Understanding Semiology: A Linguistic Science Overview

Semiology: An Introduction to Linguistic Science

Semiology is the science that studies how environment has become the facts of language. It has gone through three successive phases before recognizing its true and only object of study:

1. Grammar: A study based on logic and devoid of any scientific view.
2. Language Rules: Only provides rules to distinguish correct forms from incorrect forms.
3. Discipline Rules: Rules far removed from pure observation with an unnecessarily narrow point of view.

Philology

This phase primarily aims to establish, interpret, and comment on texts, leading it to also address literary history, customs, institutions, etc. The flaw is that it considers written language too much and neglects living language.

Comparative Philology or Grammar

In 1816, with the student Bopp, this phase began when he discovered that languages could be compared to each other. Sanskrit was the language that allowed us to determine the radical notion. The study was limited to Indo-European languages, as in the other stages. It was more comparative than historical. Until 1870, the living conditions of the language, reflecting aspects of linguistic phenomena, were never considered.

Comparative Philology or Grammar: In 1816, with the student Bopp, this phase began when he discovered that languages could be compared to each other. Sanskrit was the language that allowed us to determine the radical notion. The study was limited to Indo-European languages, as in the other stages. It was more comparative than historical. Until 1870, the living conditions of the language, reflecting aspects of linguistic phenomena, were never considered.

The Scope of Linguistics

The subject matter of linguistics is made up, first and foremost, of all manifestations of human language, not only correct language and good speech but all forms of expression. It should also take into account written texts. The linguistic task is to:

• Describe and document the history of all languages.
• Identify the forces involved, whether permanent or universal, in all languages and draw general laws.
• Demarcate and define themselves.

Saussure argued that other sciences work with elements given in advance, allowing different types of views to emerge, which creates the object without being able to distinguish whether the act is earlier or later than others.