A two-day All-Russian Scientific Conference with International Participation "Interaction of Thought and Language Structures: A Meeting of the Scientific School," has been held at Derzhavin University. The co-organizers of the conference were TSU and the All-Russian Public Organization "Russian Association of Cognitive Linguists" (RACL). This year, it was dedicated to the anniversary of Nikolai Boldyrev, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor, and Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, founder of the Tambov School of Cognitive Linguistics. Around 300 scholars from Russia, neighboring countries, and beyond participated in the scientific event.
– Nikolai Nikolaevich is a renowned scholar in the fields of general and specific linguistics and cognitive linguistics, both in Russia and abroad. Under Professor Boldyrev's leadership, his students and colleagues have formed a leading scientific school that has been successfully developing fundamental issues in cognitive linguistics for over 25 years, - explains Valery Demyankov, Doctor of Philosophy and Chairman of the Presidium of the Russian Association of Cognitive Linguists. - This conference, like previous scientific events on cognitive linguistics held in Tambov, was superbly organized. I would like to note the high level of the presentations and scientific discussions.
The widespread recognition of N.N. Boldyrev's scientific school is evidenced by the publications of the leader and his research team in key Russian and international scientific journals, as well as their frequent citations in monographs, dissertations, and articles. Professor Boldyrev has supervised 15 doctors and 26 candidates of philological sciences, and his team members include over 30 scholars. Public and state recognition of the school's work is reflected in financial support for its research projects, including grants from the Russian Foundation for the Humanities (RHF), the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR), the Federal Targeted Program (FTP), the Russian Ministry of Education and Science under state assignments, the Government of the Tambov Region, the RSF, and other foundations and organizations.
- Nikolai Nikolaevich was at the forefront of establishing our university as a leading scientific center in the region and the country, - notes Alexander Gusev, Vice Rector for Research at Derzhavin University. - His breadth of research, diligence, ability to anticipate the development of modern science and linguistics in particular, as well as his leadership talent, contributed to the creation of a team of like-minded individuals not only in Tambov but also far beyond.
At the conference's plenary and breakout sessions, scholars examined a wide range of current issues in cognitive linguistics. These include theoretical and methodological issues in cognitive linguistics, new aspects and approaches to studying the conceptualization and categorization of the world in language, the analysis of linguistic data using computer technologies and cognitive modeling, the role of cognitive linguistics in interdisciplinary research, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, intercultural and multimodal communication, and the cognitive aspects of text and different types of discourse.
- The approaches and methods for solving these problems chosen by the participants indicate that the scientific traditions of the Tambov School of Cognitive Linguistics are being further deepened and developed, - notes Nikolai Boldyrev. - The new concepts and methods for cognitive language research proposed by the scholars indicate the strengthening and promising potential of cognitive linguistics as a scientific paradigm in Russian science.
The anniversary celebrant received congratulations from the head of the Tambov region, Evgeny Pervyshov, the leadership of several Russian universities, the presidium and branches of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and numerous personal congratulations from colleagues and students.
