The correct answer is 1. Saussure because he is renowned for his foundational work in linguistics and semiotics, particularly articulated in his book Course in General Linguistics. In this work, Saussure emphasizes that language is a system of signs and introduces the concept of langue (the abstract systematic aspect of language) versus parole (individual speech acts).
His key ideas include:
Synchronic Approach: Saussure argued for a synchronic approach to studying language, meaning that one should analyze language at a specific point in time rather than through its historical development (diachronic).
System of Signs: He posited that language consists of signs that are interrelated, where each sign's value is determined by its relationship to others within the system. This idea underscores the importance of considering the signs in their synchronic solidarity.
Structuralism: Saussure's theories laid the groundwork for structuralism, influencing various fields beyond linguistics, including anthropology, philosophy, and literary theory.
In contrast:
Bloomfield focused more on behaviorism in linguistics.
Roman Jakobson contributed significantly to structural linguistics and poetics but did not specifically coin the phrase about synchronic solidarity.
Sigmund Freud was primarily a psychoanalyst and theorist, not a linguist in the same sense as Saussure.
Year-wise PYQs
