Pointing has long been considered influential in language acquisition. Certain pre-linguistic vocal expressions may hold even greater value in addressing the transition to language. The goal of the present study is longitudinal evaluation of early communicative development, addressing the influence of pre-linguistic gestures and vocal expressions. This multiple case study report analyzes longitudinal development in five children from 9 to 16 months of age, a critical language transition period. We include gestures of pointing and extending the hand, with interactive as well as request functions. Gestures, communicative grunts, words, and multimodal events combining gesture with vocal accompaniment comprise the data. Results demonstrate group trends and stark individual differences in children’s use of vocal and gestural modalities, and the influence of grunt communication onset on overall communicative frequency in single and combined communicative events. We imbed this analysis within the broader context of mutually interacting variables in a dynamic system. These results argue for greater attention to vocalization as well as gesture in monitoring children’s approach to language development. Based on the role of communicative grunts demonstrated here, this variable should be further studied in both typical and language-delayed children.

指向一直被认为对语言习得有影响。某些语言前的声音表达在解决向语言的过渡方面可能具有更大的价值。本研究的目的是纵向评估早期的交流发展，以解决语言前手势和人声表达的影响。这份多案例研究报告分析了9个至16个月大的五个孩子的纵向发展，这是一个关键的语言过渡时期。我们包括指向和伸出手的手势，以及交互和请求功能。手势，语音和声音结合在一起的手势，交际咕unt声，单词和多模式事件构成了数据。结果表明，儿童在使用声音和手势方式时，群体趋势和个体差异明显，以及在单个或组合的交流事件中，残酷的交流开始对整体交流频率的影响。我们将这种分析嵌入到动态系统中相互影响的变量的更广泛的上下文中。这些结果表明，在监控孩子的语言发展方法时，应更多地注意发声以及手势。根据此处展示的交流咕unt声的作用，应在典型儿童和语言延迟儿童中进一步研究此变量。这些结果表明，在监控孩子的语言发展方法时，应更多地注意发声以及手势。根据此处展示的交流咕unt声的作用，应在典型儿童和语言延迟儿童中进一步研究此变量。这些结果表明，在监控孩子的语言发展方法时，应更多地注意发声以及手势。根据此处展示的交流咕unt声的作用，应在典型儿童和语言延迟儿童中进一步研究此变量。