Daniel Gregory, Ramón y Cajal researcher at the Department of Phylosophy at the UV, highlights for the first time the importance of taking into consideration sign language in studies on inner speech, also known as inner voice.
The research project ‘Inner speech and sign languages’, published in the journal Shyntese, reveals that there are key differences between auditory and signed inner speech. The inner voice, responsible for processing thought and emotions quietly, plays a key role in decision-making or behaviour management.
This phenomenon’s philosophical interest has increased over the past fifteen years. However, Gregory underlines that until now, research on this topic was focused on voiced languages.
The researcher highlights that signers have described their experience in different fields, but nothing definitive about inner language has been published yet. Along these lines, Gregory shows how some influential philosophical theories about inner dialogue and its function within the mind could be questioned thanks to his research.
Referència de l’article: Gregory, D. (2026). 'Inner speech and sign languages'. Synthese, 207, 176. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-026-05554-5