Saussure's Paradigm Shift: Rethinking Language and Reality


Introduction

Ferdinand de Saussure´s exploration of language challenged conventional notions of reality and autonomy. In Part I, Chapter II, "Immutabilité et mutabilité du signe," Saussure introduces us to the concept of "La Langue," initially defined as "the whole set of linguistic habits which enables the speaker to understand and to make himself understood." However, this seemingly autonomous system undergoes a profound transformation as Saussure introduces elements like the speaking mass ("But in order to have a language, there must be a community of speakers") and time ("In order to come to terms with reality, therefore, one must supplement our first diagram language/speaking mass by some indication of the passage of time"). This move emphasizes the dynamic interplay of language with social reality and temporal evolution.

A Fresh Perspective on Language

Saussure's linguistic framework begins to emerge, diverging from traditional metaphysical understandings of language and reality. In his work, the concept of "reality" takes on a new dimension—intricately linked to social forces and temporal dimensions that influence language. This challenges the belief, held by French structuralists and poststructuralists among others, that language exists as an autonomous, closed system with no ties to the external world. Saussure does not contend that language is divorced from reality; instead, language is influenced by a dynamic and socially grounded reality, shaped by social forces and temporal dynamics (Stawarska 2015).

Reinterpreting Reality

In Saussure's body of work, we find that unexpressed thoughts, described as a "vague, shapeless mass, a swirling cloud, where no shape is intrinsically determinate", lack clarity until expressed through language. Language brings structure, differentiation, and meaning to the nebulous realm of thought. Reality, for Saussure, is not a fixed external entity awaiting labels; rather, it is a dynamic, linguistic construction influenced by the social context of the speaking mass and the passage of time. This idea is exemplified in his analysis of the French word "mouton" and the English word "sheep", highlighting the linguistic variations that shape our conceptualization of reality. For him, reality is not a fixed, universal, external, and static entity waiting for a nomen but a dynamic, linguistic construction shaped by social factors and temporal evolution.

Similarly, Culler notes that in French, "fleuve" and "rivière" indicate distinctions based on the flow and destination of the water. In contrast, the corresponding English terms, "river" and "stream," represent different categorizations. In French, says Culler, the opposition between "fleuve" and "rivière" is not based solely on size, as is the case with "river" and "stream" in English. Instead, the differentiation in French hinges on the direction of flow. A "fleuve" is characterized not necessarily by its size but by the fact that it flows into the sea, whereas a "rivière" does not. This distinction across languages adds a layer of complexity to the conceptual organization of the world and suggests that reality is not something inherently present, waiting to be labelled (Culler 1976).

Conclusion

Saussure's linguistic project unfolds as a revolutionary exploration that reshapes our understanding of language and reality. He challenges the belief in a detached, independent language system, proposing instead a dynamic relationship between language, social forces, and the passage of time. This nuanced perspective enriches our comprehension of the complex interplay that shapes linguistic realities. In embracing Saussure's linguistic revolution, we recognize that reality is not a static entity awaiting labels, but a dynamic construction shaped by the intricate evolution of language over time.

Bibliography

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

Stawarska, Beata. 2015. Saussure’s Philosophy of Language as Phenomenology: Undoing the Doctrine of the Course in General Linguistics. Oxford UP.

Culler, Jonathan. 1976. SAUSSURE. Fontana/Collins.

 

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