[somstuff (OP)]

If one thought in a faster or more concise language than say, English, would s/he be able to formulate ideas faster? Likewise, if the language was more expansive or logical than English, would that improve one's critical thinking skills? In general, how does language impact thought process?

[Joe L. Ogan]

Hi, Somstuff.  That is a very interesting question.  I shall be interested in the answers.  Did you know that there are 24 different kinds of math?  Thanks for comments.  Joe L. Ogan

[Bored chemist]

"If one thought in a faster or more concise language "
This begs  another question.
Do people think in language?
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=33070.0;topicseen

[neilep]

you know....In contrast/addition to what i said in another post (BC's link above).........I'm just thinking that when one has that 'eureka' moment !...it's like a sudden realisation of a comprehension. I think when one thinks of an idea ....it is the ' whole' that is perceived and not line by line of a three page essay or doctorate thesis !    I think the use of language here, as the means to thought, is an aid. For it to be the only way to think would be a hindrance.

One can understand a concept..by 'knowing' it ......so...in this case....I believe the only benefit a faster more concise language would yield......... would be in the ability to vocally communicate it...in my opinion.

[somstuff (OP)]

^^ Hmm, I'm still not quite sure after reading that. It seems like after we "languagise," we are able to formulate more complex thoughts (via language), so if we had a more complex language we would think in an even more complex way.

^ So you're saying we think up an idea and use words in our head merely to...I don't know, convert the idea to a verbal description? This makes sense, but it still seems like the language is necessary to explain the thought, not just to others, but to yourself.

[neilep]

I'd better clarify someting first...I always say "in my opinion" because I'm not a scientist....nor an academic...I'm not an expert or a consultant...in fact..I tend to ask a lot more questions here than I answer so what I am saying is please do take all I say with a pinch of salt because even a layperson has more knowledge than little ole me.

I do think though that once we have mastered a language we can use it as a tool to supplement the thought process by introducing key words and/or phrases which enable us to comprehend what we are thinking. Yes, with the aid of language we can then use it as a tool to formulate even more complex thoughts...which once understood would take more than a few words to explain yes ?.......but...when you've understood it/grasped it...you then ' know it'....however.....to pass on your understanding would need you to then explain it......that process takes a lot longer than the actual understanding once the knowledge has been learned !......see what I mean ?

[somstuff (OP)]

Okay, I think I got most of that. But I thought of something else:

I don't think language at all affects your ability to think critically. I think it's just translating the impulsive ideas that we get into a language. Consider this- Think in your mind the follow words: "The man will go to the store." In the back of your mind while you "say" this sentence, your thinking, but it's not in language. The thoughts, if actually translated, would be like "Why is this guy making me say this", or your picturing the key words in the sentence, and all the while simultaneously forming opinions about what your reading, me (the writer), and maybe other ideas that you come up with. These secondary thoughts don't need to be translated because you "know" them. The point of saying the sentence was to make you "speak" in your mind, and realize that thinking was still going on in the background that you "know" these thoughts and don't need to translate them. I don't know, that might seem really obvious or it might not make any sense at all, but I believe all thoughts arise as these impulses and that the language aspect of your thoughts cannot influence these influences, it's merely the translation of them for the purpose of communication.

On a separate note, do you know what I mean by the "impulsive" ideas? If so, how does this correlate to your brain. Where/what is your consciousness? How can we think, how do nerves and brains and stuff translate to thoughts? Where's the transition from physical to mental?! Lol, sorry for yelling.

EDIT: Try repeating the sentence, and at the same time think about thinking. I don't know, it's hard to explain what I mean.

[LeeE]

I agree with what BC said in that other thread: we think in terms of concepts and not in terms of words.

[neilep]

Okay, I think I got most of that. But I thought of something else:

I don't think language at all affects your ability to think critically. I think it's just translating the impulsive ideas that we get into a language. Consider this- Think in your mind the follow words: "The man will go to the store." In the back of your mind while you "say" this sentence, your thinking, but it's not in language. The thoughts, if actually translated, would be like "Why is this guy making me say this", or your picturing the key words in the sentence, and all the while simultaneously forming opinions about what your reading, me (the writer), and maybe other ideas that you come up with. These secondary thoughts don't need to be translated because you "know" them. The point of saying the sentence was to make you "speak" in your mind, and realize that thinking was still going on in the background that you "know" these thoughts and don't need to translate them. I don't know, that might seem really obvious or it might not make any sense at all, but I believe all thoughts arise as these impulses and that the language aspect of your thoughts cannot influence these influences, it's merely the translation of them for the purpose of communication.

On a separate note, do you know what I mean by the "impulsive" ideas? If so, how does this correlate to your brain. Where/what is your consciousness? How can we think, how do nerves and brains and stuff translate to thoughts? Where's the transition from physical to mental?! Lol, sorry for yelling.

EDIT: Try repeating the sentence, and at the same time think about thinking. I don't know, it's hard to explain what I mean.

The thing is when you ask one to think in your mind the following words ""The man will go to the store.""...I DO think in the language because you are asking me to read the words...it's akin to reading this post or a book........If you had asked me to imagine the concept of a man going to the store then I would just have to think about the concept and would probably use visualisation as the aid..I would not have imagined it as a written sentence...but I think I see what you mean when you say in the back of your mind you're simultaneously forming opinions. The secondary thoughts do not need translating them because we have already understood the concept of the man going to the store which was instigated b the words in the sentence.

Ok...so what you are saying is that if the words "The man will go to the store." utilised a shorthand version i.e. was written down using a more concise language then the concept would have been understood earlier. In this case I agree....say that the only way to convey the concept was to say " the gentleman will travel a journey to visit the retail establishment" then your version is clearly far more concise and thus the comprehension of the concept is intially quicker..........OK..I do see what you mean !


As far as asking about nerves and stuff in the brain....this is way out of my purview....you're asking one of the biggest mysteries of all time as to how does a physical biological entity manifest what appears to be independent thought.....I say ' what appears to be' because there are people who are of the ilk that every thought we manifest believe it's all part of some programming !....I'll leave that one to the more established academic thinkers here !

[neilep]

I agree with what BC said in that other thread: we think in terms of concepts and not in terms of words.

yep..that's what I fundamentally believe in....I've been saying that ' language' can be used as a supplement as an aid.

[Joe L. Ogan]

Are you saying that you come up with a concept without putting it into words?  Can you please give an example?  But then, of course, you must put it into words to give an example.  How do you ever communicate a concept?  Thanks for comments.  Joe L. Ogan

[Bored chemist]

I am currently stripping down an old van de Graff generator to clean and repair it. I realised that I hadn't been paying attention and so I didn't know which way round the two uprights went- was the chamfered bit on the inside or the outside?

I was cleaning them anyway because they needed it and I figured I could put them together again and, if they didn't fit, I could turn them round.
Suddenly I noticed that the screw holes that hold them in place were not on a horizontal line, but diagonal. With that, and the marks left from where they were fitted in the first place I could tell which way round they went.

I realise I have;t done a very good job of putting that into words.
That's my point; I can "see" how they fit- I don't need any language for that.

I could also "explain" this idea to anyone, no matter what language they spoke, by showing them the holes.

[neilep]

great example BC !

[LeeE]

When one uses an analogy to explain a concept, one is using words that do not directly relate to that primary concept.  Instead one is using words that literally apply to something completely different but which, if it's a good analogy, will communicate the original concept.

In the context of analogies then, it clearly seems to be the concept that is most important, and not the words.

[Joe L. Ogan]

I agree with what BC said in that other thread: we think in terms of concepts and not in terms of words.

yep..that's what I fundamentally believe in....I've been saying that ' language' can be used as a supplement as an aid.

Hi, To those of you who think only in terms of concepts, do you dream in terms of concepts also?  Thanks for comments.  Joe L. Ogan

[Bored chemist]

I don't often remember dreams well. What I remember are people, things, and images.

[defkhan1]

I'm not sure one always thinks in language, so what language you speak, and it's relative efficiency might have little to do with the speed of thought.  I myself think more in images and patterns when examining a deep problem.  The language is applied if I have to translate that information in order to elucidate it, and sometimes, that can seem an impossible task.

[peppercorn]

Not exactly pertinent to the OP, but I wonder if a study could be carried out to see if multilingual people are more prone to make intuitive jumps in other areas of their lives when coming up with solutions.

[Bored chemist]

Fine idea, but it reminds me of this cartoon.
http://site.ecfs.org/bass/
How do you test for intuitive leaps?

[peppercorn]

Fine idea, but it reminds me of this cartoon.
http://site.ecfs.org/bass/
How do you test for intuitive leaps?

LOL

How do you test for intuitive leaps?

Beats me!  .... if only I spoke a second language.