Seems pretty obvious that there are no definitive answers to this.

Personally, I view language as a formulating (and so a filtering) device - just like other thought-forms such as unarticulated memories or emotional impressions. This comprises a whole lot more "stuff" than language does. And yet there is a kind of knowing associated with them, as there is in straight-up awareness, or attention.

Like I said, nothing definitive, but it's a pretty broad place we live.