The subject of the research is the main theoretical linguistic propositions of J.-J. Rousseau, as presented in "On the Origin of Languages." In this work, the fundamental questions for Rousseau are the stages of social development of early human society and the formation of collective psychology, which is characterized by two typological states: emotions and needs. The object of this study is the step-by-step reconstruction by Rousseau of the formation of typologically different languages (Southern and Northern languages), the necessity of which he sees in the desire to communicate feelings, emotions, or needs. With the development of society, languages are absorbed and lose their original metaphorical and poetic qualities. The author of the article examines in detail the inheritance of the main ideas of the psychology of speech expressed in Rousseau's work by subsequent French language theorists. This is most distinctly manifested in the works of linguists of the Geneva School, particularly Charles Bally, which presents a particular scientific interest. This study employs a comprehensive method, including two main lines: descriptive and comparative approaches. The main conclusions of this research are as follows: 1. As is known, the scholars of the Geneva School postulated an absolute psychological approach to language. The famous formula of F. de Saussure, "In language, everything is psychological," undoubtedly inspired his students, particularly Charles Bally, to investigate the emotive means of language. However, Saussure and his students openly criticized manifestations of speculation and intuitive reconstructions in questions of the origin and formation of languages. Nevertheless, the foundations of psychological thought outlined by Rousseau have, as this study shows, had a clear impact on the formation of psycholinguistic and linguistic-pragmatic ideas of the scholars of the Geneva School. 2. Rousseau, just like the scholars of the early 20th century, speaks about the basic needs of early society, which, alongside emotions, represent a powerful impetus for the creation of language. The scientific novelty of this study lies in the direct comparison of the highlighted propositions from the teachings of J.-J. Rousseau and Charles Bally, leading to the conclusions above about the inheritance and development of fundamental questions of language.
Elena Leonidovna Pasternak (Sun,) studied this question.