I recall hearing this phrase a very long time ago "How do I know what I think until I hear what I say?" I don't recall it's origins but it has sat in the back of mind ever since and set me to thinking about the Habits and the role of language. Having read Basil Bernstein back in 1970s and more recently the work of Ruby Payne in the USA I am very conscious of the role that living in poverty can play in the development of language. The 'restricted code' of Bernstein and the 'casual register' of Payne will not serve our children well as they struggle to make their thinking explicit.