Views on environment in biocognitive studies of language (Linguo-philosophical analysis)

Abstract

A human being, as a biological species with language ability, and the environment are in constant interactions and function as a unity. Interactions determine human thinking and behavior as well as changes in the environment. However, the methodology of researching dynamic processes of cognition has not yet been developed, directions of its practical applications haven’t been clearly defined. The paper deals with the views of biologically oriented scientists on a triad MAN-LANGUAGE-ENVIRONMENT and lexical semantic analysis of the word environment in the Russian language. The received data is analyzed and generalized; its practical application is discussed. The key aspects of the environment related to human being/observer activity are the niche as perceptual medium of the observer, a human as biological-cultural being, language activity and signs determined by experience, a need as a specific state of the observer willing to act. The biocognitive approach to the investigation of environment allows us to identify interrelations among environment, language and a human being in theory and in practice. Having recognized the linguistic status of the concept environment, we will be able to expand the fund of knowledge about a human being and significantly advance in the development of the methodology of language as a biocognitive phenomenon.