Poll: Really Weird Thought......

imhotepmp

Golden Member
Mar 23, 2000
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This is probably a very weird and dumb question but I wanted to see if anyone else has thought about this...
What language do you think in? When we think something to ourselves, is it in the language we speak? What about those multilingual people, what language do they think in? What I'm trying to say, is suppose there was a person who could read minds and he/she went into a foreign country like france but didnt know how to speak a word of french? Would this person be able to read a french person's thoughts?
Also, exactly what is thinking? What parts of our brain are stimulated when we think to ourselves? Would it be the same area that is stimulated by language or speaking?
Personally, I think that in the above scenario, the mind reader would be able to read minds no matter where they went. But before I give my reasoning, I would like to hear other people's ideas about this, if they're interested.

I also included a poll, for those who dont wish, or are too lazy to post ;)


edit:strange, poll didnt show up.

Imhotep_MP
Bonae Indolis

 

Zoltar

Senior member
May 1, 2000
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I think in English, only language I know.

You know, I have cats. You can tell they're dreaming sometimes.

What do they dream about?
 

rominl

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Nov 2, 2000
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my native language is chinese. when i first came to the US, i had to think in chinese first, then translate them and say it, that's why my &quot;response time&quot; was slow. Now I am a bit more dual. When I talk to chinese people, I think in chinese and talk in chinese. When I talk to American (or those who speak english) I think and talk in english directly.
 

imhotepmp

Golden Member
Mar 23, 2000
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<< You know, I have cats. You can tell they're dreaming sometimes. >>



dont really know, but im sure it has something to do with balls of string and mice.

Imhotep_MP
Bonae Indolis
 

Yo Ma Ma

Lifer
Jan 21, 2000
11,635
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If language is involved then it would be English for me, but I think many times it can be just in images.
 

DAM

Diamond Member
Jan 10, 2000
6,102
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it depends what language im speaking, i cant switch between spanishand english automatically since im proficient in both.






dam()
 

eakers

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
12,169
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i count in french which is wierd cuz its not my mother tongue.
whenever i do my math ill think the numbers in french but do the operations in english.

*kat. <-- wierd huh?
 

rominl

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Nov 2, 2000
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hmmm, i am wondering, shouldn't the operations the same in english and french?
 

Azraele

Elite Member
Nov 5, 2000
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I think in English, but I did hear of one woman who could think only in pictures.

As for the mid reading scenario, I doubt a mind reader can read minds verbatim. They probably pick up impressions (emotions, visions, etc) or snatches of information, so they can probably &quot;mind read&quot; in any language.
 

Azraele

Elite Member
Nov 5, 2000
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<< edit:strange, poll didnt show up. >>



Someone said in another thread (can't remember who) that the poll feature is messed up right now.
 

crab

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2001
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My friend's husband is from India...She said if he talks in his sleep, its always in Indian.
 

Azraele

Elite Member
Nov 5, 2000
16,524
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<<Hmmm do dogs think in barks>>

I read somewhere that animals think in pictures, which is probably true much of the time. They probably also think by impression or feeling, such as when they sense something is wrong. They may also think in barks/whines in a limited way.

I really can't say, I'm not a dog.
 

Ariel

Senior member
Aug 1, 2000
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I think almost entirely in English with the exception of a few words that pop into my head in French first and then I think of the English word for it. My native language is English, but I took several years of French in school.
 

rominl

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Nov 2, 2000
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both me and my gf are native in chinese. when we sleep and talk (yeah, scary isn't it?), it really depends on who we are talking to. sometimes when i hear my gf talking, i know she is talking to her co-workers (from the content) and she will be using english. but sometimes when i know she is talking to her mum or relatives, she will be using chinese.