I'm a bit drunk but i can't find an attachment button, needs an external URL. Anyway noone needs a pic, just email the man with an interesting question, he's like a beautiful woman, he doesn't get chatted up much because his potential suitors are too much in awe ;+}

Yes and he replies, that's how this discussion was started. I was very surprised the first tim ethat he answered but then, how many peopel do you know that emailed him? I don't know anyone that did so emails to him may not be so numerous as you might expect.

He replied, screenshot attached, he just said "thanks, interesting" (im a bit of a fanboy, he is a clear thinker, he cuts through a lot of political shit).

I think the best word i can use for a pre-thought is an impulse, or an idea. Sometimes we get the solution to a problem in a sudden, wordless rush and then we formalise it with language.

People that practice a language that's non-native for them for a long time say things like 'I found myself starting to think in French, rather than doing the translation in my head first'.

I may email Mr Chomsky again and point him to this discussion.

@caldwell

Yes, communication would have been a better choice but even that doesn't suffice because it's an internal process, the translating of thoughts into language.

My introspection reveals that the idea comes before the linguistic expression of the idea, i suppose a 'sudden realisation' may be a good example

We've all heard people say or said ourselves "Oh i can't find the words", but obviously the idea is there.

Ironically, i'm finding this hard to put into words ;+}