This thematic issue features functional linguistics. It describes various functions of the language in social communication and personal space, as well as gives an insight into the nature of the language and verbal cognition. Each article introduces a current trend in the contemporary scientific paradigm, multifaceted and synergetic.

Each section represents a separate function of the language, i.e., cognitive, communicative, cultural, etc. Living speech reveals the cognitive, i.e., epistemological, function, which unites language and thought. Cognition yields experience while language enshrines this experience as concepts, assertions, and nominations. Some articles describe individual style, vernacular nominations, associative lexical meanings, etc. Such studies herald linguistic identity and authenticity refracted in everyday speech and worldview.

The communicative function of the language is, perhaps, the most important of all. Communicative linguistics covers the methods of human interaction, as well as speech formulae and expressive means that allow communicants to achieve their goals. Such studies contribute to the understanding of the key mechanisms behind the language, e.g., rhetorical devices of forensic speech and discursive practices within certain literary genres.

Cultural linguistics demonstrates cultural differences between the way the language manifests itself in speech and consciousness.

Some articles focus on theoretical and historical linguistics. Our authors develop synchronic and diachronic descriptions of rare languages, e.g., those of the Salish family, study the re-standardization of the Italian language in the XVI century, etc. They look for novel research objects and introduce new hypotheses.

The closing section of this issue features literary concepts and categories.

We express our deepest gratitude to our authors for entrusting our Journal with their research results and will be happy to welcome new scientific contributions in the fields of philology, linguistics, translation, and literary studies.