Which of the following is NOT a type of prelinguistic speech?
A cooing
B babbling
C crying
D gestures
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is D) gestures.
Prelinguistic speech refers to the early forms of communication that infants use before they develop actual words and sentences. These stages are crucial for the development of language and involve sounds and behaviors that are not yet fully formed language.
- Cooing (A): This is one of the first stages of prelinguistic communication, typically occurring around 6 to 8 weeks of age. Babies produce cooing sounds like “oo” and “ah,” which are vocalizations involving the smooth, non-meaningful repetition of vowel-like sounds. Cooing helps babies practice the sounds needed for speech later on.
- Babbling (B): This stage occurs between 4 to 6 months and involves the repetition of consonant-vowel combinations, such as “ba-ba,” “da-da,” or “ma-ma.” Babbling is more advanced than cooing because it includes both consonants and vowels. Though it does not yet have meaning, babbling is a precursor to real words, and it helps infants learn the rhythm and patterns of speech.
- Crying (C): Crying is a very early form of prelinguistic communication, used by infants to signal needs like hunger, discomfort, or tiredness. While crying is not a speech sound per se, it is an essential form of vocal expression used to communicate distress or desire for attention. As infants mature, crying becomes less frequent, and other forms of communication like cooing and babbling begin to emerge.
- Gestures (D): Gestures involve physical movements like pointing or waving, which are not considered a type of prelinguistic speech. Though gestures play a significant role in early communication, they are categorized separately from vocalizations. Gestures are usually more associated with non-verbal communication and emerge slightly later in development when infants begin to use their hands to convey meaning.
In conclusion, while cooing, babbling, and crying are all essential stages in the development of prelinguistic speech, gestures are a form of non-verbal communication and are not considered a type of prelinguistic speech.