Saussure: The Authentic State and Its Tension

Author: Pei Wen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-06-01
Features: This book provides an in-depth and thorough analysis of the linguistic theories of Ferdinand de Saussure, the father of modern linguistics. It elucidates the fundamental tasks of linguistics, defines basic concepts such as synchronic and diachronic perspectives, language and parole, as well as the horizontal combination and association relations within the system. The book presents the authentic nature and tension of Saussure's linguistics to readers, while also advancing the research and development of modern linguistics in China. Ferdinand de Saussure: Authenticity and Tension strives to integrate the interpretive perspective with the textual context, aiming to present the authentic state of Saussure's linguistic view. This research must overcome three challenges: (1) conducting comprehensive research on the text; (2) conducting in-depth investigation into the textual context; (3) discovering the authentic nature and tension of Saussure's linguistic view and methodology. These are also the key focus of my research. This study is an exciting topic for me, not only because it can, to some extent, fill the research gap in domestic academic circles but also because it can, to some extent, make Saussure's theories and research more vibrant. The two major impacts Saussure had on modern linguistics are well-known: First, he proposed a fundamental research direction for linguistics, clarifying its tasks. In his view, language is a system composed of units and relations. The task of linguists is to analyze this system, determine the relationships between units, and establish the combinatorial rules among them. This has become an axiom in linguistic research, giving rise to descriptive linguistics and theoretical linguistics. Historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, and various branches of linguistics that developed after Saussure fundamentally represent further research and expansion of units and relations within the system. It is precisely in this sense that Saussure is called the father of modern linguistics. Second, Saussure clearly defined the fundamental concepts of linguistics, such as synchronic and diachronic perspectives, language and parole, as well as the horizontal combination and association relations within the system, and so on.