The Influence of Saussurean Linguistics

The Swiss linguist, Ferdinand de Saussure had a profound impact on the world of literary theory. In his book, Course in General Linguistics, he discusses language and how it functions as a system. He believed that "If one wishes to discover the true nature of language systems, one must first consider what they have in common with all other systems of the same kind" (Lodge 9).

Saussure did not believe that a word was automatically associated with the thing that it represents. This is not a natural association but rather it is something we learn in order to communicate with each other. The word cannot exist without the thought that is associated with it. It completely relies on thought for its own existence. This is how language functions but we shouldn't be so naïve to think that it is a natural association. Instead of thinking that the symbol is equal to the thing, Saussure came up with this model to show how words obtain their meaning:

SIGN = SIGNIFIER/SIGNIFIED

The word itself is the signifier while the idea of it in our heads would be the signified. These signs and thoughts are what make up language. Saussure also created the distinction between langue and parole. Langue is the unified system shared by its speakers and parole is the particular utterances of the individual. These terms are important to structuralism because they focus on language as a social characteristic of humans. He states that language can also have an individual aspect along with the social aspect and that they rely on each other for understanding. His research was influential to semiology because, in his own words, "By considering rites, customs, etc., as signs, it will be possible, we believe, to see them in a new perspective. The need will be felt to consider them assemiological phenomena and to explain them in terms of the laws of semiology"(Lodge 9).

Many agreed and appreciated Saussure's findings and continued his research after he died. But there were still others who disagreed and had problems with his views on language.