The problem of «language and thought» in the light of the systemic-evolutionary method

The paper analyses language and thinking in the context of systemic-evolutionary approach. Language and thinking are examined not as elemental power, but as a product of evolution and a result of specific type of activity - social activity and culture, interpreted as social code, external memory, providing the continuity of social communication. Systemic-evolutionary approach applied in this research is based on the idea of global evolutionism. Evolution is interpreted as multilevel system and co-evolution of the system and environment. This enabled us to define the levels of cognitive evolution, levels of language evolution, and to reveal the recursive mechanism of interaction between language and thinking. It is highlighted that the language evolution does not contradict the general principles of the global process-system's evolution. It is reflected in common understanding of evolutionary processes in various sciences (astronomy, geology, biology and linguistics).

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