Two Aspects of "The Object of Study": Internal and External Linguistics

Internal and External Linguistics

Derrida's interpretation of Ferdinand de Saussure's work, as evidenced in his discussion of a passage from the posthumous book "Course in General Linguistics," leads to the conclusion that, for Saussure, the primary object of linguistic inquiry is the spoken word alone/"du mot parlé". Derrida underscores this point:

"Using this (phonetic writing) as a point of departure, Saussure defines the project and object of general linguistics: 'The linguistic object is not defined by the combination of the written word and the spoken word: the spoken form alone constitutes the object' (p. 45)" (Derrida 1998).

But this is only half of the truth. Upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that in the introduction of the 'Cours,' two fundamental dimensions are delineated within the domain of linguistics: internal linguistics, represented by the concept of the language system (la langue), and external linguistics, which encompasses the realms of speech (la parole) and writing (écriture).

It is essential to emphasize that the distinction between internal and external linguistics is fundamentally methodological rather than ontological; Saussure did not literally divide linguistics into two halves. 

Let's tread softly from now on, ensuring we do not inadvertently 'chop in the wrong place':

"This, in turn, is to be able to cut up each kind according to its species along its natural joints, and to try not to splinter any part, as a bad butcher might do" Plato's Phaedrus [266] (Cooper 1997)

In the context of internal linguistics, the "Course in General Linguistics" unequivocally identifies the language system (la langue) as the primary object of linguistic study:

"The linguist must take the study of the language system/la langue as his primary concern, and relate all other manifestations of language/le langage to it.

"il faut se placer de prime abord sur le terrain de la langue et la prendre pour norme de toutes les autres manifestations du langage." (Saussure 1916)

However, a noteworthy transformation occurs when the point of view shifts to the domain of external linguistics: « C´est le point de vue qui crée l´objet » (Saussure 1916). This shift reveals an additional object of linguistic inquiry, namely, the spoken word ("du mot parlé"), thereby expanding the scope of linguistic examination:

“The object of study in linguistics is not a combination of the written word and the spoken word. The spoken word alone constitutes that object” (This quote is referenced in 'Of Grammatology').

« L'objet linguistique n'est pas défini par la combinaison du mot écrit et du mot parlé; ce dernier constitue à lui seul cet objet » (Saussure 1916)

This observation leaves us with two facets of "The Object of Study," one explored in Chapter 3 of the Introduction and the other in Chapter 6 of the Introduction.

The Object of Study, Chapter 3: Internal Linguistics

In what we know as general linguistics, Saussure's primary object of study is "la langue." "La langue" represents the structured and collective system of signs, rules, and conventions employed by a community for communication. It encompasses the abstract aspects of language, essentially constituting the shared knowledge that enables a community to understand and communicate effectively.

This concept of "la langue" stands in contrast to "la parole" (individual speech acts) and "le langage" (the broader idea of language as a human faculty). When discussing the object of study in general linguistics, Saussure primarily refers to this structured and collective aspect of language, "la langue."

The Object of Study, Chapter 6: External Linguistics

In Chapter 6 of the introduction, the focus shifts to the relationship between the spoken and the written word ("du mot écrit et du mot parlé"). Here, Saussure introduces the term "l'objet linguistique" to emphasize that, in this context, the object of study exclusively pertains to the spoken word ("le mot parlé").

This nuanced interpretation underscores the methodological framework within which the "Cours" operates. It signifies that Saussure's conception of linguistics, while initially centered on the language system/la langue, acknowledges the dynamic interplay between the language system/la langue and the spoken word/la parole when considering the external aspects of language:

“Nothing enters the language system/la langue before having been tried out in speech/la parole” (Saussure 1916).

or again:

"Language has an individual aspect and a social aspect. One is not conceivable without the other".

 Moreover,

"Language at any given time involves an established system and an evolution. At any given time, it is an institution in the present and a product of the past. At first sight, it looks very easy to distinguish between the system and its history, between what it is and what it was. In reality, the connexion between the two is so close that it is hard to separate them". (Saussure 1916)

This revelation enriches our understanding of Saussure's linguistic theory and invites a more comprehensive examination of the intricate relationship between the structural underpinnings of language and its concrete manifestations in speech.

 Related posts:

"The making of the Course in General Linguistics: Behind the scenes" 

https://derridaforlinguists.blogspot.com/2023/10/blog-post_423.html

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Reading Comprehension Questions:

1.      According to Saussure's perspective on linguistics, what constitutes the primary object of study in internal linguistics, and how does it differ from the object of study in external linguistics?

2.      In the context of Saussure's linguistic theory, what is the significance of distinguishing between "la langue" and "la parole," and how does this distinction affect the study of language?

Answers:

1.      According to Saussure's perspective on linguistics, the primary object of study in internal linguistics is "la langue." "La langue" represents the structured and collective system of signs, rules, and conventions employed by a community for communication. It encompasses the abstract aspects of language. In contrast, external linguistics focuses on "la parole," which refers to individual speech acts. The distinction lies in the collective and structured nature of "la langue" compared to the individual and dynamic nature of "la parole."

2.      The distinction between "la langue" and "la parole" in Saussure's linguistic theory is significant because it helps clarify the object of study in different linguistic contexts. "La langue" represents the structured and collective aspect of language, emphasizing shared knowledge and conventions. In contrast, "la parole" pertains to individual speech acts, reflecting the dynamic and personal expression of language. Recognizing this distinction aids in analyzing language from both a structural and functional perspective, offering a more comprehensive understanding of linguistic phenomena.

 Bibliography

Saussure, Ferdinand de. 1916. Cours de linguistique générale. Edited by Charles Bally and Albert Sechehaye, with Albert Riedlinger. Lausanne: Libraire Payot.

Derrida, Jacques. 1998. Of Grammatology. Translated by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Cooper, John M., and D. S. Hutchinson, eds. Plato: Complete Works. Hackett Publishing Company, 1997.