A linguistic system is a series of differences of sound combined with a series of differences of ideas...
Ferdinand De SaussureRead
Whitney wanted to eradicate the idea that in the case of a language we are dealing with a natural faculty; in fact, social institutions stand opposed to natural institutions.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Language is shaped by social institutions rather than being a natural instinct.
Ferdinand De Saussure emphasizes that language should not be viewed as a mere natural faculty inherent to humans. Instead, it is significantly influenced and constructed by societal norms and institutions, suggesting a complex interaction between social forces and linguistic development.
Themes
LanguageSocial InstitutionsNatural FacultyCommunicationSociety
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture on linguistics, this quote highlights the importance of understanding language as a social construct.
More from Ferdinand De Saussure
All quotes βLinguistics will have to recognise laws operating universally in language, and in a strictly rational manner, separating general phenomena from those restricted to one branch of languages or another.
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Psychologically our thought-apart from its expression in words-is only a shapeless and indistinct mass.
Ferdinand De SaussureRead
Any psychology of sign systems will be part of social psychology - that is to say, will be exclusively social; it will involve the same psychology as is applicable in the case of languages.
Ferdinand De SaussureRead
Written forms obscure our view of language. They are not so much a garment as a disguise.
Ferdinand De SaussureRead
Speech has both an individual and a social side, and we cannot conceive of one without the other.
Ferdinand De SaussureRead
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