| After speaking both languages and thinking about this specific issue for a very long time, I've come to the conclusion that no one who is fluent does his thinking "in" a language. Thought exists at a deeper level; language is a tool, an interface through which it is expressed. Do you really need to think through a sentence in your native tongue? Only rarely. Thinking through a sentence is evidence of a dialogue between thought itself and the means by which it is expressed. Once you become truly fluent, you've learned to use the tools very well. At least, this is my take, and btw, many disagree with this take on language and thought.
Rich www.asiabizblog.com |
Thinking in English or Chinese