This is something that I was asked very casually by someone a few days ago and it has really got me thinking…! Whether I’m thinking about it in English or Sinhalese or in some sort of gibberish that only makes sense to me is what I’m still trying to figure out.
Whether I think in a particular language has never been something that has occurred to me. After all, we speak in different languages to suit the occasion, but whether we actually think in the same language as we’re speaking in, is a whole new ballgame.
I guess as I sit here writing this, I’m thinking in English. At least, I’m assuming that is the language that’s running through my mind since I’m looking for words and phrases that would make sense to an English speaking person.
But what if that’s not so? Could it be that I think in some sort of mixed, bastardized version of every language that I’ve ever heard and then translate it into whatever language medium that makes sense at the given time? Sort of like a computer that thinks in binary code, but then outputs a result that makes sense to human beings, a whole different species of intelligence.
As of now, this one simple, casual question has sort of become an irritating point in the back of my mind. It constantly seems to pop up at the most unexpected of times and makes me break down my entire train of thought into separate words and phrases and trying to figure out if I was thinking in English or Sinhalese or just plain gibberish…!
So….. if there’s anyone out there who has figured out EXACTLY what language they think in…. feed back would be much appreciated.
For the moment, this is me…… thinking!
