LANGUAGE AS A FORM OF HUMAN WORLDVIEW

Key words: thinking, perception, communication, cultural heritage, symbols, cognitive processes, identity, linguistic structures, mental models, social interactions Language is the most important tool a person uses to perceive and interpret the world around him/her. It shapes a person’s cultural values and way of thinking in addition to being a communication tool. Words and expressions reflect the historical and social context in which a person lives, influencing his/her perception of reality. Different languages convey unique concepts and categories, thereby defining the peculiarities of the worldview of native speakers of particular languages. Thus, language can be ragarded as a crucial component of identity, which has a profound impact on how people perceive the world, think, and interact with others from different cultures. Learning a language opens up access to a variety of worldview perspectives and enriches the understanding of the surrounding reality.