Objectives / subject: The aim of the work is to describe speech development in selected theoretical and research concepts and the influence of the child's family environment on this process. Speech development is a process influenced by both biological and social factors. Speech is a genetically determined skill, but its development is not possible without contact with the environment, including the immediate family. The subject of the research was speech development in selected theoretical and research concepts and the influence of the child's (family) environment. The article presents selected development concepts. The importance of genetics was indicated, as well as the varying intensity of the influence of the environment on building language competence and thus developing speech. The common denominator was emphasized, referring to the reflection that there is a strong relationship of mutual influence between people and their environment. Methods and/or materials: A method of analyzing selected development concepts and theoretical and research positions in which human development is described in a specific way (cognitive-developmental concept, behavioral theory, humanistic concept, symbolic interactionism, functionalism, structuralism), as well as genetics and with varying degrees of environmental influence (including family) to build language competences and thus develop speech. Results and/or conclusions: In the analyzed, selected theoretical and research concepts, human development was often presented in a different way. However, all of them emphasized the importance of genetic predispositions and the influence of the environment on the acquisition of communication skills. The role of the family, which is the closest environment stimulating the child's development, remains significant for speech development.