The language as a cognitive instrument in the work of operators of the continuous process production

Abstract

This article demonstrate that there is a strong relation between language, cognition and perception in the work activity of continuous process control. The method of research adopted was the ergonomic work analysis. A group made up of 35 operators of the continuous process control was studied. The results suggest that linguistic expressions and perception evidence recurrent body experiences, and  show that the structure of the language that operator habitually uses influences the way he perceives his environment, and “way he perceives his environment” influences the structure of the language at work. Language is not merely an expression of the knowledge that the operator has acquired. There is a fundamental correspondence between thought, language and perception, in terms of one providing resources to the other. The basic work’s term-meanings thus acquired will be the embryos of important concepts formation for the work activity. An operator first seems to use language for superficial social interaction, but at some point this language goes underground to become the structure of the operator's thinking at work.