The Principle of Ascent: Illuminating the Unseen in Language

Since we cannot have direct access to concrete entities or linguistic units (les entités concrètes ou unités de la langue), we shall take words as examples (nous opérerons sur les mots). Although words do not answer exactly to our definition of linguistic units, they will be adequate to give a rough idea, and will obviate the necessity for talking in abstract terms. So we will treat them for present purposes as specimens supposedly equivalent to the actual signs of a synchronic system. [CGL] [158]

Introduction:

The practice of using concrete elements as documents of more abstract concepts is widespread across various fields of science and academia. Scientists often employ observable phenomena or concrete measurements as proxies or representations of more abstract concepts or processes. This allows researchers to study and understand phenomena that may be inaccessible or difficult to directly observe or measure. In this article, we explore Ferdinand de Saussure's use of spoken language as a proxy for "la langue," a deeper abstract structure central to his investigation. Additionally, we explore other scientific domains beyond linguistics, such as physics, astronomy, economics, paleontology, philology, etc., where this methodological approach is commonly employed.

Traversing The Divided Line: From Shadows to Ideas

Saussure begins his lesson on May 5th, 1911, with a fundamental question:

What are the concrete entities comprising language? (Constantine's Notebook VII 78a)

Original Version (O.V.) : Quelles sont les entités concrètes dont se compose la langue [?]

However, the notion of a concrete entity, or linguistic sign, becomes considerably more complex when we dive into his theoretical framework. Saussure, taking a cue from the dictionary, uses the definition of "Entity" as a starting point:

"Entities: essence, what constitutes a being" (that is the dictionary definition). (Constantine's Notebook VII 78a)

O.V: Entités: essence, ce qui constitue un être (c'est la définition du dictionnaire).

Expanding upon this definition of "Entity", he elucidates that within the realm of General Linguistics, unlike other fields, we cannot simply speak of beings when discussing linguistic signs. Or, at least, such beings are not immediately evident. This is precisely why the interaction with words (mot) as a document of language (la langue) becomes imperative:

"Speech comes in here only as evidence bearing on the language" (Constantine's Notebook VII 80a)

O.V: La parole ne figure ici que comme un document de langue.

Saussure further elaborates that we must rely on words to comprehend the linguistic sign, primarily because, although real, it is essentially mental, and we lack the capability to observe the internal workings of the brain directly. Words act as a proxy for signs:

"The fact is that we cannot explore the pigeonholes inside our brain. [We are] obliged to employ an external method, given in speech." (Constantine's Notebook VII 80a)

O.V: En effet, les casiers existant à l'intérieur de notre cerveau, nous ne pouvons les explorer. [Nous sommes] obligés d'employer un moyen extérieur, donné dans la parole.

This argument unfolds with the notion that speech, or parole, serves as tangible evidence reflecting the underlying structure of language, rather than language itself: "Speech (la parole) comes in here only as evidence bearing on the underlying structure of language (la langue)."  It suggests that spoken language acts as a primary source of data for analyzing the abstract elements of language.

Saussure then underscores our limitation in accessing the internal neurological processes directly, as he states, "the compartments existing inside our brain, we cannot explore them." This limitation aligns with findings from neuroscience, notably from researchers like Paul Broca, who pinpointed specific brain regions, such as Broca's area, associated with language processing:

"Broca's discovery: the language faculty localized in the third left frontal convolution of the brain." (Constantine's Notebook VII 67a)

O.V: Découverte de Broca: la faculté de langage localisée dans la troisième circonvolution frontale gauche du cerveau.

Consequently, the interpretation that we use spoken language to analyze the underlying structure of language due to the inability to directly access the brain regions where language is localized is well-supported by the context provided in Constantine's Notebook.

Proxy Phenomena: The Light Legacy of Vanished Stars

In different fields, it's typical for scientists to utilize tangible measurements as substitutes or depictions of abstract concepts or processes. This approach enables researchers to investigate and comprehend phenomena that might otherwise be inaccessible or challenging to directly observe or measure. Let's consider some examples:

Physics and Particle Physics: In particle physics, scientists use particle collisions and the traces they leave in detectors as evidence of the existence and properties of fundamental particles, such as quarks and neutrinos. These collisions produce observable phenomena that provide insights into the underlying structure of matter, which cannot be directly observed.

Astronomy and Astrophysics: Astronomers often study the light emitted by celestial objects, such as stars, galaxies, and nebulae, to understand their composition, temperature, and movement. This light serves as a "document" of these objects, allowing astronomers to infer their properties and behavior, even though direct observation of these objects may be limited or impossible due to vast distances. In some cases, astronomers gain insights into vanished stars by studying the light they emitted. This occurs because light, traveling at a finite speed, takes time to reach us from distant stars. Thus, when we observe light from a star that has ceased to exist, we're essentially seeing a snapshot of its past.

Paleontology: Paleontologists study fossilized remains of ancient organisms to reconstruct past ecosystems, evolutionary relationships, and the history of life on Earth. Fossils serve as tangible evidence of organisms that lived in the past, providing insights into their anatomy, behavior, and evolutionary adaptations.

Philology: Ancient texts, like the light emitted by vanished stars, offer valuable insights into civilizations that existed in the past. For instance, the plays of Sophocles and Euripides in ancient Greece provide glimpses into Greek mythology, religion, and social structures. Legal codes, contracts, and administrative records offer insights into the legal systems, governance structures, and economic practices of ancient societies. Sacred texts and religious writings provide information about the spiritual beliefs, rituals, and practices of ancient civilizations. Philosophical writings from antiquity reveal the intellectual pursuits of ancient thinkers. Inscriptions on monuments, coins, and other artifacts provide valuable linguistic data. The Rosetta Stone, for example, played a crucial role in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs. Much like fossils provide clues about ancient organisms, ancient written texts offer glimpses into the lives and thoughts of people who lived centuries or even millennia ago.

Conclusion:

Saussure's acknowledgment of the limitations in accessing the "pigeonholes" of the brain highlights the inherent difficulties in directly studying certain aspects of language. Recognizing this barrier, he turned to spoken language, "la parole," as a tangible representation of the underlying linguistic structures. By doing so, Saussure ingeniously navigated around the obstacle of inaccessible internal processes, effectively using spoken language as a proxy to address issues related to the structure underlying language.

This example underscores the versatility and applicability of models in scientific research, particularly in situations where direct access is not feasible. Whether in linguistics or other scientific domains, the strategic use of substitutes allows researchers to glean valuable insights and advance our understanding of complex phenomena, illuminating the unseen aspects of our world.

In exploring the use of proxies in scientific inquiry, we've uncovered a powerful tool for understanding phenomena that are otherwise inaccessible or challenging to directly observe. Ferdinand de Saussure's utilization of spoken language as a document of the deeper abstract structure of "la langue" exemplifies the effectiveness and practicality of this approach.

Cite this text: 

Rodie. (2024). Return to Saussure. Retrieved from http://www.derridaforlinguists.blogspot.com

 Related Post:

What Shall I Compare the Kingdom of God to? Bridging the Tangible and Intangible in Linguistics

https://derridaforlinguists.blogspot.com/2023/10/blog-post_715.html

Bibliography

Saussure, F. (1910-1911). Troisième cours de linguistique générale: d'après les cahiers d'Emile Constantin [Saussure's Third Course of Lectures on General Linguistics: From the Notebooks of Emile Constantin]. (R. Harris, Trans.) University of Oxford.1993

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