Which came first, the language or the thought?

Philosophers have debated this question for thousands of years. The most extreme view suggests that language determines all thought. This view would mean that if you did not have a word for something, you would be unable to think about it. Three major child development theorists all agree that language is linked to cognitive development, but each has a different view on its role in thought. Bruner suggested that language is essential for abstract or 'symbolic thinking' and that without language, higher level thinking could not be achieved.