prelinguistic

adj

1. (not-comparable)Preceding the use of true language

   “Look, you know, a grunted uh, I mean — which is what I use to fill up a silence to show I'm conscious while I'm groping for a word — is, like, prelinguistic language.”

   “Video a prelinguistic child with its mother. Show the recording to the mother and ask her which of the baby's noises and gestures she believes are intentional communication.”