Ferdinand de Saussure

Linguist and author of Course in General Linguistics

Ferdinand de Saussure - Thinkers & Philosophers born November 26th, 1857
Born
Died
Category

Thinkers & Philosophers

Country

Switzerland

Links & References

A Swiss linguist, contributed significantly to the understanding of language structure and meaning. Published the influential work 'Course in General Linguistics' posthumously in 1916, shaping modern linguistics and semiotics. Introduced the concept of the linguistic sign comprising the signifier and the signified, laying groundwork for structuralism. His theories emphasized the importance of language as a system of signs and have influenced various fields such as anthropology, psychology, and literary theory.

Published 'Course in General Linguistics'

Introduced the concept of the linguistic sign

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