I thought I had replied but perhaps I messed up. Hopefully I am not making a double post.
I just wanted to thank y'all for linking that thread and the book. Thinking in ASL. That does make so much sense. I would be very interested to read about how that changes how people may make connections in what it is they are thinking about.
I was having a hard time trying to think of how the thought process differed for those deaf from birth, and those who are not all on my own. I am color blind and have read many times about the different colors and how they may look, but can not actually see those colors with my eyes or my mind. But thinking in ASL solves that perfectly. And makes so much sense. I am not sure why I did not think of that, it seems it should have been a quite obvious explanation to me, however I totally missed it. =)
It is like when I think in math. I am an engineer quite good at math and engineering challenges. When I am doing math in my head, or working on an engine or pump, I do not think in English. I think in math, or in terms of the engineering schematics or diagrams. It is now so obvious to me. When doing math or when doing engineering work pretty much all of my thought is visual and very little if any is English in my head. I can't believe I didn't make that connection. =)
So I now have one more quick question? Do perhaps those who were born deaf show any exceptionally better skill at math or engineering than most of us? If that visual part of the brain is being used so often and in place of the auditory parts, I wonder if it gets stronger? If the connections between the visual and the language parts are stronger? But I really don't have the first idea how brains work but it might be interesting find out more. I am going to give that book a read for sure.
Thank you all for sharing.
