Language

Here's something that's been puzzling me: A couple have one child, let's say a boy. Dad speaks English only, Mum speaks French only. The boy grows up able to speak either language fluently, but what language does he think in?

Jacks he would think in either language dependant who he is answering If he was having a conversation with his English speaking father then I should imagine his thought process would be in English and if he was talking to his mother then his thought process would be in french Only a bi-lingual person can answer your question correctly

Maybe it would depend on what language the question was asked in.

thinking is a brain function like an instinct,

if a gazelle in the african plains see's a lion coming, niether speak but, you can bet that gazelle knows to get the hell out of there as fast as it can,

That is a very well thought out point, tom.

A number of neurological syndromes exist in which cognition is demonstrable, but the person cannot put any of it into language. There are two particular areas of brain needed for language processing, and they can become effectively disconnected.

You could ask if someone whose primary or only language was sign language, needed visual images of their signs in order to think, and clearly they do not.

I wonder what language my dog thinks in?

Curean.

interesting question Jacks. I know what you mean. For instance if the boy was just wondering what to have for tea but not saying it out loud... or if I'm thinking about shall I peg the washing out.. do we think in words ? or are we like Stardeltas dog? are thoughts just abstract? I'll be wondering this all day now.

and what about a totally deaf child reliant on sign language? Or that child before it learned how to sign? I never worked with deaf /blind children but I worked with someone who did , with added learning difficulties. So complex.

Simple, if he thinks in French he will be constantly running away and trying to catch up with the Italians.

Twicer.

Interesting answers folks. I'm still puzzling over it though.

It's called 'Psycholinguistics'.

You are in good company.

The smartest brains of our era are "still puzzling over it"!

tom

You also are in good company

"In the 1960s, linguist Noam Chomsky proposed a revolutionary idea: We are all born with an innate knowledge of grammar that serves as the basis for all language acquisition. In other words, for humans, language is a basic instinct. The theory, however, has long been met with widespread criticism — until now."

Friends of mine, moved over to Spain 13 years ago, when their little boy was 3 years old. Their boy has been brought up speaking Catalan. He also speaks English, to his parents, with a Yorkshire accent. I'm told that the locals cannot tell that he's not a 'local', ie: he doesn't speak Catalan with an English accent.

Anyroadup, when I go over, next month, I'll ask him what language he 'thinks' in !

Thanks Tonker. That's bound to give us the answer.

If the English dad can't speak French and the French mam can't speak English how did she understand the words "Drop em"

I rang and asked. They asked their lad “what language do you think in”, and he’s said “English, with a Wakey accent”!
So, there you have it! 😬

I have a friend who’s a Paki, although he lives in Bolton and speaks English with a strong Bolton accent. Shall I ask him what language he thinks in too?

English. With a Bolton accent. Apparently!

Tonker,
I’ll never forget in the 90’s I was walking round Nutts Corner Market in Belfast and Igor the shock of my life. There was a stall selling carpets and everybody was shouting about their wares and there was a guy with a perfect “ top of the morning” accent and when I looked he was obviously of India/ Pakistan parentage. I stood there a while intrigued by the set up.