Sign de Saussure

1
Signde Saussure

• Linguistic sign unites not a thing and a name,
  but a concept and a sound image.
• A sound image is not the material sound, but the
  psychological imprint of the sound, the
  impression that it makes in our senses.
• Without moving our lips or tongue, we can talk to
  ourselves or recite mentally a selection of
  verse. http//didisukyadi.staf.upi.edu/2011/

2
Sound-image

• Sound image is not the same as a morpheme.
• Sound image is not a physical thing or something
  that we can observe like sound or print.
• Morpheme is applicable to spoken word only
• Morpheme is a vocal activity.

3
Linguistic signs

• A two-sided psychological entity that can be
  represented as follows.
• Concept
• Sound image

4
Linguistic sign

• A sign is a combination between a concept and a
  sound image.
• Arbor (Latin) or tree is called as a sign only
  because it carries the concept tree with the
  result that the idea of sensory part implies the
  idea of the whole
• Concept then is called a SIGNIFIED
• Sound image is called a SIGNIFIER

5
Arbitrary Nature of Sign

• The bond between signifier and signified is
  arbitrary
• The idea of sister is not linked by any inner
  relationship to the succession of the sound
  /sist?r/
• Signifier or symbol is NEVER wholly arbitrary
• There is the rudiment of a natural bond between
  the signifier and signified.

6
Arbitrary

• Should not imply that the choice is left entirely
  to the speaker.
• Arbitrary is unmotivated
• It has no natural connection with the signified.
• There are signs which are motivated
• Onomatopeia
• Interjection

7
Linier nature of the Signifier

• Represents a span
• Is measurable in single dimension
• It is a line

8
Synchronic-Diachronic Distinction

• Synchronic
• Disregards changes of little importance.
• Sees language as a living whole
• Exists as a state at a particular moment in time
• Diachronic
• Sees language as a continually changing medium

9
Synchronic/Diachronic Diagram

• C
• A B
• D

10
Synchronic/Diachronic Diagram

• AB represent a synchronic axis of simultaneity of
  a language state at some point in time.
• CD is diachronic axis of succession the
  historical path the language has traveled.

11
Paradigmatic/Syntagmatic

• Every language has a paradigmatic relationship
  with every other item which can be substituted
  for it and syntagmatic relationship with items
  which occur within the same construction (The cat
  sat on the mat the syntagmatic relation is
  between cat and sat the and on the mat)

12
Langue/Parole

• Langue the language system of a group
• Parole instances of the language use
• Competence persons knowledge of a language
• Performance persons use of language