Le problème de la définition des entités linguistiques chez Ferdinand de Saussure

This dissertation has three parts. The first one, devoted to Saussurean concept of “system”, aims at showing that there are variations in Saussure’s development, and that is possible to identify at least two different configurations: one appointed by Saussure “system of oppositions”; the other called “grammatical system”. The second part, devoted to the concept of “value”, tries to show that it is also possible to find, in Saussure’s manuscripts and texts, at least two different concepts: one of them would be coherent with purely negative and differential criteria; the other, more complex, would involves elements which cannot be reduced to ‘pure differential’ criteria. Our hypothesis is to state that these patterns were developed by Saussure with respect to issues, including, therefore, elements definable in different ways; roughly (and anachronistically): “phonemes” and “signs”.status: publishe