THE INTERRELATIONSHIP OF LANGUAGE, THOUGHT, AND COGNITION: INSIGHTS FROM PSYCHOLINGUISTICS AND COGNITIVE LINGUISTICS

Abstract

This paper examines the dynamic relationship between language, thought, and cognition through the perspectives of psycholinguistics and cognitive linguistics. Psycholinguistics, emerging from the synthesis of linguistics and psychology, investigates speech formation, perception, and acquisition, as well as the psychological mechanisms supporting language ability. Cognitive linguistics, rooted in the Latin term cognitio (“knowledge”), explores language as a cognitive capacity for acquiring, organizing, and applying information, emphasizing the role of metaphor and conceptual systems in linguistic comprehension. Drawing upon interdisciplinary insights from psychology, sociology, anthropology, and philosophy, the paper highlights how recent paradigms have shifted the focus of linguistic research from mere information transmission to the orientation of individuals within their cognitive domain. By underscoring the significance of linguistic consciousness and the individuality of the speaking subject, this study demonstrates that language is both a communicative instrument and a reflection of human cognition. Together, psycholinguistics and cognitive linguistics offer a comprehensive framework for understanding how language shapes human consciousness and facilitates engagement with the world.