A Basic Understanding of Ferdinand de Saussure's Semiotics
Language is a complex system of signs that enables the expression of ideas and can be likened to other sign systems such as writing, the alphabet of deaf mutes, symbolic rituals, polite expressions, military signals, and more. However, it holds a paramount position among these systems.
One can conceive a scientific study that delves into the existence and functioning of signs within society. This study would fall within the realm of social psychology and, consequently, general psychology. I shall name this field "semiology," derived from the Greek word sēmeîon, meaning "sign." Semiology would explore the nature of signs and the laws that govern them.
According to Saussure, signs consist of two fundamental components:
1) A sound image or signifier, which is the perceptible form of the sign.
2) A concept or signified, which is the mental representation produced by the signifier.
It is crucial to recognize that the relationship between the signifier and the signified is not inherent or natural; instead, it is arbitrary and based on social convention.
Saussure explained that concepts are defined differentially, meaning that they are defined by what they are not. He emphasized that the meaning of a sign is determined by its position relative to other signs within a statement, rather than its inherent value. Thus, no sign possesses meaning on its own, and its meaning is always dependent on its relationship with other signs.
Consequently, when we engage with concepts, our language naturally tends to rely on polar oppositions, such as cheap and expensive, rich and poor, and happy and sad. Words function as signs, and their meanings are contingent upon the context in which they are used.
Saussure offered an explanation as to why the mind tends to operate through contrasts and oppositions by asserting that concepts are purely differential. He argued that our understanding of a concept stems from knowing what it does not represent, particularly its opposite. This phenomenon arises due to the nature of language.
These oppositions must be connected or linked to something they share in common. For instance, in the case of sexual orientation, one can consider the opposition between being gay or straight, or in the context of wealth, the contrast between being rich and poor.