Hi Derek,

> See the PED article on vitakka.

O.K. But isn't it still just different kinds of thought?
Compare the definition of vaci-sankhara as vitakka and vicara: After having
vitakka'd and vicara'd one breaks out into speach, thus they are called the
vaci-sankhara.
Certainly it would be quite a subtle kind of thought in the jhana. (see also
http://www.buddhadust.org/dhammatalk/give_ear/rethinking_vitakka.htm)

Greetings
Lars