On Saussure’s Linguistic Theory Essay

1. Introduction Swiss linguist Ferdinand de de de de de de Saussure (1857-1913) is genius of the approximately famous and influencing linguists in the last century. His lingual theory of regarding language as a synchronic and static foreshorten schema has turned the historic trend of linguistics and opened up a mod(a) conception of modern linguistics, thus makes linguistics get great achievement in the 20th century. His work Course in General linguistics (1916) that comes from the nones of his lessons unruffled by his students is one of classical works and is c bothed Bible of linguistics.It has caused extensive response with its novel and unique thought, and Saussure is praised as Father of Modern linguistics too. Saussure is an epoch-making giant in the knowledge history of linguistics. His new theory, new principle, and new concept deplete become the foundation quarry for the setting-up of the modern linguistic mansion. 2. Langue and parole Saussure begins with t he two basic communicative forms of language, videlicet langue and parole to dissect the whole language phenomenon start-off. He thinks that mother tongue natural process is various, and its nature is complicated.It covers several fields of physics, physiology and psychology at the compar adapted time, and it still belongs to in the flesh(predicate) field and genial field. We atomic number 18 not able to include it in any category of humane fact, because we do not know how to understand its entia (Saussure, 1980, p. 30). He points out that in separating langue from parole we atomic number 18 at the same time separating (1) what is social from what is soul and (2) what is essential from what is follower and to a greater extent or less accidental (Saussure, 1980, p.35).This is the first fork in Saussures thoughts of language the saving activity is divided into the langue and parole. Saussure says that, No doubt, these two coffin nails are closely linked and both as th e prerequisite. To let parole understood by people and make all its effects, in that location moldiness be languages. But to bear witness language, there must be dialect (Saussure, 1980, p. 41). The speech activity has in-person aspects and social ones one cannot exist without the other (Saussure, 1980, p.29).We can conclude from the statements above, that Saussure thinks langue and parole are inseparable, and closely linked. Without langue, parole loses the unified system, and cannot be understood, its result is unable to be verified. Without parole, langue will not be set up either. Therefore, it is easy to discover that, Saussures distinguishing of langue and parole is on the purpose of explaining the differences mingled with the two, namely emphasizes the systematization of language.However, at the same time Saussure says that Research of speech activity includes two parts, one is primary, which is social essentially, and does not take the personal speech as explore ciga retteAnother is less of import, that it takes the personal part of speech activity, namely parole, including articulation as investigate target (Saussure, 1980, p. 41). It is an illusion to joint langue and parole together with the same view. The whole of the speech activity is unable to know, because it is not homogeneous (Saussure, 1980, p. 42).This signifier of seemingly self-contradictory view is really very apt to make people build up doubt and misunderstanding on the sexual notification between langue and parole. The meaning of Saussure is that language is systematic and can be studied because of the disorder of privileged link between langue and parole, merely parole cannot be studied systematically, and accordingly is cast out. And then people criticize Saussure for distinguishing langue and parole on the purpose of cutting off the connection between them and regarding them as moot to each other.In fact, Saussure does not think there are impassable gaps between la ngue and parole. For Saussure, langue and parole are two unified aspects in speech activity. He also thinks that, We must be clear we conceptualise linguisticsis a acquisition that tries to converge two thoroughly distinguishable things into a whole, it emphasizes that they form a research physical object. It is obvious that Saussure not sole(prenominal) finds the antithesis of langue and parole, but also finds the connection and unity between them plot of ground describing the relation between them. 3. Saussures theory of linguistic patsy.As the get together of modern semiology, Saussure proposes and establishes the discipline of semiology formally for the first time. The influences of Saussures theory of semiology on later age are known by everyone, but the disadvantages are seldom mentioned. How to understand the pump connotation of the theory correctly is the primary subject of semiology. The contribution of Saussures theory of semiology lies in the following several as pects.First, it proposes the discipline of semiology formally for the first time. Second, it points out the essential distinction between linguistic patsy and non-linguistic sign clearly. Third, it has carried out systematic analysis on the characteristics of the linguistic sign. The research of sign is not initiated by Saussure. As everyone knows, in the west in antiquated Greek stage, and in China in the early period of Qin, there was already large amount of dispute to the highest degree the phenomenon of signal.The target of the dispute is primarily linguistic sign, and the encumbrance of the dispute is mainly about the relation between linguistic sign and the object it represents. viz. whether there is natural relation of unlike extents between linguistic sign and the signified. Namely whether the forming of words and phrases can be proved, and whether the origin cause of linguistic signs formation can be found from the targets represented. Different answers to this un belief have formed the natural theory and conventional theory of ancient Greek, and nominalism and realism correspondingly in China. Such disputes are not except settled down today. Saussures semiology is not only recap and examination on the basis of the related disputes in the history of language.The to a greater extent authorized thing is that he realizes the human society has used numerous relatively self-sustaining form systems consciously or unconsciously while expressing and transmitting the achievement of understanding about surrounding environment and oneself. These systems have very obvious planetaryity that they can replace, represent, and reflect the objects on different extents (LU, 2001, p. 101). To Saussure, language is an organic sign system. In this system, linguistic sign has two aspects of a form (signifier) and content (signified).It is arbitrary to use a sign to represent any content, and it is determined by the society. However, when it is fixed, it has com pelling force, and any individual cannot change it optionally. The debt relation of linguistic sign is not important, and the more important thing is the difference and relation between it and other signs. That is to say, the value of linguistic sign is not decided by its physical property but the relation between signs. On the basis of this theory, Saussure thinks that linguistics represent the second fork on the route, the language in speech activity can be divided into synchronic and diachronic.Thus, Saussure advocates distinguishing two kinds of linguistics synchronic linguistics and diachronic linguistics, and the synchronic linguistics are more important. On this foundation, Saussure explains syntagmatic and paradigmatic relations emphatically. He thinks that in the organization of language, all key elements are based on relation, and this kind of relation is nothing more than two kinds, syntagmatic and paradigmatic relations. Syntagmatic relation is a relation between one g unpoint and others in a sequence and paradigmatic relation is a relation that items can substitute for each other without violating syntactic rules.These two relations are the basic relations in language system, and are our keys to observe, analyze, and append up the intricate language phenomenon. While setting up new language theory, Saussure points out that the incertitude of language is mainly the question of semiology, and all of our demonstration should obtain meaning from this important fact. To know the essence of language, we must know what common qualities it has with other congener sign system first. He thinks that we can imagine there is one science poring over the life of sign in social life we call it semiology.Because this science does not exist, we cannot say what it will be like, but it has the right of existence, and its direct is confirmed in advance. Linguistics is just a part of this general science (HU, 2001, p. 105). The theory of semiology proposed by Saus sure is limited, but it is very important to the research later. In addition, although his definitions of sign, signifier, and signified are made for linguistic sign, they remind all of the modern semiologists. Therefore, people praise Saussure as the founder of semiology (JI, 1994, p. 19).4. Conclusion Saussures contribution to linguistics is indelible. However, his theory of language has limitation, too. Since the coming out of Course in general linguistics, Saussures views have been accepted by the linguistic circle generally. According to his opinion, linguists trade into the synchronic static research and description of the construction relation in the language system, in order to achieve the scientific aim of research language according to and for language.In the language world of Saussure, what he values is structure, form, rule, generality, mode, and system, which makes the language research step on a road that repels humane factors, and departs from the social environ ment and the people who use languages. If this way is satisfied to establish an accurate and scientific linguistics, it makes distance with the active, abundant, and changeable human speeches. Linguistics may become lean and sere. Certainly, we should not deny Saussures theory from this angle totally.As a kind of scientific linguistics, Saussures view should have its certain diachronic position, and it has finished corresponding historical mission. What we really need to do is that we should not regard Saussures linguistic mode as the only possible existence. We should break the traditional way of observing language phenomenon, and examine them from different sides and different points of view, so that to understand language more roundly, and establish more scientific linguistic view, instead of sticking to one kind of understanding (JI, 1994, p.20).In the field of linguistic research today, the research object has already expanded from Saussures structure analysis to social lingu istics, speech linguistics, practical linguistics, etc, which brings new vigor to the development of world linguistics. This development trend will make linguistics emit more smart as a whip and brilliant rays in humane scientific research.