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The Arbitrary Nature of the Sign: From Amorphous Mass to Meaning

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Introduction In his lecture on June 30th, 1911, Ferdinand de Saussure discussed the concept of the linguistic sign, a dual-sided psychological entity comprising the signifier and the signified. He explored how the value of a sign is determined not only by this internal relationship but also by its interactions with neighboring terms within the language system. These relationships form a network of syntagmatic (in praesentia) and associative (in absentia) relations, making it clear that understanding a sign in isolation is insufficient. A few days later, on July 4th, 1911, Saussure revisited this topic from the “proper perspective.” He emphasized the necessity of starting the analysis from the linguistic system as a whole rather than from individual signs. His originality in this respect seems to have passed unnoticed by most poststructuralists, including Jacques Derrida, who tried to frame him within the Western metaphysical tradition, c asting doubt on how closely they read Saussu

Rewriting Norms: The Controversy of Gender-Inclusive Language

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  ... this brings to mind an ant-hill into which a stick is placed and the damage to which will be immediately repaired; in other words the tendency towards a system, towards order will never flag.” Introduction Efforts to feminize job titles and other gendered nouns in French have sparked significant debate. Proponents of gender-inclusive language argue that it promotes equality and increases visibility for women. For instance, terms like "professeure" (female professor) and "auteure" (female author) are gaining traction. However, critics contend that such changes complicate the language and can lead to awkward or unnatural expressions. The debate over "écrivaine" versus "écrivain" (female versus neutral/male writer) is emblematic of this contention, reflecting a broader global conversation about the role of language in shaping and reflecting societal attitudes toward gender. In this article, we will explore this ongoing debate in greater de