Internal vs. External Linguistics: Inside and Outside the Language System

Student 1: Just as a plant is modified in its internal organism by external factors such as soil, climate, etc., isn't it also true that language constantly depends on factors external to linguistic change?

Could you address the 'realia' related to this statement? I mean, the real-world elements like geographical, social, and cultural factors that can influence a language.

Saussure: Certainly. To address the 'realia' related to the statement that language constantly depends on factors external to linguistic change, we could, for example, look at the case of borrowing foreign words (emprunt des mots étrangers) into a language.

Borrowing foreign words isn't a constant element in the life of a language. Some languages or dialects may rarely or never incorporate foreign terms, even when foreign words are borrowed, once they're integrated into the "langue," they function like any other native word, and their identity as borrowed words becomes less relevant. They become part of the overall system of the language.

It's also worth noting that you don't necessarily need to know the historical or external circumstances under which a language developed to study its internal structure (langue). Take, for instance, Proto-Indo-European, a language for which historical details are incomplete, yet we can still study its internal structure without hindrance. I believe that a clear separation between the study of "langue" (the systemic aspect of language) and "langage" (the actual use of language) is crucial. These two perspectives serve different purposes and should be distinguished.

In my opinion the focus of a linguist should be on the internal aspects of language ("langue"), without becoming overly preoccupied with the historical or external details of language development when studying its underlying system. The distinction between "langue" and "langage" is central to my approach to linguistics. It helps us understand the structural elements of language and how it functions in the real world.

Student 2: Could you elaborate on the methods used in the study of external linguistics and internal linguistics?

Saussure: It is crucial to make a clear distinction between the methodologies employed in the study of "linguistique externe" (external linguistics) and "linguistique interne" (internal linguistics).

External Linguistics (linguistique externe) entails the examination of external factors and historical aspects of a language, including its expansion beyond its original territory and the emergence of a literary language alongside regional dialects. In external linguistics, a multitude of historical and external details can be gathered without the need for a tightly structured system. Each linguist has the flexibility to organize and present these historical and external facts as they see fit. The primary focus here is on data collection and presenting it in a way that enhances clarity rather than adhering to a rigid system.

On the other hand, Internal Linguistics (linguistique interne) centers on the study of a language's internal structure (langue), delving into the underlying system of the language. This approach requires a more systematic and structured analysis to comprehend the rules and components that constitute the language system. We should bring full circle here the concepts of "langue" and "parole".

It's important to note that external and internal linguistics necessitate distinct methodologies. External linguistics concentrates on the historical and situational aspects of language, and its methodology is predominantly descriptive. In contrast, internal linguistics involves the analysis of the language's foundational structure, demanding a more systematic and structured approach to achieve clarity and comprehension. The distinction between these two approaches is vital in the field of linguistic analysis.

Student 3: Is there a difference between how internal linguistics and external linguistics treat the internal system of language?

Saussure: When it comes to the treatment of the language system, there are notable differences between internal linguistics (linguistique interne) and external linguistics (linguistique externe).

External Linguistics (linguistique externe) involves a focus on external factors and historical aspects of language. It delves into how languages or linguistic elements move from one place to another, akin to the migration of chess from Persia to Europe. These external changes do not exert any influence on the internal structure of language (langue). In the analogy of chess, external linguistics pertains to changes that are similar to substituting wooden chess pieces with ivory ones – changes that, while interesting, do not perturb the grammar or rules governing the system. The essence of external linguistics lies in its concern for alterations that do not significantly affect the language's internal structure.

On the contrary, Internal Linguistics (linguistique interne) directs its attention to the internal structure of language (langue). In the context of the chess analogy, internal linguistics would be interested in changes that affect the system or rules, like the alteration of the number of chess pieces. This perspective focuses on adjustments that have the potential to impact the system to varying degrees.

The main point I aim to convey is that General Linguistics, as I conceive it, distinguishes itself from other fields. It should primarily concern itself with the internal structure of language (langue) and the inherent rules governing it. Changes or influences from the external world may not exert a profound impact on this internal system. Therefore, linguists need to be attentive to distinguishing between external and internal factors when analyzing language. This distinction is crucial for a rigorous understanding of linguistic phenomena.

Any more questions?

 Bibliography

De Saussure, Ferdinand. "Curso de Lingüística General." Traducido por Amado Alonso. 24ª edición. Editorial Losada, 1945.

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

Saussure, Ferdinand de. "Course in General Linguistics." Translated and annotated by Roy Harris. With a new introduction by Roy Harris. Bloomsbury, 2013.

De Saussure, Ferdinand. "Curso de Lingüística General." Traducido por Amado Alonso. 24ª edición. Editorial Losada, 1945.

Saussure, Ferdinand de. Cours de linguistique générale. Edited by Charles Bally and Albert Sechehaye, with the collaboration of Albert Riedlinger. Arbre d’Or, Genève, 2005.

Bouquet, Simon, Rudolf Engler, and Antoinette Weil, eds. ESCRITOS SOBRE LINGÜÍSTICA GENERAL. Translated by Clara Ubaldina Lorda Mur. Original title: Écrits de linguistique générale, de Ferdinand de Saussure. © Éditions Gallimard, 2002.