'Farmers' in the Field of Language: Concrete Analogies in Saussure’s Abstract Theory


 Introduction

Ferdinand de Saussure introduced nuanced distinctions in linguistic terminology to clarify the complex nature of language. His concepts of “the language” (la langue) and “languages” (les langues) reflect a sophisticated understanding that extends beyond mere terminology. To make these abstract ideas accessible, Saussure often drew analogies from other sciences like botany and biology. This approach not only facilitated comprehension among his students but also connected linguistic theory with broader philosophical traditions, including Aristotelian logic and Marxist theory.

Saussure’s Use of Practical Analogies in Explaining Linguistic Concepts

In his explanation of 'the language' (la langue) versus 'languages' (les langues), Saussure uses two analogies: one between 'the plant' and 'plants,' and another between 'insects' and 'the insect':

Just as, although comparisons with the natural sciences must not be abused, it would likewise be immediately evident what was meant in a work on natural history by contrasting 'the plant' with 'plants' (cf. also 'insects' versus 'the insect').

These divisions would correspond reasonably well even in content to what we shall get in linguistics if we distinguish between 'the language' (la langue) and 'languages' (les langues). (Constantin’s Notebook I 10a).

This comparison helps explain the distinction between abstract, generalized concepts and their concrete, observable instances. Let’s elucidate the crux of this analysis.

  1. "The Plant" vs. "Plants":
    • "The plant" refers to the abstract, generalized concept of a plant, akin to a theoretical archetype. It represents the fundamental essence or structure that all plants share.
    • "Plants," on the other hand, refers to the concrete, observable instances of various plant species existing in the world. It encompasses the diversity and variations among different types of plants.
  2. "Insects" vs. "The Insect":
    • Similarly, "insects" denotes the collective group of all insect species, encompassing their diversity and variations.
    • "The insect" represents the abstract idea of an insect, akin to a generalized concept that encompasses common characteristics shared by all insects.

These analogies illustrate the philosophical categories of the abstract (universal) and the concrete (particular), making the abstract linguistic concepts more tangible.

Connecting Linguistic Theory with Philosophical Categories

Languages (les langues) constitute the concrete object that the linguist encounters on the earth's surface; 'the language' (la langue) is the heading one can provide for whatever <generalizations> the linguist may be able to extract from all his observations across time and space. Constantin’s Notebook I 11a

 Saussure’s distinction between “la langue” and “les langues” is deeply rooted in philosophical traditions. These concepts can be analyzed through various philosophical lenses, such as the categories of abstract versus concrete, and general versus particular.

  1. Categories: Abstract vs. Concrete
    • Abstract (La Langue): Refers to the generalized, theoretical concept or essence of language. It encompasses the fundamental structure and rules shared by all languages, without reference to any specific instance.
    • Concrete (Les Langues): Refers to the actual, observable instances of languages. These are the specific, tangible examples of languages that we encounter in the world.
  2. General and Particular
    • General (La Langue): The universal essence or concept of language, applicable to all individual instances. Similar to Aristotle’s concept of a “universal,” it is something common to all members of a class.
    • Particular (Les Langues): The individual instances or members of the class of languages. These are the specific examples that exhibit the general characteristics defined by the universal concept.
  3. Relation to Aristotle’s Logic
    • Universals and Particulars: In Aristotelian terms, a universal is a property or characteristic that can be predicated of many individuals. “La Langue” is a universal because it refers to the common structure found in all languages. Particulars, on the other hand, are the individual instances that embody the universal properties. “Les Langues” refers to the multitude of individual languages that share the common properties of the universal “La Langue.”
  4. Relation to Marxism
    • Abstract and Concrete Labor: In Marxist theory, the distinction between abstract and concrete can also be seen in discussions about labor. Abstract labor represents the general, undifferentiated human labor that creates value across different types of work. This is analogous to “la langue,” which represents the general system or structure of language as a whole. Concrete labor, on the other hand, refers to the specific, particular forms of labor that produce particular goods or services. This is akin to “les langues,” which are the specific, diverse instances of languages spoken by people. Just as abstract labor underlies all specific forms of labor, “la langue” underlies all specific languages.

The Importance of Studying Diversity to Understand Universals

Saussure emphasizes that linguists must first study the diversity of languages (“les langues”) to abstract general principles and universal traits, forming the conceptual entity referred to as “la langue.” This methodology mirrors how botanists study various plant species to understand the fundamental nature of “the plant.” Through this comparative study, both linguists and botanists can distill essential and universal aspects from the diversity of their respective fields:

He (the linguist) must first study languages (“les langues”), as many languages as possible, and widen his horizons as far as he can. So this is how we shall proceed. From the study and observation of these languages, the linguist will be able to abstract general features, retaining everything that seems essential and universal, and setting aside what is particular and accidental. He will thus end up with a set of abstractions, which will be the language (“la langue”). Constantin’s Notebook I 10a

In essence, Saussure’s nuanced terminology and his use of analogies from other sciences serve to bridge the gap between complex linguistic theories and their practical understanding. By drawing on philosophical categories and illustrating them with concrete examples, Saussure made his groundbreaking ideas accessible and comprehensible, contributing significantly to the fields of linguistics and philosophy. This approach legitimizes his linguistique de la langue. Much like how some botanists classify plants without concerning themselves with internal processes (philology, historical linguistics, etc.), others study 'the plant' itself, i.e., “la langue:”

Some botanists and naturalists devote their entire careers to one approach or the other. There are botanists who classify plants without concerning themselves with the circulation of the sap, etc., that is to say, without concerning themselves with 'the plant'. (Constantin’s Notebook I 10a)

Cite this text: 

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

Related Posts:

Synchronic and Diachronic Linguistics: Geometrical Clarity and Botanical Insight

https://derridaforlinguists.blogspot.com/2023/12/blog-post_28.html

 Saussure's Interdisciplinary Lens: Exploring the Peripheral Demarcation

https://derridaforlinguists.blogspot.com/2024/01/blog-post_06.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

Aristotle’s Categories

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-categories/

Dialectical Materialism. The Categories of Dialectics

https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/spirkin/works/dialectical-materialism/ch02.html

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Conversation with Saussure

Image
  A Conversation with Le Maître Student : I arrived in Geneva last night from France, taking the 8.45 train from Paris. I was eager to meet you because I stumbled upon a book that references your teachings. I'd like to read a passage from it and hear your thoughts: "In the eyes of Saussure, writing is a garb of perversion and debauchery, a cloak of corruption and disguise, a masquerade that must be exorcised – in other words, fended off – by the virtuous word: 'Writing veils the appearance of language; it is not a guise for language but a disguise'. A peculiar 'image.' One might already suspect that if writing is an 'image' and an external 'figuration,' this 'representation' is not without its implications. The exterior and interior share a relationship that is, as usual, anything but mere externalization." What's your perspective on this? Saussure : Before I dive into the topic, I'd like to acknowledge that the pass
Read more

The 'Soul' Controversy: Banning AI Tools for Content Creation

Image
  A tale.   In a quiet village nestled in a mystical valley, lived a gifted craftsman, Pygmalion, renowned for molding exquisite pottery with intricate details. One day, driven by a vision, he ventured into an enchanted forest. There, he discovered a clay unlike any other, shimmering with an ethereal light. On his return, he spent months shaping the clay into a vase of unparalleled beauty. It was exceptional , almost lifelike, except for one thing: it lacked a soul. As the fire roared and the furnace blazed, Pygmalion made a daring decision: he fearlessly stepped into the burning flames. The vase, touched by the spark of his spirit, burst into a mesmerizing display of otherworldly light. It writhed and twisted, absorbing the very essence of its creator. In that moment, Pygmalion's soul merged with his creation, a transcendental fusion of artist and art, a tale that would echo through the ages, a tale. Introduction In today's digital age, where AI and technology have be
Read more

The Differential Nature of Language: An Analysis of Linguistic Levels

Image
   c’est une mauvaise méthode que de partir des mots pour définir les choses. [CGL] [31] Introduction The notion of value, originally drawn from economics and metaphorically adapted within linguistics by Ferdinand de Saussure, forms a cornerstone of his language theory. This concept permeates through every layer of language, spanning from the phonological to the morphological, lexical, and syntactical levels. According to Saussure, linguistic signs, phonemes, and grammatical facts are values, where what best describes them is their difference from the other elements of the system. To further explore this intricate interplay of values within language, we will now examine how these ideas are developed in Course in General Linguistics . Here, we can trace the evolution of Saussure's thoughts and observe how he systematically dismantles the simplistic nomenclature view in favor of a more complex, differential system of linguistic values. This approach will allow us to underst
Read more