nonspeech

noun

non·​speech ˌnän-ˈspēch 

: something (such as a vocal sound) that is not speech

Indeed, until very recently the studies upon which this widely held belief was founded were not actually designed to test infants' preference for speech over nonspeech.

—Jenny R. Saffran et al.

—usually used before another noun

students with nonspeech disabilities

nonspeech sounds

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above