To think or not to think
We think in a language, in a language we are comfortable with. It’s mostly our mother tongue. We don’t even realize it that we think in a language subconsciously. But imagine a person with no language. If a newborn baby were to be put alone on an island and never taught anything, would he think? If he would, what language would it be in? Is it even possible to think without knowing a language? Would he ever speak any words or make noise when he doesn’t know what words sound like? Would he even know he could speak? And if he doesn’t have a language and we need that for thinking, will he not think at all?
Always makes me wonder.
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Whoa. I guess he’d think in feelings and pictures. I mean, he’d acknowledge and understand and remember, and he’d put things together to survive. Then he might end up making new things and ideas. You know, babies use their vocal chords when they cry- that’s like speaking. So he’d moan, and coo, and scream, and whoop, which is a kind of speaking. Some things might be off limits for his mind, maybe, although I can’t think of just what right now. But he would definitely think.
cannelle14 - February 26, 2009 at 4:50 pm
but that is the question.if you think in your mind, ill go eat something, youre actually saying it to yourself. but you cant say anything to yourself if you dont know how to say anything at all.
mobzilla - February 26, 2009 at 10:33 pm
to ponder leads to answers…
…in the language that comes naturally
batster - February 27, 2009 at 3:27 pm