Ferdinand De Saussure was considered a linguistic prodigy who specialized in the teachings of structuralism and semiotics. He believed that we do not speak language, but language speaks us. Specifically, Saussure (1916) argued against the “default setting” that is nomenclature, stating “for some people a language, reduced to its essentials, is a nomenclature: a list of terms corresponding to a list of things” (p. 97). I am arguing in Saussure’s defense against nomenclature by highlighting his objections, uncovering the problematic notions that language is arbitrary and conventional. Saussure argues that language is not just a link between a name and a thing, and explains that ideas do not exist already independently of words. Saussure uncovers
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Saussure (1916) states that nomenclature “assumes that ideas exist already independently of words” (p. 97). He argues that in actuality “the linguistic sign is, then, a two-sided psychological entity”, in which “two elements are intimately linked and each triggers the other” (Saussure, 1916, p. 99). The problematic nomenclature notion that ideas exist already independently of words, is a thought that can be illustrated in the book of Genesis 2:19. In the story, God brought things to Adam, and then Adam simply named the things before him. This story has embedded the impression in Western Culture that we as human beings have the capacity to name things, like flora or fauna such as in Genesis 2:19, which is not true and leads to a nomenclature understanding of language. When relating this to the system of expression, the human language itself, this theory is problematic because the specificity of any language lies in the concepts and distinctions it can produce. These distinctions and concepts, such as an animal like the chick, are not the same in every language. A chick could mean a newborn bird or could also be a term used to describe a woman, which could ensue confusion and differences when it comes to translation. Saussure’s teachings argue against similar thoughts, which attempt to dispel the beliefs of language, a simple construct, and that language precedes
Saussure (1916) states that nomenclature “assumes that ideas exist already independently of words” (p. 97). He argues that in actuality “the linguistic sign is, then, a two-sided psychological entity”, in which “two elements are intimately linked and each triggers the other” (Saussure, 1916, p. 99). The problematic nomenclature notion that ideas exist already independently of words, is a thought that can be illustrated in the book of Genesis 2:19. In the story, God brought things to Adam, and then Adam simply named the things before him. This story has embedded the impression in Western Culture that we as human beings have the capacity to name things, like flora or fauna such as in Genesis 2:19, which is not true and leads to a nomenclature understanding of language. When relating this to the system of expression, the human language itself, this theory is problematic because the specificity of any language lies in the concepts and distinctions it can produce. These distinctions and concepts, such as an animal like the chick, are not the same in every language. A chick could mean a newborn bird or could also be a term used to describe a woman, which could ensue confusion and differences when it comes to translation. Saussure’s teachings argue against similar thoughts, which attempt to dispel the beliefs of language, a simple construct, and that language precedes