eli5: how do babies/toddlers think if they don’t yet speak a language?
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Through visuals/images, same way as those born deaf (either through imagery or sign language)
Babies are not capable of language, so they do not think in the same way that adults do. Instead, they think using sensory information and their basic instincts. For example, a baby might see a bottle and automatically reach for it because they know that it contains food.
Babies also think using their developing cognitive abilities, such as object permanence, which is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they can’t be seen. As babies grow and develop, they begin to understand more complex concepts and form more sophisticated thoughts.
It is not until babies learn a language that they are able to think and communicate in a way that is similar to adults. Language allows us to think about abstract concepts, make complex plans, and express our thoughts and ideas to others.
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