NONVERBAL AND VERBAL MEANS IN THE FORMATION OF SPEECH

Abstract

The present study examines the role of verbal and nonverbal means in the formation of speech from a cognitive-communicative perspective. While traditional structural linguistics predominantly viewed language as an autonomous and self-contained system, contemporary linguistic paradigms increasingly recognize the importance of extralinguistic factors in speech production and interpretation. The article argues that speech is not solely a linguistic phenomenon but rather an integrated system in which verbal and nonverbal codes interact dynamically. Special attention is paid to the psychophysiological mechanisms underlying speech production, the role of motivation in initiating communicative activity, and the manifestation of the speaker's individuality through linguistic and nonlinguistic resources. Drawing upon theoretical insights from cognitive linguistics, psycholinguistics, and communication studies, the paper analyzes the functions of intonation, facial expressions, gestures, prosodic features, and other nonverbal devices in shaping communicative intentions. The study demonstrates that verbal means establish the logical and semantic framework of speech, whereas nonverbal means provide emotional, pragmatic, and evaluative dimensions. Consequently, speech formation should be understood as a multidimensional cognitive process in which verbal and nonverbal resources function complementarily to facilitate effective human interaction.