Language is not essential for the cognitive processes that underlie thought

I’ve been hearing/reading about people who don’t have an inner monologue. Their experience of cognition is not verbally-based.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/inner-monologue-...

Honestly, for some of us the idea that all your thoughts have to filter through language sounds very tedious.

I want to remind everyone that your experiences are unique and do not necessarily translate to all other people.

As one of those people most of the time (communicating with other people is the main exception), I still find it astounding that it's hard for some people to understand.

Take riding a bike: I presume even people with an overactive inner monologue aren't constantly planning their actions (brakes, steering, turns) in words. Then just extend that out to most other stuff.

What about when reading and writing? My inner monologue internally voices the words as I’m reading and writing. Do you not do that?

That's how I start reading, but once I'm really into it, no - I'm seeing a (low-quality) version of the scene in my head and not even registering that I'm still reading words and turning pages.