Saussure

Signs, System and Arbitrariness

By: No Information Available

Write A Review

Paperback | 19 August 1991

At a Glance

Paperback
196 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
21.59 x 13.97 x 1.14

Paperback

RRP $73.95

$69.99

or 4 interest-free payments of $17.50 with

or

Ships in 5 to 7 business days

The Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913) has exerted a profound influence not only on twentieth century linguistics but on a whole range of disciplines within the humanities and social sciences. His central thesis was that the primary object in studying a language is the state of that language at a particular time--a so-called synchronic study. He went on to claim that a language state is a socially constituted system of signs that are quite arbitrary and that can only be defined in terms of their relationship within the system. This new perspective has changed the way people think about linguistics and has led to important attempts to apply structuralist ideas in anthropology, literary criticism, and philosophy. Professor Holdcroft's book expounds and elaborates Saussure's central ideas. It also offers a critical assessment of them, arguing that many of Saussure's claims are either questionable or have been misunderstood. The book will be read with profit by nonspecialists and could be used as a textbook by students of linguistics, philosophy of language, literary criticism and anthropology.

Industry Reviews

"[Holdcroft's] book, which will disturb orthodox Saussureans and invigorate critical ones, deserves to become the lightning rod foor a new wave of Saussure commentary aimed both at upsetting and furthering its conclusions." Language "A concise, clear and sophisticated critique of Saussure's thought, this small book should do much good." Times Literary Supplement

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.

Defective items

If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.

For more info please visit our Help Centre.

More in Western Philosophy

Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Penguin Classics

Paperback

RRP $26.99

$22.75

16%
OFF

The Myth of Sisyphus

Vintage International

Paperback

RRP $35.00

$26.75

24%
OFF

Penguin Books Great Ideas: Myth of Sisyphus

Myth of Sisyphus

Paperback

RRP $16.99

$14.75

13%
OFF

The Myth of Sisyphus

Penguin Modern Classics

Paperback

RRP $26.99

$22.99

15%
OFF

Discipline and Punish

The Birth of the Prison

Paperback

RRP $26.99

$20.75

23%
OFF

The Human Condition

Second Edition

Paperback

RRP $42.95

$33.99

21%
OFF

Enduramorphosis

Performance as Transformation through Endurance

Hardcover

RRP $180.00

$159.75

11%
OFF

Eliminativism in Ancient Philosophy

Greek and Buddhist Philosophers on Material Objects

Paperback

RRP $59.99

$58.75

What Is Existentialism?

Penguin Great Ideas

Paperback

RRP $16.99

$15.75

Art and Technology in Maurice Blanchot : Technicities - Holly Langstaff

$21.75

13%
OFF

I Want to Die, I Hate My Life : Three Essays on Tragedy and One on Beckett - Simon Critchley

$14.75

Small Probabilities and High Stakes : Elements in Decision Theory and Philosophy - Christian Tarsney

$21.75

13%
OFF

At The Existentialist Cafe

Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails

Paperback

RRP $26.99

$22.99

15%
OFF

Nations Without Nationalism

European Perspectives: A Series in Social Thought and Cultural Criticism

Paperback

RRP $24.95

$21.75

13%
OFF

Spell Of The Sensuous: Perceptions

Perceptions

Paperback

RRP $29.99

$24.99

17%
OFF

The Trouble With Being Born

Penguin Modern Classics

Paperback

RRP $26.99

$22.99

15%
OFF

Fear and Trembling

Penguin Books Great Ideas

Paperback

RRP $16.99

$15.99

The Sickness Unto Death

Penguin Classics

Paperback

RRP $26.99

$22.99

15%
OFF

A Sand County Almanac

And Sketches Here and There

Paperback

RRP $25.75

$21.75

16%
OFF

Preface
Introduction
Saussure's work: its context and significance
The distinction between langue and parole
Language as a system of signs, I: signs, arbitrariness, linearity, and change
Language as a system of signs, II: diachronic and synchronic linguistics
Language as a system of signs, III: identities, system, and relations
Language as a system of signs, IV: values, differences, and reality
Successes and failures
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Saussure

Signs, System and Arbitrariness

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

Other Editions and Formats

Hardcover

More in Western Philosophy

Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Penguin Classics

The Myth of Sisyphus

Vintage International

Penguin Books Great Ideas: Myth of Sisyphus

Myth of Sisyphus

The Myth of Sisyphus

Penguin Modern Classics

Discipline and Punish

The Birth of the Prison

The Human Condition

Second Edition

Enduramorphosis

Performance as Transformation through Endurance

Eliminativism in Ancient Philosophy

Greek and Buddhist Philosophers on Material Objects

What Is Existentialism?

Penguin Great Ideas

Art and Technology in Maurice Blanchot

Technicities

Nausea

With Introduction

I Want to Die, I Hate My Life

Three Essays on Tragedy and One on Beckett

Nausea : Popular Penguins

Popular Penguins Ser.

Small Probabilities and High Stakes

Elements in Decision Theory and Philosophy

Small Probabilities and High Stakes

Elements in Decision Theory and Philosophy

Critical Political Theory

Interrogating Contemporary Politics

The Fall

Penguin Modern Classics

At The Existentialist Cafe

Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails

Nations Without Nationalism

European Perspectives: A Series in Social Thought and Cultural Criticism

Spell Of The Sensuous: Perceptions

Perceptions

The Trouble With Being Born

Penguin Modern Classics

Fear and Trembling

Penguin Books Great Ideas

The Sickness Unto Death

Penguin Classics

A Sand County Almanac

And Sketches Here and There

This product is categorised by