Culture and Language As Forming Factors of Cognitive Processes: Analysis of Western Conceptions

The article reviews prerequisites that led to the emergence of contemporary western scientific approaches analysing the relationship between language, culture and cognition such as cultural cognition, applied ethno-linguistics, linguistic anthropology. It shows the transformation of philosophical conceptual approaches in the space of mutual influences between cognitive processes, language, and culture. The differences between disciplines are shown through the development of cognitive sciences in the USA and Europe. The conclusion is made about great heuristic possibilities of this science for studying cross-cultural communication of individuals and people.

Keywords: language, culture, cognitive sciences, cognitive processes, structuralism, cultural linguistics, ethno-linguistics, linguistic anthropology.