E 341 Lecture Notes - Linguistic System, Semiotics
Document Summary
Language as a system exists before the speaker does. Speaking is heterogeneous you can say the same things in different ways. Language is a process of signification: language is a system of signs that expresses ideas. (77) Signification process in which one thing stands in for another. Language exists only by virtue of a sort of contract signed by the members of a community. Significance of the study of language to our view of culture, literature, society: everywhere around us there are systems of signs symbolic rites, politeness formulas, etc. Language is thus a part of what saussure terms semiology a science that studies the life of signs within society. Words are signs: names things (he also calls them signs referents) Words and the way they create meaning is a more complex process. (78) Linguistic sign is a double entity (78 79): He renames them: sound image = signifier; concept = signified.
