PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS ARE THE FOUNDATION OF COGNITIVE LINGUISTICS

Abstract

This article explores the central role of phraseological units within the framework of cognitive linguistics, highlighting how the shift from system-centric to anthropocentric paradigms has transformed the understanding of idiomatic expressions. The study investigates the relationship between language and thought, conceptualization processes, and the cognitive mechanisms underpinning idioms, proverbs, and sayings. It discusses theoretical contributions from prominent linguists such as N.F. Alefirenko, A.B. Feokistova, and M.L. Kovshova, who emphasize the discursive, conceptual, and cultural significance of phraseological units. The article also engages with ongoing debates concerning the inclusion of proverbs and sayings in phraseology and evaluates their semantic, structural, and communicative features. Through a cognitive lens, phraseological units are presented not merely as linguistic constructs but as carriers of cultural knowledge, mental models, and collective memory, making them vital tools for expressing complex human experience and social understanding.