Mental lexicon and language consciousness: similaritiea and discrapencies in research methodology
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- 5-16
Abstract
The article discusses the similarities and differences between the research methodology of the mental lexicon and language consciousness. Most studies of language consciousness do not differ in any significant way from studies of the mental lexicon, and this is not recognized or is hushed up by their authors. The problem of their differentiation is connected with the definition of language consciousness. The author of the article defines it as a psycholinguistic concept that shows how the internal and external factors for the functioning of a language as a human property are associated with changes in the meanings and senses of linguistic signs. This definition gives way to comparative psycholinguistic research, in which the comparison is based on the nature of the activities that representatives of different groups carry out regularly. Studies on language consciousness are similar to studies on mental lexicon in experimental procedures for obtaining empirical material and differ from them in general methodological principles arising from the definition of this concept, and in procedures for processing and theoretical analysis of empirical material. To distinguish itself from mental lexicon research, 1) language consciousness research must be comparative; 2) the comparison should be carried out on activities that are regular for at least one of the compared groups; 3) empirical material should be selected in such a way that it reflects the features of linguistic phenomena caused by this particular activity; 4) empirical material should be analyzed in such a way that identifies a regular (i. e. not random) influence on it from regular activities and personal assessment.