Arbitrariness Of Linguistic Signs And Saussure's Philosophy Of Language

This study examines Saussure's arbitrariness of linguistic signs from the perspective of philosophy of language through analyzing texts from Course in General Linguistics(CGL)and Writings in General Linguistics(WGL).As the first principle of Saussure's general linguistics,the arbitrariness of linguistic signs has aroused persistent interests among scholars from different fields,but many scholars have tended to isolate the Principle of Arbitrariness from the whole system of Saussure's thoughts,and therefore problems and even misunderstanding of different types have occurred.Thus,it's of great significance to make a study of the arbitrariness of linguistic signs from the philosophical angle.This study is a qualitative study based on the analysis of texts from Saussure's authentic works — CGL and WGL.The interpretation of the data derives coherently from the argument that the arbitrariness of linguistic signs is the basis of Saussure's philosophy of language.Along this line,three questions are dealt with:(1)In Saussure's opinion,how is arbitrariness defined in CGL?(2)Why is the absolute arbitrariness seen as the starting point of Saussure's philosophy of language?(3)Why is relative arbitrariness seen as reflecting the essence of Saussure's philosophy of language? And the findings are as follows:Firstly,linguistic signs are arbitrary,because the associative bond between the signified and the signifier involved in the linguistic sign is arbitrary.And Saussure puts forward the Principle of Arbitrariness through criticizing the referential view of linguistic signs.Then,the absolute arbitrariness and relative arbitrariness are distinguished,because the notion of relative arbitrariness is quite important,implying syntagmatic and associative relations,which constitute the basis for approaching the study of language as a system.Secondly,the absolute arbitrariness is seen as the starting point of Saussure's philosophy of language,because Saussure's thoughts about the philosophy of language begin with his establishment of the Principle of Arbitrariness.Through objecting to nomenclaturism,Saussure says that the linguistic sign unites,not a thing and a name,but a concept and a sound-image and that the linguistic sign is arbitrary because of the arbitrary associative bond between the concept and the sound-image.Thirdly,In Saussure's opinion,the meaning of linguistic signs not only includes the conceptual side but also the material side,both of which are made up solely of the associative and syntagmatic relations implied by relative arbitrariness within the language system.That is to say,the meaning of a sign depends on its intralinguistic relations to other signs belonging to the same linguistic system.Then,on the basis of the meaning from conceptual and material viewpoints,the relation between language and thought in Saussure's opinion is explored.Language serves as a link between sound and thought,which denies that the effect of language on thought is to create phonic means for pre-existing ideas assumed by the nomenclaturism.Therefore,relative arbitrariness reflects the essence of Saussure's philosophy of language.