ABSTRACT
During infancy the foundations for speech, language and communication are developed through interaction with caregivers. Before speech develops the majority of children are highly competent communicators, able to initiate, maintain and terminate mutually rewarding communicative exchanges. Through nonverbal strategies basic communication functions, such as attracting attention, greeting, requesting, commenting and seeking information, are all within the repertoire of typically developing infants. By 12 months children have the basic motor competencies for speech production, and are able to produce a range of speech sounds, pitch and volume changes and use these to engage in vocal play both alone, and with caregivers. The development of communication is inextricably linked with social behaviour and play.
