Investigating Inner Speech and Higher Psychological Functions through Speech Profiles

The starting point of the cultural-historical view is that individual consciousness and all other higher mental processes – speech included – have a social genesis. The ability to speak and all language activity are central to social and individual life. First, an introduction to cultural-historical psycholinguistics is given. Second, inner speech is stated as reference point for many mental processes: it is an important ability central to our consciousness (generally) as well as necessary for higher psychological functions (specifically). Inner speech combines communicative and cognitive skills. Therefore, an extended concept of inner speech is drawn up, which takes into account the intensive examination of inner speech in Soviet psychology as well as the latest discussions. Third, speech profiles are used as point of entry for empirical research into the relationship between speaking and thinking. General results from a study of this kind are presented, dealing with speech profiles in problem solving. Four Speaking-Thinking-Types are introduced. They are characterised as pragmatic type, talkative type, doubting type, and taciturn type. These different types show different problem solving strategies. The connection between speech profile and thinking is obvious. Fourth, possibilities and difficulties to work with speech profiles are discussed.

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