BOOK BRIEF

Course in General Linguistics

Ferdinand de Saussure
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Course in General Linguistics

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1998

Book Brief

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Ferdinand de Saussure

Course in General Linguistics

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1998
Book Details
Pages

236

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Geneva, Switzerland • 1910s

Publication Year

1998

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Course in General Linguistics by Ferdinand de Saussure is a foundational work in linguistics, laying out key concepts such as the arbitrary nature of the linguistic sign, the difference between langue (language system) and parole (speech), and the concept of structuralism. The text emphasizes the social nature of language and its role in shaping human understanding.

Informative

Challenging

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

4.3

3,606 ratings

71%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Course in General Linguistics by Ferdinand de Saussure is praised for establishing foundational concepts in modern linguistics, such as the structuralist approach and the distinction between langue and parole. Critics, however, note its dense and complex presentation, making it challenging for beginners. Despite this, its influence on linguistics and semiotics remains profound and significant.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Course in General Linguistics?

A reader intrigued by foundational linguistic theories and semiotic structures will enjoy Course in General Linguistics by Ferdinand de Saussure. Fans of Noam Chomsky's Syntactic Structures and Claude Lévi-Strauss's anthropological works will appreciate this seminal text's influence on modern linguistics.

4.3

3,606 ratings

71%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

236

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Geneva, Switzerland • 1910s

Publication Year

1998

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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