Inner speech as a cognitive tool—or what is the point of talking to oneself?

Nikola A. Kompa (Corresponding author), Jutta L. Mueller

Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

Abstract

Many higher cognitive tasks, such as problem-solving and deliberation are accompanied by the experience of an inner voice in our heads. In this paper, we develop the idea that our own inner speech supports these tasks. We approach the phenomenon of inner speech through a comparison with overt speech – a comparison that is suggested by a Vygotskian approach that focuses on how inner speech develops from overt speech during ontogeny. We argue for the cognitive potency of inner speech by hypothesizing that condensed inner speech may help reduce cognitive load; yet by being pragmatically expanded upon, inner speech may scaffold further cognitive accomplishments. More specifically, as we adopt a Vygotskian perspective, we begin by introducing his notion of internalization and examine in what way inner speech might be condensed. Then the question of whether inner speech is governed by the same pragmatic mechanisms that govern overt speech is posed and answered in the affirmative. We advocate the idea that inner speech aids deliberation due, to some degree, to the manner in which pragmatic principles governing overt speech are re-purposed in inner speech. We close by addressing two objections.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1971-1994
Number of pages24
JournalPhilosophical Psychology
Volume37
Issue number8
Early online date19 Aug 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 603114 Philosophy of mind

Keywords

  • dialogue
  • Inner speech
  • pragmatics
  • speech production
  • Vygotsky

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