Return to Saussure

Introduction Linguistics has historically grappled with internal duality between synchrony and diachrony. These approaches offer distinct perspectives for understanding language, either as a specific state at a given moment or as an evolutionary process over time. This article explores the relationship between these two dimensions and how their coexistence has enriched our understanding of language. Synchrony and Diachrony: Two Faces of Linguistics Synchrony focuses on studying a specific state of language at a given moment, disregarding its temporal evolution. In contrast, diachrony examines language's evolution and changes over time, adopting a historical perspective. Ferdinand de Saussure criticized the inclination of his era towards diachrony, advocating for a balance with the synchronic perspective. The Legacy of Traditional Grammar Before modern linguistic studies, traditional grammar embraced a synchronic approach, describing the state of a language at a specific

Introduction In various disciplines such as law, philosophy, and sciences, the use of definitions plays a crucial role in shaping understanding, avoiding ambiguity, and fostering precise communication. This article explores the significance of definitions in legal texts, delves into the poststructuralist perspective on language with the "man measure" doctrine, and examines the implicit meanings established within philosophical works using Ferdinand de Saussure's theories as an example. Definitions in Legal Texts: Ensuring Precision and Consistency In legal texts, the inclusion of a dedicated section for "definitions" or "interpretations" serves the purpose of clarifying and establishing the exact meanings of terms used in the law. This practice aims to prevent ambiguities and misunderstandings during the application of legislation. For instance, the "Environmental Protection Act" explicitly defines key terms like "Pollutant,"

Introduction The term "history," rooted in Greek with "historein" and "histōr," originally conveyed inquiry and knowledge, describing a chronological account of events or incidents. However, when applied to language study, challenges arose in capturing the succession of linguistic events over time, such as changes in usage, phonological variations, semantic shifts, syntactic changes, etc. Saussure recognized that language, unlike other sciences, could not be comprehensively understood by solely focusing on temporal successions.  While the term 'history,' often perceived as a succession of events in time, may fall short in capturing the nuances of language as a system of values, a more precise understanding emerges with the introduction of 'diachrony.' This term, complemented by its counterpart 'synchrony,' delves deeper into the intricate layers of language evolution. Exposing Linguistic Challenges with "History"