PS102 Chapter 9: the relationship between language and thought
Document Summary
One theory says language controls and limits our thoughts. Complex thoughts occur in the absence of language. Conjuring internal visual representations of stored sensory input. We appear to search our actual relevant memories to solve tasks requiring mental imagery. Activates brain regions used for the sensory experience itself. Remember certain street corner and automatically turn right when triggered to do so by visual system. Directional skills (knowing certain direction is north) is not language driven. When we do have thoughts that involve language, they activate the frontal and temporal lobes. The more words we have available to us related to a single concept, the more complex and detailed our thoughts are about that object or idea. Support: cross-cultural studies, reveal large language discrepancies in # of words various languages dedicate to certain characteristics/objects. Extensive vocab for certain characteristics can lead to ability to make finer disinctions among that dimension.
