F. Fortunatov's ideas about the language physiological basis

The paper discusses some ideas of F.F. Fortunatov, relevant to the modern problems of linguistics perspectives. The correspondence of his ideas with I.M. Sechenov theory is stated. The material form of a linguistic sign is based on the reproduction of pronunciation-sound sensations, and this reproduction, in its turn, is based on the connection of sensations by similarity or contiguity. Language, therefore, obeys the basic laws of the psyche and physiology.