索绪尔二元对立语言理论

AbstractFerdinand 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; structuralismChapter I. IntroductionFerdinand 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 reviewAt 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 oppositionBinary opposition in the western philosophy can be traced back to the ancient greek time. A great amount of theories of Plato and Aristotleare 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 theoryThe 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 paroleScientific 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: "other science could working after deciding the object, then other work can continue. In our field, things are different." (Saussure 9). Therefore, before Saussure decides the object of linguistic research, he distinguishes the two concepts of “langue”and “parole”first, then the object of“langue” is decided.Saussure believes that “langue” is the most important research object of linguistics (Daniele 322). He said, "langue" is the research object of linguistics and a systematic structure which is different from “parole”, a kind of personal conversation behavior (Saussure 137). "Langue" exists 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 signifiedThis 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.The signifier and the signified represent two categories in linguistic field. The "signifier", with sound image as the element, represents a kind of reality, while the "signified" represents a possibility. It is worth noting that because of the infinite possibilities of the "signified", the semiotics influenced by Saussure becomes and important theory in twentieth Century. Saussure believes that the history of linguistics belongs to semiotics. However, structuralism masters such as Roland Barthes believe that semiotics belongs to linguistics, which explains the giant influence of the symbol theory proposed by Saussure. It is clear to see that the definition of the "signifier" and "signified" has much influence in linguistics field, but the philosophy of binary opposition has much more influence for the later world far beyond the linguistics.3. Synchronic linguistics and diachronic linguisticsSaussure also plays an important role in the division of the synchronic linguistics and diachronic linguistics. Before Saussure, the linguistics is comparative linguistics, which is the diachronic linguistics that study language through time (Liu 15). In his view, historical linguistics can not be called a true science, because its research content is composed by numerous individual words which are isolated. The whole view of language can only be shown by studying the system and analyzing the cross section of the synchronic (Wang 183). Contrary to the diachronic linguistics, the synchronic linguistics studies “the state oflanguage at angy point in history (Liu 15)”.The division of synchronic linguistics and diachronic linguistics brings a new stage of language research (Wang 183). On the abandonment of traditional historical comparative linguistics, language research begins to focus on the structure of language study way, which develops into structuralism later.III. Related studiesSince binary opposition promoted by Saussure, it is widely used in many fields, especially in the literature analysis. Since binary oppostion is also the core of structuralism, binary opposition and structuralism then are widely used to analyze the textual meanings contained in the novels or poems. Unlike other authors directly use binary opposition to illustrate a particular text, Fang Hanquan points out the use of binary opposition in the literature field and says that the use of binary opposition both domestically and abroad receives good results (39). While Huang Xiongfa (119-121) focuses on the general use of binary opposition on poetry and novels.There are also scholars still focus on Saussure’s theory. Scholars such as Ye Nan and Shen Jianhua illustrate his principles and theories generally. While Wang Mingyu and Y u Xin (370) explain the inheritance and criticism of Saussure’s theory. Shen Jiexia illustrates the structuralismwith the method of binary opposition (134-138). Yuan Xiaoyan, Yin Jingjing and Ye Nan discuss the binary opposition model in the western countries. Zhang Yibing discuss the structuralism in Saussure’s theory (1-5).IV. ConclusionSaussure is known as “the father of modern linguistics”. He builds up the general system for language study with the method of binary opposition, so that language learning is really become a science. His theories and findings benefit and influence generations of people. The concepts contained in his book such as the signifier, the signified, langue, parole, synchronic and diachronic are valuable by many research fields. After Saussure, the various schools of modern linguistics have appeared such as the Geneva school, Prague school, and Copenhagen School of structural linguistics. These schools can all trace back to Saussure. In a word, Saussure and his theory have huge influence in modern linguistics.Works CitedDaniele, Monticelli. “Challenging identity: Lotman's ‘translation of the untranslatable’and Derrida's difference.”Sign Systems Studies.(2012):319-33.Thomas, Herdin. “Deconstructing typologies: Overcoming the limitations of the binary opposition pa radigm.” International CommunicationGazette. (2012):603-618.方汉泉. 二元对立原则及其在文学批评中的运用. 外语与外语教学, 2004, (3).黄雄发. 二元对立原则与文学赏析. 中国矿业大学学报, 2007, (4).刘润清、文旭. 新编语言学教程. 上海:外语教学与研究出版社, 2009. 沈洁瑕. 从二元对立的角度解读结构主义文论. 黄山学院学报, 2007,(2).索绪尔. 索绪尔第三次普通语言学教程. 上海:上海世纪出版社.2005 王铭玉、于馨. 索绪尔语言学理论的继承与批判. 外语教学与研究, 2013, (5).王思旸. 浅论索绪尔语言学理论中的二元对立. 金田, 2011, (5).叶楠. 论索绪尔二元对立的语言哲学思想. 西南民族学院学报, 1997,(6).张一兵. 索绪尔与语言学结构主义. 南京社会科学, 2004, (10).。