How do deaf people think?

HOH = hard of hearing. We think clearly as bells. Silver bells, iron bells, brazen bells, the works. Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong, you know? :wave:
 
Wirelessly posted

Sigrid said:
ladysolitary85 said:
Ok I've been trying to be as polite as I can.... trying to give you a realistic answer to your question. I'm starting to think your not really looking for a answer but more like trying to piss us off.

You read books right??? When you were in school did you ever have "silent reading?" You THINK about the words your reading.
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Actually, I'm at school right now, trying to write an essay on newspeak (as seen in 1984 by George Orwell, I'm sure you've read it since you read books).

The aim of newspeak is to narrow the range of thought by removing all words that could be used to think anything that might go agianst the regime. That's why I wondered if you could help me figuring out if human beings need words in order to think.

I want to argue that Orwell was wrong and that the thought is independent from the language. And that's where you come in, at least those of you who are born deaf. I think that deaf people prove my theory: that the thought is independent from the language.

My question was serious and i would really appreciate it if you can give me a serious answer.

I'm not trying to piss you off, I'm trying to make you think and share your thoughts with me.
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Most deaf have a language. Rather it is spoken or signing. Thought before a language? Ask someone who knows this stuffs.
 
rockin'robin said:
say what??...you really like to piss people off, don't cha'??...Get off ur arse and read the threads!...Looking for an "easy way out or answers to ur questions?"....the door is to ur right!
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I am sorry if I offended you with my absence of knowledge. I've only learned English at school and by reading so I am not so familiar with all expressions. I tried to google it, but I couldnt figure out what it was. So I thought: Who is better to ask than the person who used the expression?

I am not an American. I have problems with following all expectations from you, and for that I am sorry.

I am perfectly aware that deaf people are intelligent.
 
ladysolitary85 said:
we hear with our eyes.
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No. Let's not use the "we" since most people with hearing loss hear with what they have left with the help of hearing aids, for example. The rest of the people, the Deaf people, hear with their eyes (i.e. signing).

As for thinking, I think in words. More accurately I hear the words in my head whenever I think. I was raised speaking and listening with the help of my hearing aid. As for others how they think, they'll have to answer that question.
 
Typical foreigner mentality.

In other countries, disabled people are swept under the rug, leaving the general population clueless as to what we can or cannot do. I have not met a single foreigner that did not act like I was a freak show. Most are shocked that I am able to breathe, eat, and drive.

I don't think the OP is trying to play mind games, but she (he?) is ignorant and obviously trying to get info from us for an assignment. Once she gets an answer, we will not hear from her again.

If she has at least 20% mental function, she would read more posts and come to the conclusion that deaf people are not all that different when it comes to thinking.
 
Sigrid said:
I am sorry if I offended you with my absence of knowledge. I've only learned English at school and by reading so I am not so familiar with all expressions. I tried to google it, but I couldnt figure out what it was. So I thought: Who is better to ask than the person who used the expression?

I am not an American. I have problems with following all expectations from you, and for that I am sorry.

I am perfectly aware that deaf people are intelligent.
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Didn't know that every deaf person I know is intelligent, but thanks for informing.

It looks like you have the idea that deaf people think without language, am I correct?
 
Looks like the OP asked a pretty good question. I do not think in words, since that process is far too slow. The brain is capable of processing a quadrillion bits of information in an instant, so that leaves out pictures as well. When I solve a difficult algebra equation, a sort of "Aha!" feeling hits me when I find the solution, so emotions apparently come into play as well. It is the culmination of everything involved in thinking, experience, knowledge, and that thing in your belly called a hunch, IMO.
 
Another example of someone generalizing deaf people into one big lump. Not all deaf people are the same in regards to language usage, communication mode, listening skills, and thinking skills. We're all unique individuals. We all have our own learning styles, etc.
 
Sigrid said:
I am sorry if I offended you with my absence of knowledge. I've only learned English at school and by reading so I am not so familiar with all expressions. I tried to google it, but I couldnt figure out what it was. So I thought: Who is better to ask than the person who used the expression?

I am not an American. I have problems with following all expectations from you, and for that I am sorry.

I am perfectly aware that deaf people are intelligent.
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:laugh2::laugh2::laugh2::laugh2::laugh2:
looks like you are the latest victim of deaf versus hearing. they seem to misunderstand and take it from there.
i do see you point as well as some other posters. let it roll off and will you will be fine. you can't be expected to be a deafness expert in one posting. your questioning is legitimate. has got me thinking about thinking !
 
kokonut said:
No. Let's not use the "we" since most people with hearing loss hear with what they have left with the help of hearing aids, for example. The rest of the people, the Deaf people, hear with their eyes (i.e. signing).

As for thinking, I think in words. More accurately I hear the words in my head whenever I think. I was raised speaking and listening with the help of my hearing aid. As for others how they think, they'll have to answer that question.
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lipreading and reading (captioning) is also how we hear with our eyes rather it assist our hearing or not.
 
There's a study that shows when a person uses sign language, that person's brain activates the same part of the brain that a hearing person uses when he is using his spoken language. That means that deaf and hearing people function the same way.

I'm too lazy to look up the study. Google is your friend. :wave:
 
sallylou said:
There's a study that shows when a person uses sign language, that person's brain activates the same part of the brain that a hearing person uses when he is using his spoken language. That means that deaf and hearing people function the same way.

I'm too lazy to look up the study. Google is your friend. :wave:
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+100 correct! I also saw a study on Discovery channel with the same concept but with blindness. They scanned both the brains of a seeing person and the one of a blind person then they blindfolded the seeing person and she had to function several days as a complete blind person. They scanned her during the week she was using the blindfold and noticed that in both persons; seeing and not, the part of the brain that has to do with vision, lights up.

In conclusion: We are all the same despite any difference the rest of the world wants to point out. Some people just find different ways to do the same thing. I think that's best, diversity is awesome.
 
I think in words and sometimes in pictures.
 
Hey guys. I am a hearing person and always will be (I hope) because I am thankful for my hearing and plan to take care of it so I don't lose it like my parents and end up spending the end of my life not admiting I am actually deaf.

I thought I might reply to give some insight if I can. I am a thinking person and the question is about thinking. All people are thinking (well..) ok all non-republican people are thinking (just a joke I don't judge:) so what are thoughts? They are THINGS
BTW I am also VERY thankful for my ability to use my mind and think. Moreso than my hearing. If I lost my hearing tommorrow I could still compose music using my mind. I could still speak since I have already learned to do that but again...

what are thoughts?
THINGS What are sounds? THINGS Humans decided to match THINGS in our head that make no sense to SOUNDS in real life that make even less sense, with no real reason for matching them. We just all agree: this means that and so on. Same for words: spoken, written, or signed.

So what are SIGNS, written WORDS, and visual CUES? They are only THINGS and deaf people match them the same way hearing people match sounds. If you look at the history of languages, especially with ancient aboriginal tribes you will see that the first languages... all used visual cues. Sign language is the original language of human beings. We just got lazy along the way.

Speaking is a more simple to use and in many ways inferior way of communicating. That is why you are asking this question. You were raised communicating thought with speech ONLY. And speaking and being a hearing person, has made you DUMB :) Don't worry, same thing has happened to me. That is why I am learning ASL. To become intelligent, as I should be, as a human.
 
PS
I believe deaf people all can hear... and blind people all can see.

They just don't KNOW exactly how the images should appear, or what the sounds really sound like.

That's all. :)
 
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