Relation between language and thought

(Part of language and parol activity)

Sometimes thought is described as having a conscious mind, a reasoning ability, remembering experiences and making rational decisions but thought is so much more. We do not always use words when we think, a lot of the time thinking can be done using pictures or emotions.

According to Platon, thought is reality because it is a reflection of reality. It is his notion that language is not a coincidence but a reflection of thought and that the words are limited by thought. Platon even felt that there was a danger of language moving to far away from reality, especially the written word. Platon preferred the spoken rather then the written word since he felt it would resemble thought more due to it being more spontaneous

 Another theory much later developed is:

"Language is the formative organ of thought. Intellectual activity, entirely mental, entirely internal, and to some extent passing without trace, becomes through sound, externalised speech and perceptible to the senses. Thought and language are therefore one and inseparable from each other."

Willhem von Hamboldt.

Willhelm von Hamboldt here states that language and though are closely related, that they complement themselves. This states that when we use language, we are complementing it with our thoughts that help us express our ideas to our environments, and on the other side we think and develop ideas in our minds using language.