How Babies Communicate with Themselves
Human thought and language are deeply interconnected. For most of us, thought takes the form of an internal dialogue, where our minds articulate ideas, decisions, and reflections in the language we speak.
It’s as though the mind uses language as a tool to process and structure the abstract. But this raises an intriguing question: how do babies, who have not yet learned a spoken language, think and communicate with themselves?
The Essence of Thought: Beyond Words
Thought is not inherently verbal. Before it is shaped into words, it exists as raw sensory input, emotions, and intuitive understanding. Even as adults, there are moments when we struggle to put a complex feeling or idea into words.
This indicates that thought transcends language, it is a more primal, universal process that language helps to refine and express.
For babies, this raw form of thought is their primary mode of cognition. They perceive the world through their senses, sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. They process these stimuli into patterns and associations, which form the foundation of their understanding.
For instance, a baby might associate the sight of a caregiver's face with feelings of comfort and security, even though they cannot articulate it in words.
The Pre-Linguistic Inner World
Babies' thoughts are likely visual, emotional, and experiential. Imagine a baby seeing a colorful toy for the first time. They don't think, "This is a toy," but they might internally process the experience through a combination of fascination, curiosity, and the tactile sensation of holding it.
These sensations and emotions create a "language" of their own; a pre-linguistic form of self-talk that shapes their understanding of the world.
Their inner world is rich with non-verbal thoughts, shaped by their interactions and experiences.
The Transition to Language
As babies grow and begin to acquire language, their thoughts gradually shift from this abstract, sensory-based form to a more structured verbal form. The words they hear from caregivers and their environment become tools to label and organize their thoughts. Language acts as a bridge, enabling babies to translate their internal experiences into a shared, communicable form.
Interestingly, even after learning a language, some aspects of thought remain non-verbal. For example, creative problem-solving, musical expression, and certain emotional experiences often bypass words and rely on intuition or imagery.
What We Can Learn from Babies
The way babies think offers profound insights into the human mind. It reminds us that language, while powerful, is not the sole medium of thought. Creativity, intuition, and emotion often thrive in the spaces where words fail. By observing babies, we can appreciate the importance of experiences, emotions, and connections in shaping our understanding of the world.