Paralinguistic and kinesic expression begin at birth and are essential to the development of language. Rhythm, for example, a suprasegmental event, appears to be present at birth or prior to birth. The relationship of physiology to communication is evident in the observations of extra-linguistic aspects of communication, such as movement, the use of the body in space, intense sound, and voice fluctuations. Discoveries regarding the relationship between the brain and language should lead to inquiries regarding the brain and nonverbal behavior as well. It is possible that the origin of nonverbal behavior is in the right hemisphere of the brain, as the origin of language apparently is in the left hemisphere of the brain. Finally, evidence has shown that the cognitive and cognitive-emotive development of an infant begin much earlier than speech development. Attention to these findings should lead to a new approach to the study of the acquisition of language. (Author/AM)