Challenging the Container Metaphor in Language Acquisition from a Saussurean Perspective

Introduction:

The exploration of language acquisition has given rise to a variety of theoretical perspectives, each shedding light on how humans acquire, store, organize, and retrieve lexical items. Yet, these perspectives often employ problematic terminology rooted in deep metaphysical assumptions, portraying the mind as a container where linguistic units are neatly stored and accessed at will.

This "container metaphor" closely aligns with the nomenclaturist perspective of language, which prioritizes the identification and categorization of individual lexical units. However, Ferdinand de Saussure's linguistic approach challenges this view, advocating for a systemic comprehension of language. According to Saussure, identity arises from within the linguistic system itself, blurring the traditional boundaries between phonetics, grammar and vocabulary.

Inside the Mind: Insights from Behaviorism, Cognitive Psychology, and Connectionist Theories on Language Acquisition

Behaviorism in linguistics underscores the influence of past experiences and conditioning on individual lexical items, highlighting lexicalization as a series of implicit and interrelated stages. It emphasizes observable behaviors in the acquisition and organization of linguistic items within the mind, reflecting a container model mindset, focusing on environmental stimuli and reinforcement.

In contrast, cognitive psychology delves into the internal processes of cognition, including perception, memory, and problem-solving. While cognitive psychology contributes to discussions on the mental lexicon and lexical access, it perpetuates the problematic metaphor of the mind as a container by treating lexical items as discrete entities stored within.

Connectionist theories offer an alternative perspective, proposing that mental processes arise from interconnected networks of processing units. These theories shed light on lexical access failures by emphasizing the association between mental representations and their linguistic forms. However, they also conceptualize language as a collection of stored items, further reinforcing the problematic metaphor of the mind as a receptacle.

Beyond Containers: Signs as Values vs. Lexis as Items

Saussure's approach challenges the container metaphor by emphasizing the systemic nature of language (la langue), which is always already in place. The starting point is not the "item", but the "system":

c’est une mauvaise méthode que de partir des mots pour définir les choses. [CGL] [31]

His revolutionary shift in linguistics, akin to a Copernican revolution, transformed our perception of language from a mere naming system or nomenclature to a complex network of relationships, stressing that language consists of differences rather than positive terms. In his framework, linguistic signs are not static entities brought from the outside and stored in the mind, waiting to be retrieved when needed. Instead, they are values dependent on the system, defined by their relationships with other signs. This perspective marks the beginning of modern linguistics.

In this context, Saussure highlights that what we call "grammatical facts" corresponds to linguistic units, always involving opposition. For instance, the grammatical contrast between singular and plural forms in languages like German of the type Nacht vs. Nächte illustrates this opposition:

In isolation, Nacht and Nächte are nothing: the opposition between them is everything. Units and grammatical facts would not merge in this way if a linguistic sign was constituted by anything apart from differences. [CGL] [168]

 Even phonemes, at the phonological level, are defined by their differences within the system. Language doesn't necessitate specific sound qualities but relies on distinguishability from other sounds, defining phonemes through distinctions rather than concrete or abstract properties.

Each language constructs its words out of some fixed number of phonetic units, each one clearly distinct from the others. What characterises those units is not, as might be thought, the specific positive properties of each; but simply the fact that they cannot be mistaken for one another. Speech sounds are first and foremost entities which are contrastive, relative and negative. [CGL] [164]

In essence, language is form, not substance. This perspective is crucial, as it prevents misunderstandings stemming from treating linguistic phenomena as tangible substances; instead, they are values shaped by differences.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the study of language acquisition and representation has been enriched by diverse theoretical perspectives, each offering unique insights into the complexities of human cognition. However, many of these perspectives have fallen prey to the pervasive container metaphor, which aligns closely with the nomenclaturist view of language. Ferdinand de Saussure's structuralist approach offers a compelling alternative, emphasizing the systemic nature of language and challenging the notion of the mind as a mere container of linguistic items. By doing so, Saussure's framework avoids metaphysical assumptions and encourages a more fluid understanding of language play.

By blurring the distinction between phonetics, grammar, and lexicon and highlighting the relational nature of linguistic units, Saussure's perspective provides a more nuanced understanding of language. It illuminates the intricate interplay between form and meaning within the linguistic system, offering valuable insights into the workings of the language mechanism.

Related posts from this blog:

General Linguistics: A Copernican Revolution

https://derridaforlinguists.blogspot.com/2023/09/general-linguistics-copernican.html

The Differential Nature of Language: An Analysis of Linguistic Levels

https://derridaforlinguists.blogspot.com/2024/02/blog-post_12.html

Bibliography

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.

Hernandez, Reyneiro. "The Bilingual Mental Lexicon: A Complex Dynamic Cognitive System." Master's thesis, Florida International University, 2013.

Lakoff, George, and Mark Johnson. Metaphors We Live By. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1980. Reprint, 2003.

Crystal, D. (2008). Mental lexicon. In D. Crystal. A dictionary of linguistics and phonetics (6th ed.). MA: Blackwell Publishing. Retrieved November 21, 2013.

Evans, V. (2007b). Linguistic unit. In V. Evans. A glossary of cognitive linguistics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Retrieved November 21, 2013.