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

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, casting doubt on how closely they read Saussure:

"I shall also refer back to the preceding chapters, but in the proper way, via the system, and not starting from the word in isolation." Constantin's Notebook X 137a

This article will focus on Saussure's shift in perspective, examining how starting from the system offers a more accurate understanding of linguistic value. By analyzing the interdependence of signs within the broader network, we will elucidate the complex interplay between language, signifier, signified, value and meaning. This approach will highlight the intricate, multifaceted nature of linguistic signs and their contextual determination.

The Primacy of the System in the Meaning-Making Process

Seek clarity in Saussure’s terminology, and you'll find confusion. Embrace confusion, and clarity will emerge.

Saussure begins the lecture by explaining that the value of every word is determined by the neighboring words which restrict its meaning. This applies even to words that seem as straightforward as “sun”:

One cannot even determine the value of the word sun by itself, without considering all the neighboring words that limit its meaning. Constantin's Notebook X 137a

For that reason, he considers that the starting point of any linguistic analysis should be the system, not the sign in isolation. However, difficulties arise when we consider that the language system (la langue), like the linguistic sign, doesn’t have an independent existence. It comes into being in the process of delimitation of linguistic units. Prior to this, the language system, as well as the sign, consisting of the signified and the signifier, is an amorphous mass:

Psychologically, what are our ideas, without considering language? They probably do not exist. Or in a form that one can call amorphous. According to philosophers and linguists, we probably would not have the means to clearly distinguish two ideas without the help of language. Constantin's Notebook X 138a

This means that, according to Saussure, language (la langue), sign, signified, and signifier help delineate each other through a “mysterious” interplay that brings them into existence. Before that, as he said in the lesson, “they probably do not exist”:

But what happens is neither a transformation of thoughts into matter, nor a transformation of sounds into ideas. What takes place, is a somewhat mysterious process by which ‘thought-sound’ evolves divisions, and a language takes shape with its linguistic units in between those two amorphous masses. [CGL] [156]

Using metaphorical language, we could say that a braid is plaited from these amorphous masses, and language, sign, signified, and signifier emerge in the process. The connection between signified and signifier, through which language takes shape with its linguistic units, is “perfectly arbitrary,” as evidenced by the differences in languages:

Not only are these two domains between which the linguistic fact is situated amorphous, <but the choice of connexion between the two,> the marriage <(of the two)> which will create value is perfectly arbitrary. Constantin's Notebook X 138a

The signified and the signifier alone are nothing more than an amorphous mass, but they contract an arbitrary bond, creating linguistic signs in virtue of the values engendered by their combination in the indistinct mass of language. The sign, the combination of signified and signifier, is thus another way of saying “system of contrasting values”:

<That is why> this relation is only another expression of values in contrast <(in the system)>. <That is true on any linguistic levels.>Constantin's Notebook X 139a

Saussure concludes from this analysis that a term on its own, isolated from the system, is nothing.

Conclusion

Saussure’s theory underscores the primary role of the linguistic system in defining the value of signs. The value of a word or term is not inherent but is determined by its relationship with other terms within the system. This interconnectedness means that understanding any linguistic sign in isolation is insufficient. The analysis must start from the system, where meanings are shaped contextually.

Moreover, the bond between the signified (concept) and the signifier (auditory image) is arbitrary, emphasizing that there is no inherent connection between them. This arbitrary nature highlights the flexibility and variability of language across different cultures and contexts. The linguistic system’s role is crucial in creating meaning, as it transforms an amorphous mass of ideas and sounds into distinct units. These insights reveal that the interplay between the system and its components is fundamental in understanding how language operates, illustrating the complex yet systematic nature of language.

 Related Post

Saussure on Terms, Values, Words and Meanings: Insights from Constantin's Notebooks

https://derridaforlinguists.blogspot.com/2024/07/blog-post_24.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.

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