If a person is born deaf, what language do they think in?

Question

So, a few of my friends have been asking me this lately and it stumped me completely. I am guessing that they have their own language of sorts made up in their mind that they correspond to different objects and actions. Or maybe they just don't think at all which I highly doubt. Please help me with this one!

Thanks in advance :)

Answer 1

No one thinks in words at first. We think in emotions. Babies feel uncomfortable and wet - so they cry. They are thinking they are wet and uncomfortable, but they don't talk or think in words. So we all start out the same - we think in feelings. Eventually we attach symbols to these feelings and combine different symbols. For some those symbols are words in English, for others words in Chinese, and for others signs in ASL.

Answer 2

Well as long as they're not blind they can still read so they would read in whatever language they like, english or french (if they live in France) etc..



They probably understand the words but just use a different way of 'saying' them, by using their hands.



I doubt highly they have their own 'made up language'.. they still have to sign documents and read the subtitles on the television..!!

Answer 3

What language do you think in? English? Why? It's because that's the language you learned, right? As an infant, you had no language. You learned the language of your environment.



Deaf people think in whatever language they were taught; American Sign Language, SEE, PSE, English, etc. etc.



Not any different than you except that hearing parents who have deaf children (most deaf children are born to hearing parents) need to recognize their child is deaf as early as possible so they can place them in an appropriate environment in which the child can learn language.

Answer 4

Generally their thought at a young age how to use Sign Language .

Answer 5

People born deaf still learn to read, you know.

Answer 6

Every one is different. Show integrity and put yourself in their shoes. Imagine it.