humans have an innate ability to use complex, combinatorial language
The important part is that we use this language not just when talking to each other, but also internally. We can remember spoken sentences (for example other people’s commands). We can talk to ourselves (i.e. think verbally). We can talk to our future selves (e.g. by writing a to-do list). We can communicate asynchronously (i.e. write). We can follow complex written instructions.
I am writing it this way to express that merely saying “language” feels like understatement of all the abilities that are unlocked by non-standard uses of language.
Yes. There are vigorous debates in cognitive psychology about how dependent people are on internal speech. I think many people do good thinking without using literal internal self-talk. But the conceptual representations they use for thinking are still shaped by the words they’ve learned.
The important part is that we use this language not just when talking to each other, but also internally. We can remember spoken sentences (for example other people’s commands). We can talk to ourselves (i.e. think verbally). We can talk to our future selves (e.g. by writing a to-do list). We can communicate asynchronously (i.e. write). We can follow complex written instructions.
I am writing it this way to express that merely saying “language” feels like understatement of all the abilities that are unlocked by non-standard uses of language.
Yes. There are vigorous debates in cognitive psychology about how dependent people are on internal speech. I think many people do good thinking without using literal internal self-talk. But the conceptual representations they use for thinking are still shaped by the words they’ve learned.