NON-CRITICAL APPROACH TO NATIVE LANGUAGE: HISTORY, MODERNITY, PROBLEMS

Abstract

In the article the researcher tackles the issue of lack of critical thinking in the ideas on the essence of language widespread among the native speakers. According to the data, unconventional perception of language sign, that is failure to discern between the sides of the sign, dates back to early ontogenetic and social processes but is still alive in the metalinguistic claims of linguistically naïve native speakers. Making comparisons between certain features of medieval linguistic treatises and ideas of modern day naïve speakers, the research demonstrates striking parallels in their perception of language. There are at least three such parallels, namely, sacred status of orthographic conventions, firm belief in immutability of grammar and, finally, certain traits of magical thinking where word is deemed to be equal to the thing it denotes. The work shares multiple examples of each of these phenomena. In addition, the author speculates on how dangerous such ideas may be to public peace and give some hints on how it could be possible to broaden the sphere of our interest by creating an exhaustive list of all the non-critical metalinguistic ideas of naïve speakers. Such a list could be of substantial help for those willing to reform the school teaching methods and improve the paths of popularizing the scholarly linguistic knowledge.