LINGUISTIC FOUNDATIONS OF THE CONCEPTS OF LANGUAGE AND MENTALITY

The relationship between language and mentality represents one of the fundamental issues in modern linguistics, particularly within cognitive linguistics, ethnolinguistics, sociolinguistics, and linguoculturology. Language functions not only as a means of communication but also as an instrument through which individuals perceive, conceptualize, interpret, and represent the surrounding world. Mentality reflects historically established patterns of collective thinking, cultural values, social attitudes, traditions, and behavioural norms characteristic of a linguistic community. This article examines the theoretical and linguistic foundations of language and mentality, focusing on their interrelationship and mutual influence. Particular attention is given to the linguistic worldview, lexical and semantic structures, phraseological units, metaphorical expressions, and culturally marked vocabulary as indicators of collective mentality.