We see this debate often about "thinking" in a target language and how to achieve it or if it's even really a thing, and I think the reason for that is a fundamental miscommunication when we use the word "think", as it describes two completely different processes.
#1 is the act of understanding raw concepts and ideas without the use of language (Often referred to as mentalese) this happens automatically before we even have a chance to form words and does not require language in order to function, it's essentialy how animals are capable of understanding aspects of the world through things like emotion, sight, sound, touch, smell. They all come together to create a mental understanding of a concept or object.
#2 is the act of forming sentences internally. Often when people are confused at the idea of thinking without language, they're imagining #2 and don't realise that #1 is actually the mechanism that precedes it and allows them to produce sentences in the first place.
The way I like to think of it is: Sentences are the car. Mentalese is the driver. The car can take you places, but it requires a driver in order to function, without the driver it's just a motionless tool.
What do you guys think? is this a good way of explaining this concept to those who are confused?
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