Pregestures

Pregestures are a proposed class of early nonverbal behaviors that some researchers consider to precede the emergence of conventional gestural communication in humans. The term combines pre- with gesture, signaling a stage where movements or postures carry intention but do not yet function as standardized signs.

In development, pregestures are observed in infancy as broad, spontaneous movements such as reaching, hand shaping, or object manipulation directed at a caregiver, as well as facial expressions and vocal cues that accompany attention or contact. These behaviors may serve to draw attention, regulate interaction, or anticipate a response, and can become more goal-directed over time.

Functionally, pregestures may scaffold the development of intentional, conventional gestures like pointing or showing. They can help establish joint attention, regulate turn-taking, and provide practice for the motor planning involved in later symbolic gestures. Through repeated social interaction, caregivers may interpret these early cues and respond in ways that reinforce forthcoming communicative acts.

Relationship to other concepts varies by theory. Some researchers distinguish pregestures from proto-gestures or prelinguistic gestures. Proto-gestures typically refer to context-bound, iconic signs that later become standardized, while pregestures are viewed as more rudimentary, variable, and less stable across contexts.

Variability and debate surround the term. Pregestures are not universally adopted, and some scholars prefer broader categories such as early communicative displays or early motor signals. The boundaries and developmental trajectories of pregestures remain topics for further empirical study.

See also: proto-gesture, joint attention, prelinguistic communication, gesture development.