Which of the following best describes the pre-verbal stage?

The pre-verbal stage of child language acquisition is characterized by the use of gestures and vocalizations. During this stage, which typically occurs from birth to around 12 months, infants communicate primarily through non-verbal means. They express themselves with coos, cries, and babbling while also utilizing gestures like reaching, pointing, or waving, which are essential forms of communication before any real words are formed.

This stage is crucial as it lays the groundwork for later language development, allowing infants to interact with their caregivers and engage with their environment even without verbal language skills. The focus is on the development of the communicative intent rather than the structure of language itself. As infants progress, they will eventually start forming words and simple phrases, but in the pre-verbal stage, the emphasis is on conveying needs and emotions through vocal expressions and physical gestures.