adjective
- occurring before the development or acquisition of language; existing or happening before a person learns to speak or communicate through language
Usage: commonly used in developmental psychology, linguistics, and cognitive science
Examples
- Infants communicate through prelinguistic vocalizations such as cooing and babbling.
- Researchers study prelinguistic gestures to understand how babies develop language skills.
- The prelinguistic stage of development typically lasts until a child speaks their first words.
- Prelinguistic thought involves mental processes that occur without words or symbols.
- Many animals engage in prelinguistic forms of communication through body language and sounds.