Do you think in ' Words ' ?

[Grambo]

I think In WORDS.
For instance i think " I must go to the shop ", OR " I must throw out the garbage ".
The question is: before we had any ' words ', How did we think ?.

[Jolly McJollyson]

The brain's activity is simply reaction to stimuli from the outside world, and the first "thought" or action of the brain is not translated into language, but, instead, manifested in reaction. To be hungry, someone doesn't have to think "I am hungry," he will simply be hungry. To respond to that hunger by finding food, be it at a store or off a bush, the mind will look to memory to seek a solution. When memory tells the mind, "ah, usually when you're hungry you check the fridge," it doesn't communicate in verbal language, it merely conjures the specific memories accounting for this assessment. We may choose to think in the language we speak, but those words are merely signifiers for objects and concepts. Their use is to communicate ideas to others, not to ourselves. Most people do finalize thought in word within their minds, but the words themselves are really only necessary to let others understand what and why we are thinking.

[Grambo]

thankyou, i've been relaxing for twenty minutes in a quiet room just listening and not thinking ( without words ).....................peacefull.

[pure]

Jolly, i don't think anybody could have said it better than you did. Thats exactly what i was thinking.

[R. Shackleferd]

This reminds me of a story I once read somewhere:

When Arthur returned to civilization after being raised by Merlin in seclusion, people asked what spells he was taught by the wizard.
He replied, "Spells? I don't know, but he did teach me words. When I was little he told me to eat, then he told me to sleep, and later on to walk. I've been eating, sleeping and walking ever since, so those must be potent spells indeed."

[PRSplaya]

Dude... that's deep...

I've actually often thought about this aswell. I came to the conclusion that your mind doesn't actually "see" an object or action as a word, but automatically associates the object or action with a word, simply because that is what you have learned what it is. Similar to how Jolly explained it.

[markc2005]

interesting i always thought that things llike this are linked with the way we comunicate, so i guess if somebodies primary method of communication was sign language the maybe they dont think words in there head but see the signs instead.

When i was little i used to think everone in the world spoke english in their head

[Mark Pav]

Mostly, people think in terms of sensory information--primarily pictures.

[Hammurabi]

I've got a theory- thinking in words aids one's memory. By memory I don't just mean like "what did I come into this room for?" but I also mean that our minds use words as value-holding variables with which to construct complex thoughts and arguments so that we do not have to hold every detail of every element of our thoughts in instinctive memory. Because of this I also believe that having a large vocabulary increases one's intelligence and the potential complexity and logical soundness of one's thoughts and reasoning.

Edit: Perhaps a more clear way of explaining this is that one's vocabulary is like information stored on a hard drive and one's instinctive thoughts are like ram. Ram is much faster, but it is volatile (short-term) and has much less storage space for its cost.

[jeffhx]

Dude... that's deep...

I've actually often thought about this aswell. I came to the conclusion that your mind doesn't actually "see" an object or action as a word, but automatically associates the object or action with a word, simply because that is what you have learned what it is. Similar to how Jolly explained it.

classical conditioning in action...what we see is what we are taught to see..so maaaaaaayybe...what we see or perceive...isn't exactly what we see OR percieve.....oooooooo...

*cue x-files theme

mulder: where's me gimpsuit??!!

[R. Shackleferd]

Words are indeed powerful. A few syllables can instantly conjure up knowledge and associations...like simply saying the word "high school" will generally bring up one's own experiences of that era of their life. And taking this in a different direction, it's similarly applied to the other senses as well. Here in Galveston the salty gulf can be smelled on the breeze. This stinks to alot of people, but I've had a great many memories whether they're on the beach, out fishing, or whatever, and thus when I get a whiff of that fishy 'stink', I can't help but like it.

[ericthecableguy]

Ya Rustee I dig that. I disgust myself though, a smell or song that i remember from a certain period of my life can easily make me so nostaligic i literally get sick to my stomach.

As for the thinking in words...mine gets kinda screwed from time to time. I regularly screw up a scentence half way through and start again. Ex. I'll tell someone, 'I bought my new guitar at Gilbert Guitars'. But...my head just says 'tell him about the new thing you have'.

So...It'll come out something like 'I bought guzaa.....' blah. I start again and try to laugh it off. It's been happening more and more lately. :confused:

[Grambo]

I've got a Pink Floyd tuition Cd, it has seven of their best tracks, but without words.
By listening to these instrumentals I have a greater respect for how creative, talented and dedicated Pink Floyd Are .

[Lordathestrings]

I don't expect anybody to get very far in dealing with abstract concepts without thinking in words. This is why good language skills are very important. I think that the language a person uses to communicate to others with will also shape their thinking processes in terms of basic precepts and also how thoughts are organised in order to make them understandable.

[Grambo]

We don't need no education.................
It's not true is it.

[tehplatypus]

I think In WORDS.
For instance i think " I must go to the shop ", OR " I must throw out the garbage ".
The question is: before we had any ' words ', How did we think ?.


what have you been smoking and where can i get some?

/just sayin
//this isn't really "normal" conversation.

[Grambo]

Ha Ha, don't need to smoke, I just leave out a couple of downers -prescribed.

[Grambo]

We don't need no medication......

[ericthecableguy]

what have you been smoking and where can i get some?

/just sayin
//this isn't really "normal" conversation.

Normal conversation sucks.

[Grambo]

Thanks for all the repiles - got me ' finkin '.

[ericthecableguy]

We don't need no medication......

...unless were Grambo (who has a subscription)

[Grambo]

...unless were Grambo (who has a subscription)

Absolutely, anyone with a mental disorder needs to to take prescribed medications.

[ericthecableguy]

Absolutely, anyone with a mental disorder needs to to take prescribed medications.

Tell that to tom cruise.

[Grambo]

Do you think it would make a difference ?

[ericthecableguy]

I don't know whats worse...the irony that he's the one that needs to be on med's or his role in war of the worlds.

[Grambo]

He certainly appears unnaturally high.

[magicninja]

We don't need no education.................
It's not true is it.
Most people don't realise that this statement is a double negative so I find it to be true. :)

[Grambo]

Brilliant.

[Grambo]

Wasn't there a band called - Faith no more.
Just FAITH

[tehplatypus]

Ha Ha, don't need to smoke, I just leave out a couple of downers -prescribed.


that'll end up doing it too.


as far as thinking in words, i find myself thinking in words a lot...which is odd because i normally have trouble communicating when it comes to speaking. i do great with typing and things like online forums and such because it's essentially the same as thinking in words in the mind. oddness.

[tehplatypus]

Wasn't there a band called - Faith no more.
Just FAITH


one of my favorite bands.


as far as tom cruise...i always thought he seemed like a cokehead, myself.

[Grambo]

I was considering Monks, some of them do not speak for years or even decades - Vow of silence - are their minds devoid of Words ?

[Lordathestrings]

People think in words, whether they speak those words or not. Monks are expected to study scripture and pray silently, even when they do not speak to each other.

[Grambo]

Right thanks.

[R. Shackleferd]

Talking of Buddhist monks I presume, I'd say much of their intention and/or ultimate goal is to find the inner peace, which from descriptions, is quite inadaquately described by words at all. And as mentioned, the deepest meditations are without words...or even thoughts at all. Much of the chanting and prayer are merely catalysts to initiate the intent to unfocus the mind from typical "thinking", if that makes sense.

[Grambo]

I've had this discussion with a few friends.
Some of them think more in pictures and words.
I'm not good at visualising pictures - and im useless at Art.
Wondering if it is connected.

[hunter60]

You think in words because that's how you were taught to communicate. How does a person born deaf and blind learn and think? (Forgive me if this has already been covered in this thread...it's been a long day, my eyes feel like they're bleeding and I just can't read through this all tonight. Sorry).

[Fret spider]

this is sorta realted to the topic so i thought i would put it in. was wonderin if any of u guys think numbers have colours.

i know this sounds od but i have met many people who say like 1 is black 2 is blue 3 is green or watever. when they visualise the numbers they are that colour.

i dunno about u but i dont have this at all. i think all the numbers are black. i guess that meens somethin but i dont know wat.

[Jolly McJollyson]

this is sorta realted to the topic so i thought i would put it in. was wonderin if any of u guys think numbers have colours.

i know this sounds od but i have met many people who say like 1 is black 2 is blue 3 is green or watever. when they visualise the numbers they are that colour.

i dunno about u but i dont have this at all. i think all the numbers are black. i guess that meens somethin but i dont know wat.
I'm not sure about that, but I HAVE heard people with perfect pitch talk about the "color" of sound. They're being figurative, though.

[ren]

this is sorta realted to the topic so i thought i would put it in. was wonderin if any of u guys think numbers have colours.

i know this sounds od but i have met many people who say like 1 is black 2 is blue 3 is green or watever. when they visualise the numbers they are that colour.

i dunno about u but i dont have this at all. i think all the numbers are black. i guess that meens somethin but i dont know wat.

There's a guy who is reputed to be a savant who thinks in terms of colour and shape, and as a party piece recites Pi to 10,000 decimal places or something equally crazy. I forget his name, but he's also considered autistic.

We probably don't know as much as we think we do about the workings of the mind - you can only vouch for your own. My thoughts often seem silent - it's like I just have an idea from nowhere. Sometimes they are more narrative - so yeah, my thoughts are in English. It varies depending on subject matter.

I only see pretty pictures after a heavy night.... :D

**EDIT** - The guy's name is Daniel Tammet - I found this (http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,,1409903,00.html) article...

[acapella]

I always think in words. Always. I'm constantly thinking too, so I tend to miss a lot of what people say, such as a teacher in class. I simply notice that they are talking all of a sudden, and try to pretend like I was paying attention. I think about things totally unrelated to the situation too, it's weird. I hardly ever think about what's going on at the moment, but I must solve dozens of problems a day just thinking about it. I think I might be some kind of genius, but not the normal kind.

Also, how do deaf people read? When I read I hear the words in my head, but if you were born deaf, you could not do this. How do they "sound it out" to learn when they are young? This really confuses me.

[Tonja_Renee]

I think in words and images.. Sometimes I think as though talking to myself or someone else, but other times there is no talking its more like a dream of sorts..

Never really thought about it until this thread though. When reading... it depends on how into what I'm reading as to whether I "hear" the words or play it out like a movie....

Is that weird? lol

[earthman buck]

this is sorta realted to the topic so i thought i would put it in. was wonderin if any of u guys think numbers have colours.

i know this sounds od but i have met many people who say like 1 is black 2 is blue 3 is green or watever. when they visualise the numbers they are that colour.

i dunno about u but i dont have this at all. i think all the numbers are black. i guess that meens somethin but i dont know wat.
Yes! It's not so strong now that I've grown up a little bit and lost a lot of my imagination, but when I was just starting school, all the numbers had very distinct colours. I also had colours picked out for the days of the week and the months. All I can remember out of the whole lot is that August was red and September was green.

I'm glad you brought that up, I thought I was insane.

[ericthecableguy]

I'm like that with guitar scales. They don't have sound colours, but the patterns and stuff for some reason are burned into my head with colour.

Am is green
Bm is blue
Cm is orange
Dm is red
Em is white
Fm is Red and White
Gm is Green and white

Hmm....weird how these connections are naturally made.

[R. Shackleferd]

Continuing that line of thought...yes, there are some (relatively few) that have a bleeding of their senses so to speak. I saw a whole show on this on the Science channel, which also covered the real Rain Man. As mentioned, some people associate colors with numbers, but they also told of a guy who tastes words. He's a bartender no less, and certain words and names trigger the sensation of tasting different flavors. And there are others who do "see" sounds, like music. Particular notes of a scale trigger the same colors all the time, so like an Eb will be brown, or whatever. Wicked stuff.

[tehplatypus]

I forget his name, but he's also considered autistic.


what a coincidence, so am i!


/not joking about artistic for autistic
//asperger's syndrome

[tehplatypus]

I'm not sure about that, but I HAVE heard people with perfect pitch talk about the "color" of sound. They're being figurative, though.


i don't see in color but i definately see in shapes....whenever i'm listening to music, i can see it in the form of multiple plateaus shifting in and around each other.

seeing in shapes also helps that guitar is basically shapes...so maybe that's where that developed from...dunno. i see triads in the triangular shapes that they form on guitar...which really defeated the whole piano sheet thing that they would do in ear training class since i already had a method of seeing my music in my head.