Russian Journal of LinguisticsRussian Journal of LinguisticsRussian Journal of Linguistics2687-00882686-8024Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University)4373610.22363/2687-0088-39530MVZIGTArticlesСтатьиArticlesResearch ArticleEcolinguistics: A paradigm shiftЭколингвистика: смена парадигмыhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6300-0540KravchenkoAlexander V.КравченкоАлександр Владимирович

Doctor Habil. His research interests include, but are not limited to, biology of language and cognition, constructivist epistemology, (bio)semiotics, bio-cognitive functional typology, and applied bio-cognitive grammar.

доктор филологических наук. Сфера его научных интересов включает среди прочего биологию языка и биологию познания, конструктивистскую эпистемологию, (био)семиотику, био-когнитивную функциональную типологию и прикладную биокогнитивную грамматику.

sashakr@hotmail.comBaikal State UniversityБайкальский государственный университет02042025291Ecolinguistics: Consolidating a research paradigmЭколингвистика: объединяя исследовательские парадигмы173608042025Copyright ©; 2025, Kravchenko A.V.Copyright ©; 2025, Кравченко А.В.Copyright ©; 2025, Kravchenko A.2025Kravchenko A.V.Кравченко А.В.Kravchenko A.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0https://journals.rudn.ru/linguistics/article/view/43736

Unlike other modern sciences that have dramatically transformed our way of life over a historically short period of time, linguistics cannot boast of any serious achievements that affect our daily life. This raises the issue of practicality of linguistic theories and their applicability in our praxis of living. Confined to the methodologically erroneous and theoretically untenable framework based on the code model of language and communication, linguistics of the mainstream persists in viewing language as a cultural tool in the service of the mind rather than a biologically and ecologically functional feature of humans as a species. Reification of language precludes any productive theorizing about its nature and function, and the biological function of language and its role in the evolution of our species is ignored. Based on constructivist epistemology and the biology of language and cognition, the study explores how a systems approach to language as the cognitive domain of humans allows for a new conception of language as part of the organism-environment system in which the flow of linguistic interactions (languaging) within a community constitutes its ecological self-constructed niche (language) as a relational domain in which humans develop as living systems. It is argued that a systems approach used in theorizing language opens an entirely new horizon in the study of languaging and language as crucial biological and ecological factors that define the evolution of humans. A different set of core concepts in the study of language as the human praxis of living signals an ascending revolution in the language sciences and a paradigm shift to ecolinguistics - the study of language that addresses the question of what makes Homo loquens ecologically special, shedding light on the elusive nature of humanness.

В отличие от других современных наук, самым существенным образом изменивших наш образ жизни за исторически короткий период времени, лингвистика не может похвастать сколько-нибудь серьезными достижениями, повлиявшими на нашу повседневную жизнь. Это заставляет задаться вопросом о практичности лингвистических теорий и их применимости в нашей жизненной практике. Ограниченная методологически ошибочной и теоретически несостоятельной системой взглядов, основанной на кодовой модели языка и коммуникации, лингвистика мэйнстрима продолжает рассматривать язык как культурный инструмент на службе у разума, но не как биологически и экологически функциональную особенность человека как вида. Объективизация языка исключает какое-либо продуктивное теоретизирование о его природе и функции, при этом игнорируется биологическая функция языка и его роль в эволюции нашего вида. Основанный на конструктивистской эпистемологии и биологии языка и познания системный подход к языку как когнитивной области человека позволяет концептуально по-новому взглянуть на язык как часть системы организм-среда, в которой поток языковых взаимодействий (языковая деятельность) внутри сообщества образует его экологическую, им самим конструируемую нишу (язык) как реляционную область, в которой люди развиваются как живые системы. Приводятся доводы в пользу того, что теоретизирование языка с использованием системного подхода открывает совершенно иной горизонт в исследованиях языковой деятельности и языка как ключевых биологических и экологических факторов, определяющих эволюцию человека. Иной набор ключевых понятий в исследовании языка как жизненной практики человека указывает на начавшуюся революцию в науках о языке и смену парадигмы в сторону эколингвистики - такого изучения языка, при котором ставится вопрос о том, что делает «человека говорящего» экологически особенным, проливая свет на ускользающую от нас природу человечности.

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