I'm curious: What does your "inner voice" sound like, to you?

[Silver]

To be much more honest, however, my inner voice is such a nuisance that no one could last more than a few minutes in my mind.

[Mr.wizard]

My inner voice sounds like Christopher Walken.

[Athene]

Wowiee wow. 
I gotta have more cowbell.

[robvalue]

I know just what you mean!

My inner voice is very wispy and ethereal, seeming to be somewhere between the concepts and the sound of the words.

[ignoramus]

What if we're all 99% the same and are just explaining ourselves in our own personal way using limited vocabs.

[account_inactive]

I don't know.

[MTL]

It would be fascinating to know if other animals that use "language" are capable of thinking in their animal "voices"
especially if they are animals know for problem-solving abilities,
like dolphins, chimps, border collies, or magpies.

Obviously they are capable of thought and communication, like us,
but do they have the ability to "mentally vocalize", as we do?

And if Yes, do they ever do so?

And if Yes...what purpose does it serve?

My dog growls and barks in her sleep in between chasing and running .. all in a very sleep-restrained way of course.  But it doesn't look as though any animal uses symbolic language except ourselves .. though some are capable of learning parts of it.  I think they are capable of realizing a great deal, but unlike us I don't believe they create a symbolic substitute for the world the way we do with language.  Like them, we have perfectly good pre-human brains and I'm convinced we are as capable as they to move through the world purposefully and effectively without ever narrating our progress to ourselves.  The trick is to save the language for what it does well, convey ideas to other humans.  So, no, I don't think any other animal misapplies symbolic language internally because none of them uses it at all.

mmh....I'm not so sure about that, WTW.

We already know that thousands of species communicate with each other using different vocal sounds,
and some on a surprisingly sophisticated level;

like dolphins, primates, birds;
and they've been demonstrated to be capable of clear communication via symbolism,
although I acknowledge that there doesn't yet seem to be any evidence that any species other than humans
would naturally or spontaneously choose to employ such a device.

But I don't think symbols or hieroglyphics or the written word is necessary
to demonstrate that symbolic language is used;

many Native Americans didn't employ the written word at all,
their history was purely oral; passed along with each generation.

If we can dream about people talking to us,
and your dog can bark in her sleep,

...why not?

[MTL]

I know just what you mean!

My inner voice is very wispy and ethereal, seeming to be somewhere between the concepts and the sound of the words.

Thank you, Rob.  That's what I meant, yes.

It obviously doesn't mean that that the "automatic thought" process is in any way impeded;

but it is interesting that the "mental voice" itself is more laborious to discipline into structure,
than is our actual voice.

I just wonder why we have it, if it's more of a pain to use, than not.

That's why I raised the point about animals
A)  having it
B)  using it

If we have it, and animals do not,
(or we BOTH have it,
but only WE deliberately use it)
...does that say something about the human brain?

Does it tie into any part of what Descartes was trying to explore,
about the distinction between the brain, itself,
and the consciousness ?

[BrokenQuill92]

My inner voice sounds a bit like Clarissa from Clarissa Explains it All. And there's colors, smells, and music laced into. It's a bit weird because I have synesthesia and its have to explain to people without it.

[brewer]

My inner voice is James Earl Jones. Yeah right, what a lie! More like Pee Wee Herman.

I have multiple. Parents, child, wife, teachers, entertainment (tv/movies/radio), friends and sometimes none. Depends set and setting. Also depends on what I'm thinking about, what I'm saying. Different if I'm speaking/thinking an original thought or repeating something I've heard.

What is the inner voice of a deaf person?