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Ferdinand de Saussure Quotes

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Ferdinand de Saussure, born on November 26, 1857 in Geneva, Switzerland, and died on February 22, 1913. He was a Swiss linguist and the founder of structuralism in linguistics, regarded as one of the most important linguists of the 20th century.

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Famous Ferdinand de Saussure Quotes

“Of all social institutions language is least amenable to initiative. It blends with the life of society, and the latter, inert by nature, is a prime conservative force.”

Language Force Social Institutions Conservative Latter Prime Initiative Translations Social Institutions Amenable

Book:Course in General Linguistics

Source: Course in General Linguistics

“Speech has both an individual and a social side, and we cannot conceive of one without the other.”

Individual Social Sides Speech

Book:Course in General Linguistics

Source: Course in General Linguistics

“Any psychology of sign systems will be part of social psychology - that is to say, will be exclusively social; it will involve the same psychology as is applicable in the case of languages.”

Language Social Cases Psychology Social Psychology

Author:Ferdinand de Saussure

About the Author

Born: November 26, 1857
Died: February 22, 1913
Known for: Author
Quotes: 29

Books & Sources

Course in General LinguisticsRelated source material

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