Before language how did one think?

Question

we think in words, when there were no words how did one think?

Answer 1

Terrific question... it makes one THINK! Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be to put your thoughts into words? That is because thought is a function derived from many sources; imagery, sensation, intuition, visual, auditory. It is like a computer scanning all of its files- not all are the same format. The second step is to translate the recalled information.

It is easy to assume thoughts come in automatic word format because in most casses we are going too fast to notice the actual process; and words are our most common and comfortable way of communication at this time.

Next time you are face to face with someone ask them a thought provoking question. Pay attention to their eyes and body language (energy field); you can both see and feel them assessing stored data (their gaze will shift positions depending on the location of information in the brain). Then (the tough part), they will translate (or try to) the varied information into a language that is relate-able. Often people hesitate between words or sentences when speaking a thought, or say a few loose words and ask, "do you know what I mean?" (an unconscious attempt at telepathy). They may even say, "I don't know", after a period of thought because they simply do not know how to put the thoughts/ideas into words. The cool thing is the energy of our thoughts is transmitted whether or not we or the recipients are aware of it.

So, how did we think before words?- With much more ease.
My question is, "how do we teach our people to be connected enough so that words are again, unnecessary?"

Fascinating stuff!!

Answer 2

The narrative aspects of our minds seem to use words, but certainly animals that lack any clear language can think. Anyone who has lived with a cat or dog knows from watching them that they can mull over their next move and then act on the thought ... even if it is something as simple as getting up and walking over to the sunny part of the rug, it involves decision and volition. To say nothing of the social complexities and tool using that the primates are capable of.

I read a story of chimpanzees: it is difficult to introduce an outsider to an established colony = the dominant males will attack or even kill the newcomer. In this instance, a new male was introduced and inexplicably 2 females came forward to defend him. The keepers were mistified until they checked their records more closely and discovered that the new ape had actually lived with the 2 females at a different zoo 14 years earlier. A chimpanzee couldn't say "hey, I recognize that guy," but the thought must have been there, no?

Another story: there was once an elephant kept at Coney island in NYC. Passersby would feed him or her peanuts by tossing them into the elephants open mouth. Some clown got the bright idea of waving a cigarette butt like it was a peanut and tossing it on in. The elephant, upon eating the painful lit butt, killed the man. The elephant clearly made the association between the person intentionally fooling him/her and the pain, and reacted in revenge. Thinking, no? But without any human concept of language.

Incidentally, tools and sounds that identify nouns both predate humans and true language. Chimpanzees and other primate and non-primate animals are now known to use tools and that implies some level of abstract thinking and imitation of elders ("If I make the stick just so, and put it into the nest just so, I get to eat delicious termites!"). And vervet monkeys have been shown to have specific distress calls for different preditors (eagle vs. snake = one member of a troop warns, the others look up or down depending on the call).

Thus, I would say that before language, we were undoubtedly able to think, but that it is difficult to understand how anymore since our minds are so dependent on words.

BTW: Thomas Alva Edison electrocuted the elephant to demonstrate the potential use of electricity to execute criminals.

Answer 3

A preliminary step to language was the ability to think symbolically -- for example, the ability to see an image that resembled the human form and to recognize the resemblance. For this reason, archaeologists are often interested to find very early artifacts that are apparently made by humans to look like humans. There are quite a few objects that archaeologists believe are in this category, frequently referred to as "the Venus" of this place or that, as the earliest frequently resemble the female form and were presumably part of a religion-like focus on fertility and reproduction (Stone Age porn?).

Before one could use sounds to stand for things, the human brain had to develop structures that permitted thinking of one thing as "standing for" another. With the development of parts of the parietal lobes (at least according to some recent articles I've seen), humans began to think symbolically, from which it was a relatively small step to the practice of magic, religion, spoken language, and eventually written language.

Answer 4

Abstractly, situationally, experientially, and without the ability yet to articulate as we do with a very specific language. That doesn't mean at all, that those people didn't have some level of language,,, Consider the animal kingdom. They neither speak, nor can their "language" be strictly understood,,, YET, if we study them, LEARN from them,,, We can actually "GET IT"

Rev. Steven

Answer 5

you dont need words to think. perhaps before there was any language people were thinking of inventing a language and imagined how they could name the things and actions. anyway thinking does not require any language you can just imagine the things.

Answer 6

Well, there was "body language" and most likely various sounds that we might not consider today to be "words."
Other animals communicate without "words." And what's to prevent a grunt uttered in varying ways from expressing different thoughts?
For some interesting "thoughts" on "words", please see the link below.

Answer 7

Before language we didn't think. Thought and language (however rudimentary - remember, language doesn't have to consist of words) developed at the same time.

Answer 8

I think by following body language.

Answer 9

You lost the gift long ,did you know in the very beginning there was only one language and man could talk to the animals and talk back when Adam named all the animals it was done through song ,verbs hymens through him singing a song of songs

Answer 10

in mental pictures the same way an infant or someone whom has no language skill would.Human minds are run on many dimensions.And our thinking as vast variations and adaptations.