Evolutionary Nexus of Praxis: An Interdisciplinary Perspective

This chapter explores the intersection of language, cognition, and practices through an interdisciplinary lens. Building on the notion of “nexuses” it aims to understand the dynamic and evolving nature of human socio-practical activity and, further, illustrate how the use of language is inevitably tied to the socio-material world. While cognitive science and linguistics have historically developed as distinct fields, real-world human practices challenge such clear-cut boundaries: language and practical cognition are deeply interconnected. Thus, this chapter argues that practices cannot be understood merely in terms of homogeneous ontologies (e.g., the mental, the social, and the biological), but must instead be seen as assemblages characterized by heterogeneous configurations of their interconnected elements. By considering the interplay between practical doings, sayings, and other practical factors, this chapter highlights the dynamic and evolving nature of practices. On this view, practices are not only sustained by repetition but also transformed through novelty and interaction. This model illustrates how practical activity, even in routine tasks, contributes to the evolution of praxis, revealing the interconnectedness of human action, cognition, and language in the bioecological domain.