Hi, I'm new to this forum. 
I'm not deaf or hoh, and I don't know anyone who is (well actually, my grandmother needs hearing aids - but that's not really surprising because she's almost 100 years old!), and I randomly stumbled upon this forum. I read a few threads, and it got me thinking about how a person who is deaf since birth experiences the world, and especially language. You see, I'm really interested in cognition.
So I have a few questions out of sheer curiosity that I hope some of you will answer!
1) Thinking. My thoughts are often highly dependent on spoken language. I'll hear myself saying entire sentences in my head. I will actually imagine my own voice saying things, and I believe that this is the case for all hearing people. Especially when frustrated, or angry, or any other vivid emotion, or when doing math, or writing something.
When, say, a teacher yells at me unfairly, I'll say "Sorry" out loud, and then in my head I'll say "you stupid cow" or something of the sort.
This is just an example. Or when I'm doing math, I'll actually hear myself saying "100 divided by 39... *mental grunt* I can't do this". I actually hear words.
So how does this work for you? When you're pondering over something, or insulting someone silently, what happens? I imagine you don't picture someone or yourself signing? (actual question - I have no clue!)
2) Reading & writing. Reading and writing for me are entirely dependent on spoken language. I hear every sentence, every word I read or write. The written language is transformed mentally into spoken words before the brain actually makes sense of it. I'm trying right now to read words without 'hearing' them in my head first, but it's absolutely impossible. The moment I set my eyes on a word, I immediately hear it in my head as if I had spoken it.
What happens when you read or write?
Thank you!!
I'm not deaf or hoh, and I don't know anyone who is (well actually, my grandmother needs hearing aids - but that's not really surprising because she's almost 100 years old!), and I randomly stumbled upon this forum. I read a few threads, and it got me thinking about how a person who is deaf since birth experiences the world, and especially language. You see, I'm really interested in cognition.
So I have a few questions out of sheer curiosity that I hope some of you will answer!
1) Thinking. My thoughts are often highly dependent on spoken language. I'll hear myself saying entire sentences in my head. I will actually imagine my own voice saying things, and I believe that this is the case for all hearing people. Especially when frustrated, or angry, or any other vivid emotion, or when doing math, or writing something.
When, say, a teacher yells at me unfairly, I'll say "Sorry" out loud, and then in my head I'll say "you stupid cow" or something of the sort.
This is just an example. Or when I'm doing math, I'll actually hear myself saying "100 divided by 39... *mental grunt* I can't do this". I actually hear words.So how does this work for you? When you're pondering over something, or insulting someone silently, what happens? I imagine you don't picture someone or yourself signing? (actual question - I have no clue!)
2) Reading & writing. Reading and writing for me are entirely dependent on spoken language. I hear every sentence, every word I read or write. The written language is transformed mentally into spoken words before the brain actually makes sense of it. I'm trying right now to read words without 'hearing' them in my head first, but it's absolutely impossible. The moment I set my eyes on a word, I immediately hear it in my head as if I had spoken it.
What happens when you read or write?
Thank you!!
