• Question: Do we think in a certain language, or do we just think in images? Or do we have our own kind of language that we think in that only we understand?

    Asked by sciencerules49 to Claire, Kate, Matt, Rob, Sam on 21 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Robert Woolfson

      Robert Woolfson answered on 21 Jun 2013:

      I’ve actually spoken to a few of my friends who speak English as a second language. They say that when they can speak the language well they think in the language they’re speaking. However, when they get tired or are having trouble understanding, they think in their native language.

      As to the language in our heads, I’m pretty sure we all think using the same language (if we’re thinking in english) but we just use it in different ways.

    • Photo: Claire Lee

      Claire Lee answered on 21 Jun 2013:

      I also think we think in pictures a lot, especially subconscious thoughts, and then we sort of “translate into words” to our conscious brain.

    • Photo: Sam Geen

      Sam Geen answered on 21 Jun 2013:

      I tend to think in whatever language I’ve been using last – I speak both French and English, and if I’ve been talking to my French friends I sometimes think in French after. But, like people have said already, we don’t always think in words.

    • Photo: Matthew Pankhurst

      Matthew Pankhurst answered on 22 Jun 2013:

      Hmmm… I don’t know. But, I do know that language is really important in making us who we are, not just as “English speakers” or “Swahili speakers” or “German speakers”, but as a species. Often it is said that language both helps us think and limits how we can think. For instance, there are some languages that are very specific – one word means one thing, which you can see might help clear thinking and logical ideas. However, other languages have words which might mean several things, and you can see why this might lead to big imaginations and complicated, but confusing thoughts. Maybe we all think in slightly different ways, because all of us have slightly different personalities and are all individuals, doesn’t that come from how we view the world, and does that influence how we use our words (and we can only use the words we know!)? All good questions… I speak English and Australian (crikey!) and a few words in a few other languages…. not sure where that leaves me…!

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