Which of the following indicates the beginning of language acquisition in infants?

The beginning of language acquisition in infants is most accurately represented by cooing. Cooing typically occurs around 6 to 8 weeks of age and involves the production of vowel-like sounds, which marks the early development of vocalization. This stage is significant as it demonstrates the infant's ability to control their vocal cords and produce sounds, which are foundational for later speech development.

Crying serves primarily as a means for infants to communicate their needs or discomfort, rather than a step in language acquisition. While gesturing can be a part of non-verbal communication and may develop later, it is not the first phase of language acquisition. Babbling, which emerges slightly later, typically occurs around 4 to 6 months and involves combining consonants and vowels, indicating the child is beginning to experiment with sounds that will eventually form words. Therefore, cooing is the more accurate indicator of the onset of language acquisition in infants.