Endophasia

/ˌɛndoʊˈfeɪʒə/ noun

Definition

Internal speech or thought; the mental process of language that occurs inside the mind without external vocalization.

Etymology

From Greek 'endo-' (within) + 'phasis' (from 'phanai,' to speak). This psychological term describes the private language of internal thinking.

Kelly Says

Endophasia is why you can 'hear' words in your head while reading silently—neuroscientists have discovered that your brain essentially talks to itself, activating the same speech regions even without sound, which is why we sometimes think 'out loud' in our minds.

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