Messeiurs Sapir and Whorf gave us the thesis that language shapes our thinking. That thesis is often associated with, or forms the base for, the postulate that thinking is dependent on natural language, or that the brain actually does its thinking in English, or Chinese, or Arabic, and the scope of its thought is limited by the scope of the language.
Chomsky disagreed and posited that thought is not conducted in natural language, but in a sort of universal 'mentalese', an innate language of the brain. This would imply, inter alia, that thought is not restricted by language, but expands beyond it.
Now, listen to Bach's Goldberg Variations.
Don't you get the feeling that the music is speaking to you the listener, and clearly describing a state of mind or atmosphere, but that it is not quite possible, or at least very difficult, to nail down precisely what it is describing in words alone? As though it formed a description of the world that could communicate itself to the conscious mind without using language. It would seem to support Chomsky's opinion. Or maybe it's just me.
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