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by Koz - Passion Perseverance Patience on September 6th, 2007
It was explained to me that language is only a pathway to express ideas. Like a village in a jungle. The more you use the path way, the more it is distinct. Stop using it and it may soon be overgrown by the jungle. In other words, we don't think in a language, we think ideas and express them in a language that we know.
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Comments
My study of psycholinguistics agrees completely with this answer. Humans do not "think" in language, but in images. If one says "bread" to an English-speaker, he or she will not "think" b-r-e-a-d, but mentally visualize a baked product that that is so identified in that culture. If I say "pan" to a Spaniard, that person will, more than likely visualize a long, bar of baked, more or less savory product. To an Indian, perhaps, a flat disk baked on a sheet of hot metal. The only time language is used in thought is to sub-vocalize, i.e. "talk to myself." Those who become fluent in more than one language, as I am, generally find themselves multicultural, as well. To me "bread" brings an image; "pan" another, and "pain" yet another. But none conjure up words.
by DAHEdS on March 13th, 2008
I've head that dreams are also not in dreamed in any language.
by Koz - Passion Perseverance Patience on March 13th, 2008