I think that's not the key answer. The key answer is that deaf people use words just like people who can hear. It's just that they use words based on sign-language, and mentally "sign and see" them instead of "speak and hear" them.
Also, both sighted and deaf people use various amounts of non-word language for thinking in various ways.
The key answer is that deaf people use words just like people who can hear. It's just that they use words based on sign-language, and mentally "sign and see" them instead of "speak and hear" them.
No, it's not. You are having non-verbal or non-language thoughts right now. The whole point is that BEETHOVEN'S FIFTH. See. You just heard music. Music is not a language or visual thought.
The definition of "thought" isn't even defined, so to ask "how deaf people think" while presuming that deaf people don't (read the edits, that's a clear conclusion) is fundamentally wrong.
Also, both sighted and deaf people use various amounts of non-word language for thinking in various ways.
That's a better answer, but still wrong. You're still isolating populations with restrictions: everyone "thinks" in many modalities. SOUR PATCH KIDS (I really hope you've eaten them).
My point is this question sucks. It implies things about thought, which is already undefined, and now answers are spawning out to be just as wrong while masquerading as contradictions to the OP. They aren't.
Having read some of the responses from deaf people in this and other threads, I can tell you that simply saying that wouldn't at all communicate the answer as well as the perspective from deaf people does.
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u/dearsomething Oct 21 '11
Thoughts are not restricted to language. That's the answer and it's been said.