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REVIEW OF I. MITROFANOVA. 2015. LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATIVE PERSONALITY San Francisco, California: B&M Publishing, 132 pp.
The monograph deals with the use of the language in the process of speech communication.
One of the major focuses of contemporary linguistics is the study of how speech peculiarities of any person in any situation fit within the overall language system. Mastering the appropriate language is a prerequisite for personal socialization. Modern so-ciolinguistics has come a long way to englobe various aspects at the crossroads of social and language sciences, e.g. the heterogeneous level of civilizational development in different parts of the world, the discrepancy between personal communication needs and the needs of society, the logic of development of science per se and its place in the knowledge paradigm, the influence of vernacular linguistic traditions and research interests of individual scientists). The research touches upon the forms of language functioning as a semiotic and communication system, socialization as a measure of personal intellectual, moral and cultural development. All of the above emphasizes the relevance of the monograph.
The structure of the monograph complies with its objectives: it consists of two chapters, where the author studies the speech communication process and introduces the concept of "communicative personality" as the research object.
The first chapter gives a review of the historical study of language built on the comparison of several descriptive data. When considering several language families, the author reveals that the processes of linguistic changes are the same for all languages, regardless of their grammatical structure. The use of inductive generalizations makes it possible to consider convergences and divergences between various languages from different points of view, including grammar. A speech act can change the listener's predisposition to further reactions. Intensive language interaction makes the listener more sensitive to the perception of subsequent stimuli and provides for the person's response that is largely dependent on the level of education and culture. The author analyzes the speech segment making a special emphasis on the elements of the statement and their hierarchy.
In the second chapter, the author highlights the characteristics of communicative needs which are reflected in the specific mechanisms of the speech and cogitative activity. The socio-psychological problem is also dwelt on. Irina Mitrofanova addresses the issue of communicative competence in the process of interpersonal communication and classifies the types of situations influencing people's behavior. The use of speech as a means of thinking, and not just communication, is stressed. The author reveals basic syntax characteristics of internal speech. She shows the inextricable connection between language and human intelligence, the essence of natural intelligence and natural language generated by it, the role of the subconscious as well as functional interdependence between human intelligence and language.
Russian Journal of Linguistics, Vestnik RUDN, 2015, N. 4
Particular attention is paid to the topical problem of the impact produced by the language on any individual in various aspects: emotional, verbal, informational and logical thus revealing the essence of the socialization process. The social roles are also taken into account, including interpersonal communication and the internal factors, which predetermine success and efficiency of communication in different spheres of life.
The author characterizes the speech activity by demonstrating robust links between communication and generalization. The monograph offers a detailed analysis of the essence of communication, forms of speech, communication act parameters and demonstrates deep intertwining of the processes of thinking and speaking.
The paper provides important information about the relationship between functional varieties of a language, i.e. literary language, vernacular language, social and territorial dialects, and linguistic processes.
The method of linguistic analysis used by Irina Mitrofanova can also be applied in other areas of research. This is due, in particular, to the researcher's behaviorist stance. The paper introduces new techniques and principles of the study of speech mechanisms and allows to take a broader look at the phenomenon of language as a form.
Human interaction is based on the use of language as an instrument of knowledge and as a tool for thinking thus ensuring socialization. The diachronic research of a language is a premise for understanding history of the nation that speaks it as it is in the language evolution that historical changes can be observed. It is as simple and natural for native speakers to communicate in their language as walking and breathing, they do not feel any restrictions and consider their tongue to be the most beautiful, rich and expressive. Therefore, the native language system serves as a reference for them.
Language is not just a system of signs, but that of communicative behavior rules in a particular culture and society. So, the expression "language is endless, and it is impossible to fully learn it" is not unreasonable. This is why the monograph will certainly be of interest to the teachers of foreign languages as well as to philologists, journalists and translators.
Luisa Gishkaeva
