索绪尔二元对立语言理论

Abstract

Ferdinand de Saussure and his theory have profound influence in the

development

of

modern

linguistics,

especially

in

the

establishment

of

structuralism. The core of structuralism is binary opposition. On the basis

of

Saussure

?

s

book

Course

in

General

Linguistics

,

this

paper

tries

to

investigate

the

pairs

of

binary

opposition,

including

its

history,

and

the

application

of

it

in

Saussure

?

s

theory

such

as

langue

and

parole,

the

signifier

and

the

signified

and

synchronic

linguistics

and

diachronic

linguistics.

Key Words:

Saussure; binary opposition; structuralism

I

Chapter I. Introduction

Ferdinand de Saussure plays an important role in the development of

modern linguistics. The linguistic theories and research methods raised in

his work

Course in General Linguistics

formed the system and traditions

of

modern

linguistics,

which

have

profound

influence

in

the

linguistic

field. In Saussure

?

s mind, language is a system of arbitary vocal symbols

used

for

human

communication.

In

his

book,

Saussure

studies

the

language image and language roles with the method of binary opposition.

This paper tries to expound the binary opposition

method in Saussure

?

s

linguistic

theory,

including

the

very

beginning

of

its

origin

and

its

application.

In

addition,

related

studies

and

comments

will

also

be

discussed in the paper.

Chapter II. Literature review

At

the

beginning,

binary

opposition

appears

as

an

important

philosophical

thought.

Later,

it

is

used

by

Saussure

to

demonstrate

the

linguistics

rules.

Because

of

Saussure

?

s

promotion,

it

is

widely

used

in

many

fields

now.

This

chapter

will

illustrate

the

very

beginning

of

the

binary opposition and the pairs of binary opposition in Saussure

?

s theory.

A. The origin of binary opposition

Binary opposition in the western philosophy can be traced back to

the ancient greek time. A great amount of theories of Plato and Aristotle

1

are based on the binary opposition thought, such as the material and the

spiritual,

existence

and

consciousness,

form

and

content.

After

years

of

development,

with

joint

efforts

of

Descartes,

Rock,

Rousseau,

V

oltaire

and others, binary opposition has become an important method in modern

western philosophy.

B. Binary oppositions in Saussure

’

s linguistic theory

The binary opposition theory in Saussure

?

s book is inheritance and

development

of

western

philosophy.

In

Saussure

?

s

mind,

language

is

a

social phenomenon which is unique to human beings. What

?

s more, the

study

of

language

should

use

scientific

methods

just

like

the

study

of

science. Therefore, he uses binary opposition and other scientific ways to

study

the

linguistic.

His

famous

binary

oppositions

include

langue

and

parole,

the

signifier

and

the

signified,

and

synchronic

linguistics

and

diachronic linguistics.

1. Langue and parole

Scientific

research

should

establish

the

object

of

study

at

the

beginning. However, at Saussure's time, language research still uses the

historical

comparison

method.

Then

Saussure

puts

forward

his

view:

can continue. In our field, things are different.

before Saussure decides the object of linguistic research, he distinguishes

the

two

concepts

of

“

langue

”

and

“

parole

”

first,

then

the

object

of

2

“

langue

”

is decided.

Saussure believes that

“

langue

”

is the most important research object

of

linguistics

(Daniele

322).

He

said,

is

the

research

object

of

linguistics and a systematic structure which is different from

“

par ole

”

, a

kind of personal conversation behavior (Saussure 137).

because of the universal agreement by all the members of the society. It is

the most important part of the parole activities. Langue is also a symbolic

system

to

express

ideas

(Wang

183).

What

?

s

more,

langue

is

a

kind

of

symbol

in

nature,

a

kind

of

mechanism

existing

in

the

human

brain.

Through these theories, Saussure defines the research object of linguistics,

and

began

to

use

the

scientific

method

to

study

other

principles.

He

establishes

the

synchronic

and

the

synchronic

linguistics.

In

the

synchronic mode, he uses the systematic method and binary opposition to

determine

disciplines

of

langue

and

parole.

This

disclosure

provides

a

scientific method for the study of linguistics.

2. The signifier and the signified

This

is

another

important

pair

of

binary

opposition

in

Saussure

?

s

book.

Language

is

the

combination

of

concept

and

sound

rather

than

simply a combination of physical and name (Wang 183). In the symbol

theory proposed by Saussure, the voice becomes the

“

signifier

”

part, and

the concept becomes the

signified

”

part. In this pair of binary opposition,

Saussure points out two principles: arbitrariness and line features.

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