Course in General Linguistics
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1998
236
Book • Nonfiction
Geneva, Switzerland • 1910s
1998
Adult
18+ years
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
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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.
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.
3,606 ratings
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236
Book • Nonfiction
Geneva, Switzerland • 1910s
1998
Adult
18+ years
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