M. Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology of children’s speech. Part two
https://doi.org/10.28995/2073-6401-2025-3-51-74
Abstract
The paper continues a review of the issues of early speech ontogenesis based on M. Merleau-Ponty’s collection “Psychology and Pedagogy of the Child. Lectures at the Sorbonne 1949–1952” 2001. The text precedes the second fragment of translation of the collection from the section “Consciousness and Language Acquisition” and presents a short introductive overview of Merleau-Ponty’s approach to early speech ontogenesis. The author considers the linguistic studies that Merleau-Ponty relies on, linking them with the ideas of phenomenology, Gestalt psychology and structuralism. Merleau-Ponty aims to describe, as closely as possible, the main phenomenon of his research – the child, including how the child acquires his native language. The result of the synthesis of those research areas is an original concept, outlined in the article in the form the child language acquisition features, which correlate with his other well-known ideas, and a brief commentary on them is given. The article attempts to outline the philosophical foundations for the linguistics of child speech and child psychology by the example of M. Merleau-Ponty’s developments.
Keywords
child language,
ontolinguistics,
phenomenology,
Merleau- Ponty,
language acquisition by child,
language development,
early ontogenesis of speech,
criticism of intellectualism
Supporting agencies: I express my deep gratitude to Ya.G. Yanpolskaia for assistance in translation and editing.
About the Author
E. V. Vechernina
Russian State University for the Humanities
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Elena V. Vechernina, postgraduate student
bldg. 6, bld. 6, Miusskaya Square, Moscow, 125047
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Review
For citations:
Vechernina E.V. M. Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology of children’s speech. Part two. RSUH/RGGU BULLETIN. Series Philosophy. Social Studies. Art Studies. 2025;(3):51-74. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.28995/2073-6401-2025-3-51-74
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