Evolution of the “Language-Thought” Paradigm as the Theoretical Foundation for a New Model of Professionally Oriented Language Education
https://doi.org/10.26794/2226-7867-2026-16-2-132-141
Abstract
The article explores the contemporary transformation of theoretical views on the relationship between language and thought as a methodological foundation for updating professionally oriented language education at the university level. Within the context of the cognitive and digital turns in science, classical paradigms (from the linguistic relativity hypothesis to the activity-based approach) are being reconsidered, necessitating a fresh understanding of language’s role in shaping professional consciousness and competencies. The work examines the evolution of key theories, highlighting the dynamic co-construction of reality in speech activity. Particular attention is paid to the practical significance of this theoretical transformation for educational engineering, including the design of course curricula based on the modelling of professional discourses and the implementation of tasks aimed at conceptualizing professional experience through a foreign language. Revisiting the fundamental “language-thought” relationship enables not merely an adaptation, but a fundamental reconstruction of the system for training specialists’ language skills, transforming it into an agent for developing holistic professional thinking in the context of digital reality.
About the Authors
M. V. Melnichuk
Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Marina V. Melnichuk — Dr. Sci. (Econ.), Cand. Sci. (Pedagogy), Prof., Head of the Department of English for Professional Communication
Moscow
E. A. Starodubtseva
Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Elena A. Starodubtseva — Cand. Sci. (Pedagogy), Assoc. Prof., Assoc. Prof. of Department of English for Professional Communication
Moscow
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Review
For citations:
Melnichuk M.V., Starodubtseva E.A. Evolution of the “Language-Thought” Paradigm as the Theoretical Foundation for a New Model of Professionally Oriented Language Education. Humanities and Social Sciences. Bulletin of the Financial University. 2026;16(2):132-141. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.26794/2226-7867-2026-16-2-132-141
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