talking, she would only say mum, ta and either nod or shake her head. She is now 26 months and in the last 2 weeks has started talking out of no were, apparently you cant get her to shut up lol. I'm sure you have nothing to worry about but a child health nurse can help if you are xox

 My son was pretty much the same way at 18 months. There were words he spoke frequently, and words we knew he knew but didn't say that much. But my husband did know that he understood a lot more than his vocabulary count. He could also understand simple commands at this age.   If you see the same, don't be worried.      My son didn't speak until he was between 2 and 2 1/2. Now he jabbers all the time. :)

Read to your baby and incorporate it into your bedtime routine. And talk lots! Narrate your day and whatever else you're doing at the time. :)

Just talk to him lots! Try to pause even if he jabbers, and act like he's just commented on what you said (ie teach him to take turns in talking) eg. "so you liked that, did you? Let me show you some more...."

My DD2 used 3 words until 21 months "oh-no" "uh-oh-dear" and "daddy". By her 2 year check at 25 months, they pronounced that she was "average". I knew she understood everything I was saying, it was just a case of waiting for the dam to break. And it did! She is three now and we call her "Little Miss Chatterbox".

my sons the same he refuses to talk but understands everything i ask.   if i ask him to get his elephant he does,gets in the bath he does.  

read to him even if its the morning paper, discuss the events happening in it,  my son loves it when i read him stories from our local, if u dont have books your local library should have kids books.  when you go for a walk point out things. eg i point out to him the parrots and butterflies, even how green the grass is.

 Don't worry about it.  As long as you are talking to him all the time... he's just storing up all that info for later.  Eventually all the kids catch up with each other.  But if you really want him to talk, try naming everything that you come across.  Flash cards worked really well for me.

As for the baby sign language thing... we tried it worked for a little while.  But I think, and this is just me, that if you use the baby signs too much, then there is no need for the kid talk.  If he wants something he will just sign it.  Just talk to him lots and read, read, read aloud to him.  I have a little more info on this on my blog Cliff Notes for the Stay at Home Dad

I actually am jealous of you... my 19mth old just won't stop jabbering.  And I don't know who taught her the language that she is speaking some sort of cross between, english, spanish, russian and jibberjabber, that I think she learned from Mr. T!

Don't panic!

He obviously can talk because he has his own little vocabulary. He just hasn't found the need to go further with it yet.

He's still very young. Give him time.

 Maybe try sitting down with him more often and talking one on one, read books, go for a walk and talk about what you see eg trees, dogs, people, cars etc.

If you have the t.v on, turn it off and actually talking, they learn better from real life talking.

Also does he know what you are saying? Can he get a ball or a favorite toy if you ask? He may just not have got the talking down yet, but if he can do what you tell him then that will let you know that he understands just cant comunicate back yet.

You could also try baby sign language, these are easy signs that can help them get across what they want or need and then you will be able to see that he can communicate he just cant get his voice working right yet. Baby sign language needs to be used everytime you use the word for them to understand it, and it may take a week to 2 or 3 weeks for them to pick it up. It is also ment to help with speach as well!

Good luck :)