A video excerpt and worksheet on the importance of pointing gestures in human communication

Along with eye contact, the pointing gesture is one of the simplest forms of human communication. From 9-12 months, before they say their first words, babies use this gesture to communicate with the people around them. Is the pointing gesture something typically human, or have we inherited this form of communication from our common ancestors with other great apes? Do other great apes also use and understand the pointing gesture to communicate with their fellow apes or with humans?