['To investigate factors associated with language delay in a cohort of 30-month-old children and determine if identification of language delay requires active contact with families.', 'Data were collected at a pilot universal 30-month health contact. Health visitors used a simple two-item language screen. Data were obtained for 315 children; language delay was found in 33. The predictive capacity of 13 variables which could realistically be known before the 30-month contact was analysed.', 'Seven variables were significantly associated with language delay in univariate analysis, but in logistic regression only five of these variables remained significant.'] Is language delay predictable from available risk factors?