Klyukanov I.E.
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, USA
e-mail: igorklyukanov@yahoo.com
IN MEMORY OF EVGENY FEDOROVICH TARASOV: SCIENTIST, TEACHER, MAN
Annotation. In this article, the author shares his memories of Evgeny Fedorovich Tarasov, whom he knew, collaborated with for many years, and from whom he learned much. He describes how Evgeny Fedorovich instilled in the author an interest in the problems of speech communication and linguistic consciousness, and helped him appreciate the explanatory potential of Activity Theory. It is noted that Evgeny Fedorovich's scientific outlook extended beyond the purely psycholinguistic issues of speech production, perception, and understanding. It is shown that Evgeny Fedorovich explored the nature of communication, which he viewed as the ontological foundation of linguistic consciousness. Furthermore, he understood the importance of studying communication from phenomenological and axiological perspectives, thereby opening up new avenues of research. Particular attention is paid to Evgeny Fedorovich's interest in professional communication and his role in the development of organizational psycholinguistics. In this regard, the article discusses Evgeny Fedorovich's professional responsibilities as the head of the psycholinguistics and communication theory sector at the Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences for a quarter of a century, which was both a school and a home for many young scientists, including the author of the article.
Keywords: Evgeny Fedorovich Tarasov, psycholinguistics, communication theory, speech activity, linguistic consciousness, intergenerational communication
Klyukanov IE.
IN MEMORY OF EVGENIY FEDOROVICH TARASOV: A SCHOLAR, A TEACHER, A PERSON
Abstract. In the article, the author shares his memories of Evgeny Fedorovich Tarasov, whom he knew, with whom he collaborated for many years and from whom he learned a lot. It describes how Evgeniy Fedorovich instilled in the author an interest in the problems of speech communication and language consciousness, and also helped to appreciate the explanatory potential of Activity Theory. It is noted that Evgeniy Fedorovich's scientific horizons went beyond purely psycholinguistic issues of speech production, perception and understanding. It is shown that Evgeniy Fedorovich explored the nature of communication, which he considered the ontological basis of language consciousness. Also, he understood the importance of studying communication from phenomenological and axiological perspectives, thus opening new ways of its research. Evgeniy Fedorovich's interest in professional communication and his role in the development of organizational psycholinguistics are especially noted. In this regard, the article about the professional responsibilities of Evgeniy Fedorovich as the Head of the sector of psycholinguistics and communication theory at the Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences for a quarter of a century are mentioned, which was both a school and a home for many young talks scholars, including the author of the article.
Keywords: Evgeniy Fedorovich Tarasov, psycholinguistics, communication theory, speech activity, language consciousness, intergenerational communication.
I don't remember how I first met Evgeny Fedorovich. When I first arrived at the Psycholinguistics and Communication Theory Section of the Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, I immediately felt like I'd known him for a long time. Of course, I'd already read his works, recommended by Alexandra Alexandrovna Zalevskaya, who headed the department where I worked. But articles and books are one thing, and lively interaction with their author is quite another. And the first thing I remember was not a strictly academic discussion of any particular topic, but simply conversations about new publications and conferences, university life, and plans. The conversations were simple and friendly, with a genuine interest in the interlocutor and conducive to conversation. Any nervousness or timidity I felt when I entered the building of the Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences quickly disappeared. Thus, on the one hand, my world expanded, and on the other, it seemed homely and cozy. I remember how I didn't want to leave, and how, even before I left, I was already looking forward to returning here again. Fortunately, I returned to the sector many, many times over the years, and each time, Yevgeny Fyodorovich warmly greeted me with the words, "Klyukanov, welcome!" and saw me off with the words, "Take care!".
Like many other young scholars, Evgeny Fedorovich not only opened the door to psycholinguistics and communication theory for me but also introduced me to a scientific world that was revealing new facets. By then, I was taking my first steps as a scholar: my studies were focused on the nature of language, or rather, languages, since I was more interested in their differences, not so much their systemic and structural ones, but their functional ones. At the same time, I became interested in poetic translation, tentatively translating Shakespeare's sonnets and beginning to understand Robert Frost, who said that "poetry is what gets lost in translation." I felt that knowledge of language alone was insufficient, and the limits of a purely linguistic approach to linguistic (pro)manifestations were becoming narrow. And here, both Evgeny Fedorovich's scholarly work and my interactions with him proved invaluable. It was thanks to them that I began to turn not so much to language as to linguistic consciousness as a language-mediated image of the world, and to recognize that there is an insurmountable gap between thoughts and the way they are expressed, a gap between thinking and being (M.K. Mamardashvili). And that, despite this, or rather because of it, we can and must bridge this gap in every act of verbal communication, trampling on language with language.
Thus, my scientific (and creative) exercises reached a new level: I realized that, in addition to knowledge of language as such, I also needed to understand how language unites us in the complex psychological and sociocultural process of speech production and comprehension. And that understanding language and the products of linguistic creativity can only be achieved by examining the nature of human linguistic consciousness. In this regard, it is difficult to overestimate the work of Evgeny Fedorovich, including his joint publications with Yu. A. Sorokin, N. V. Ufimtseva, A. M. Shakhnarovich, and others, which influenced the formation and development of the scientific views of many (especially young) scientists. Thanks to them, we mastered a scientific language that helped us clarify our thoughts. Thus, what existed only as vague images and vague conjectures striving for comprehension acquired form and meaning. So I understood and appreciated that language is not just something that exists in dictionaries and grammars, but something that gives us the opportunity to carry out motivated activity and achieve various goals, something that in activity theory has the classic formulation: «meaning is the relationship of motive to goal.».
It was through my acquaintance with Evgeny Fedorovich, his work, and his colleagues that I became acquainted with the ideas of L.S. Vygotsky, A.N. Leontiev, and A.R. Luria, which formed the basis of the theory of speech activity. The collective monograph "Fundamentals of the Theory of Speech Activity" (1974), prepared in 1968-1971 (then) by the psycholinguistics and communication theory group of the Institute of Linguistics of the USSR Academy of Sciences, became a reference book for many scholars interested not so much in language as a systemic-structural formation, but rather in its manifestation in speech. In many of his works and presentations, Evgeny Fedorovich noted the comprehensive potential of the theory of speech activity, penetratingly and convincingly demonstrating its theoretical and applied significance. It was clear that the ideas of speech activity theory had personal meaning for Evgeny Fedorovich and were an important part of his linguistic consciousness, setting the motives for his scientific and academic work.
These ideas likely had a personal resonance for Evgeny Fedorovich, also because he was part of the psycholinguistics and communication theory group at the Institute of Linguistics of the USSR Academy of Sciences, founded by A.A. Leontiev and later transformed into a sector, which he headed and which he managed for over 25 years. I remember one time, when I was in the sector, Alexey Alexeevich came in, and Evgeny Fedorovich quickly set up a table stocked not only with tea and coffee but also with alcoholic beverages, and invited everyone to sit down. I sat next to Alexey Alexeevich, pouring him cognac and listening, captivated, as he talked about conferences, books, and joked, and there was no sense of distance between him and the others. I sensed then, and today I clearly understand, the importance of so-called intergenerational communication. It is usually studied in the context of family communication, but in scientific communication it is invaluable because it is not only the transmission of information, but something elusive that makes up not only our dreams, but also our reality.
When people talk about Yevgeny Fedorovich as a scholar, they usually note that he is a linguist, a specialist in the field of psycholinguistics and linguistic consciousness. However, it should be remembered that Yevgeny Fedorovich headed the psycholinguistics sector for half a century and communication theories. His research interests extended beyond the study of the purely psycholinguistic processes of speech production, perception, and comprehension. He explored not only the psychological mechanisms of speech influence but also how they function in mass communication. Along with studying ethnolinguistic and ethnocultural processes, he addressed the concept of intercultural communication as the ontological foundation of linguistic consciousness. He approached the study of speech activity not only as a linguist and psycholinguist, but also as a philosopher—from a phenomenological perspective, outlining a fruitful approach to studying their synthesis. He also understood the importance of studying the axiological aspects of linguistic and ethnolinguistic consciousness, identifying—using the method of free association—various value-based worldviews. Evgeny Fedorovich was interested in problems in the field of professional communication, and today the field of organizational psycholinguistics is based, in part, on his work. In this area, Evgeny Fedorovich's scientific interests were closely intertwined with his professional responsibilities as a sector director, which he performed admirably, guided by (among other things) the theory of speech activity. I remember how often he would go upstairs to the Institute's director's office, attend various meetings, meet with colleagues, prepare collective publications, conferences, and symposia, all with ease and talent, skillfully directing the work of the sector and interacting with his colleagues.
Evgeny Fedorovich exemplifies that rare harmonious combination of a scholar and researcher of speech and communication, and a person who embodies the ideal of how to communicate: sincerely, kindly, gracefully and tactfully, seriously and to the point when necessary, and playfully and humorously when needed. He was not only able to think deeply and clearly express his thoughts in his works, speeches, discussions, and conversations, but also to listen attentively and with genuine interest. He generously shared his ideas, always supported his colleagues and students, and rejoiced at their successes. He taught in the best possible way—by example, by his actions. I sensed this already when I first found myself in the field of psycholinguistics and communication theory, and since then I have repeatedly become convinced that communication isn't simply about the transfer of ideas; an intangible essence emerges and remains, becoming a part of you and motivating you to action and interaction, to understanding and mutual understanding. I can feel it even now: the department is bright and bustling, the shelves are lined with newly published books and manuscripts, cake, tea, and coffee are on the table, and his staff and scientists (usually young ones) are sitting around the table, having come from different cities for various reasons (dissertation defenses, requests for reviews, participation in conferences), and Evgeny Fedorovich introduces those who don't know each other and talks enthusiastically about something. And you don't want to leave.