Thought and Language: A Mirror of One’s Rationality Essay Example

and the environment. Vygotsky compared traditional linguistics to modern linguistics by noting that traditional linguistics focused on individual sounds as analytical units without considering speech psychology. In contrast, modern linguistics focuses on phonemes –the smallest unit in speech affecting meaning– which are unique to human languageVygotsky's conclusion was that previous studies, which did not consider the integration of language and thought, lacked understanding on how social interaction aids children in acquiring word meanings. Furthermore, Vygotsky extensively examined Jean Piaget's work. Piaget is renowned for his clinical approach to studying children's thoughts, particularly their perception and logic. He approached this subject by investigating the objective interrelation of all observed characteristic traits in children's thinking. According to Piaget, egocentric thought lies between autistic and directed thinking on a spectrum. Autistic thinking is individualistic with its own specific laws, while directed thinking is more social and conscious of pursuing aims present in the mind, adapting intelligently to reality and seeking influence over it. For Piaget, egocentric thought combines elements from both forms. It serves personal needs but also includes mental adaptation. Thus, autism is perceived as the earliest form of thinking, while logic emerges at a relatively later stage. Egocentric thought acts as a bridge between these two forms according to Piaget's research findings demonstrate that egocentrism persists but gradually diminishes when a child reaches seven or eight years old.
The decline in thought and language development is attributed to the growing influence of socialized thinking. In studying the relationship between thought and language, Vygotsky builds upon Piaget's work and emphasizes the importance of causal-genetic concepts. Yerkes' studies on chimpanzees further support this investigation. Yerkes discovers that there are

distinct familial origins for thought and speech in species, with ape communication and intelligence developing separately without a correlation between them (Kozulin, 1986). The specific focus on chimpanzees is due to their similarities with humans, yet Yerkes observes a lack of close correspondence between thought and speech in these primates. This study reveals a clear distinction between a pre-linguistic stage and a pre-intellectual stage in thought and language development among chimpanzees. Similarly, Vygotsky concludes that human children go through a pre-intellectual phase in speech development while also experiencing a pre-linguistic phase in thought development. Eventually, thought and language diverge independently from each other but intersect as thought becomes verbalized and speech becomes rationalized. Building on existing research findings, Vygotsky notes that the meaning of words is an amalgamation of both thought and language; it is challenging to separate word meanings solely into aspects of speech or aspects of thoughts (Kozulin, 1986).According to Kozulin (1986), the interconnectedness of thought and language is evident in the development of children. As a child grows, their understanding of words evolves alongside their thought processes. Vygotsky also emphasizes that the relationship between thought and word is not static but rather an ongoing process of movement between the two. It is through words that thoughts come into existence and establish connections between different ideas and concepts. Social interaction, as demonstrated by Vygotsky's research, plays a crucial role in a child's acquisition of language and development of thought. Interacting with family, friends, relatives, and the environment helps children learn the meanings of words initially through observation or imitation before realizing specific meanings associated with certain words as they mature. Additionally, genetics contribute

to consciousness and awareness; interruptions or disturbances in automatic activities make individuals aware through the law of consciousness. For example, speech serves as an expression of self or response to received information.The communication difficulties faced by children with autism can be attributed to their limited awareness of their actions. This example demonstrates the influence of development on communication abilities. The impact of causal-genetic factors is evident. For more information, refer to Kozulin.Alex (Ed.).(1986).Thought and Language.Massachusetts: MIT Press. Additionally, you can consult the Encyclopedia of Marxists retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol://www.Marxists.org on October 13, 2006.