Saussure: Signs, System and ArbitrarinessCambridge University Press, 26.4.1991 - 180 sivua The Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913) has exerted a profound influence not only on twentieth century linguistics but on a whole range of disciplines within the humanities and social sciences. His central thesis was that the primary object in studying a language is the state of that language at a particular time--a so-called synchronic study. He went on to claim that a language state is a socially constituted system of signs that are quite arbitrary and that can only be defined in terms of their relationship within the system. This new perspective has changed the way people think about linguistics and has led to important attempts to apply structuralist ideas in anthropology, literary criticism, and philosophy. Professor Holdcroft's book expounds and elaborates Saussure's central ideas. It also offers a critical assessment of them, arguing that many of Saussure's claims are either questionable or have been misunderstood. The book will be read with profit by nonspecialists and could be used as a textbook by students of linguistics, philosophy of language, literary criticism and anthropology. |
Sisältö
Preface page ix | 1 |
The distinction between langue and parole | 19 |
Signs | 47 |
Diachronic | 69 |
Identities | 88 |
Values | 107 |
Successes and failures | 134 |
Notes | 161 |
Bibliography | 175 |
Yleiset termit ja lausekkeet
acoustic image analogy arbitrary associative relations belonging to langue Chapter characterisation chess clear comparative linguistics concept concrete consider contrast diachronic linguistics discussion Durkheim elements Engler existence explanation French given graphemes guage guistic historical linguistics ibid idea identified important independently individual individualistic instance involved kind language langue langue and parole Linearity linguistic signs Lyons means metaphor methodological Moreover Morse Code nature object of linguistics onomatopoeia phonemes phonic phonology plural Port Royal Grammar position possible principle psychologically real pure values purely differential purely negative question reason representations role Saus Saussure argues Saussure's account Saussure's argument Saussure's claim Saussure's thought Saussurean seems semiology sentences sign systems signifiers and signifieds simply social fact speakers speech sounds structural linguistics structure study of language subject matter sure's synchronic linguistics synchronic study syntagmatic and associative syntagmatic relations syntagms system of signs theory thing whilst words